ALA and FINRA Foundation Inclusive Financial Literacy Programming Kit Grants

Deadline: January 3, 2022

The American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) collaborated with a team of librarian advisors to develop a book list that eschews stereotypes and embraces diversity in telling stories and sharing skills related to personal finance and financial capability for children. Up to 100 public and school libraries will be selected to receive an Inclusive Financial Literacy Programming Kit to help them provide diverse financial literacy titles and programming for children and young people in their communities. Each kit will contain:

• The Inclusive Financial Literacy book list, developed by a team of librarian advisors in collaboration with ALA and the FINRA Foundation, with corresponding best practices and programming ideas for public and school libraries
• One copy of Rainy Day Ready: Financial Literacy Programs and Tools edited by Melanie Welch and Patrick Hogan for the ALA Public Programs Office (ALA Editions, 2020), a ready-to-use guide for library staff with 16 model financial capability programs
• One print copy of five books from the book list for libraries to add to their circulating collection

To be considered for one of the 100 programming kits, you must complete an online application. The application will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. For more details, including the Google Form application, visit the site: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/InclusiveFinLit 

Save America's Treasures Grant Programs

Deadline: Dec. 14, 2021

Save America's Treasures is a National Park Service grant program in collaboration with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant program supports the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections and requires a dollar-for-dollar match. Grants are awarded to Federal, state, county, local, and tribal government entities, including independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations. Based on prior years, the NPS anticipates funding between 30 and 70 projects from the $25 million FY2021 funding.

Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. There are separate opportunities for preservation and collections projects.

• Historic Preservation Fund projects must involve structures designated individually as a National Historic Landmark or a contributing structure to a National Historic Landmark District, listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance (not state or local significance) or a contributing structure to a historic district that is listed in the National Register for its national significance. Preservation projects must range from $125,000 to $500,000.
• Conservation of collections projects must consist of a historic collection that is nationally significant. Projects should range from $25,000 to $500,000.

The Save America's Treasures program accepts online applications through http://www.grants.gov/, the federal online grantmaking portal. The application for collections projects is available through Grants.gov under funding opportunity number P22AS00049. The application for preservation projects is available under funding opportunity number P22AS00048.

NNLM All of Us Mini Programming Awards

Deadline: December 3, 2021

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) All of Us Mini Programming Awards will provide funding to U.S. library and community-based organization programs focused on individual and communities’ health and health literacy, digital literacy, and/or public understanding of clinical research and understanding of and participation in citizen science activities. At least thirteen grants will be awarded up to $5,000 each. This award will support NNLM members to:

• Host and/or participate in All of Us Citizen Science Month activities, and promote SciStarter resources and projects
• Incorporate NLM or NNLM online activity modules and materials in their programming, including:
• Learn Internet Skills
• How to Judge a Health Claim
• Raise awareness of the All of Us Research Program and other trustworthy health information resources to inform personal health and wellness decisions

Possible projects include:

• Promote Citizen Science Month using downloadable, customizable educational resources including bookmarks, flyers, posters, social media images, and other existing assets.
• Incorporate NLM/NNLM online activity modules and materials into programming.
• Host digital literacy programming that incorporates health literacy concepts.
• Host, co-host, or promote a Citizen Science Month event in April using freely available planning and promotional resources and the Library & Community Guideto Citizen Science from SciStarter.
• Engage community members in citizen science projects found on SciStarter.org/NLM or other projects of interest to your community. Find thousands of projects to choose from by using the Project Finder on SciStarter and filter by location, audience, or topic.

To be eligible to apply, your organization must be an NNLM member. Not yet a member? Sign up for free. First-time NNLM award applicants and new NNLM members are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://allofus.nnlm.gov/mini-programming-awards

Library grant writing tips shared on twitter!

My awesome graduate-level San Jose State University Information School students are tweeting grant writing tips to share what they've learned with the library world in my grant writing course! I'll be retweeting them @librarygrants and you can follow #librarygrants! 

Have your own tips to share? Join along and let's help libraries win more grants.

Apply to Host a Virtual Misinformation Escape Room at Your Library

Deadline: November 10, 2021

As part of an IMLS-funded grant project, the University of Washington Information School (UW iSchool) has partnered with WebJunction to recruit 10 U.S. public libraries to host and evaluate an online escape room game, The Euphorigen Investigation. This game was developed in response to library staff who asked for ways to help patrons navigate misinformation beyond traditional information literacy programs. Euphorigen is aimed at teens (14+) and adults and has been tested by public libraries.

Participating libraries will receive $500 compensation and the opportunity for a fun way to gather community members online and share how to spot misinformation in social media. Host a new, virtual program while participating in an active research project to help better understand how games improve information literacy. Library participation will take place January - March 2022. Total time commitment is approximately 15 hours of library staff time and includes running 6 sessions of Euphorigen for library patrons. 

You may be asked to participate in a 30 minute follow-up interview to learn about your library and give you an opportunity to learn more about the project. For more information and the online interest form, visit this website: https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/host-escape-room.html

Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) Grants

Deadline: January 18, 2022

The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments; and engage the public of all ages in learning STEM in informal environments.

These grants support six types of programs: (1) Pilots and Feasibility Studies, (2) Research in Service to Practice, (3) Innovations in Development, (4) Broad Implementation, (5) Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses, and (6) Conferences. Based on the criteria the programs can range from instructional programming on STEM-related topics to a more hands-on approach where participants use STEM-related technologies. The number of grants/funding to be provided include: 58-99 estimated number of awards ranging from $250,000 to $3,000,000

For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/advancing-informal-stem-learning-aisl

FINRA Foundation Library Grants

Deadline: March 1, 2022

The FINRA Foundation is accepting grant applications to help public and academic libraries meet the financial education needs of their communities and foster financial inclusion. The maximum grant amount is $50,000. The program also aims to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in access to personal finance education and information. 

The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills, and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. For more information including application details, visit: www.finrafoundation.org/people-we-help/library-grants-program

NEH Preservation Grants for Smaller Institutions

Deadline: January 13, 2022

Preservation Assistance Grants, awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), help small and mid-sized institutions, such as libraries, historical societies, and archival repositories, improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine art objects, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, historical objects, and digital materials. The maximum award amount is $10,000 ($15,000 for projects related to “A More Perfect Union”).

Applicants must draw on the knowledge of consultants whose preservation skills and experience are related to the types of collections and the nature of the activities that are the focus of their projects. The program encourages applications from the following sorts of institutions with significant humanities collections:

• small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant;
• community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal Colleges and Universities; and
• Native American tribes and Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian organizations.

Additional information and grant application materials are available on their website.

Penguin Random House Grants for Small & Rural Libraries

Deadlines: Multiple rolling; Dec. 17, 2021, February 11, 2022, April 8, 2022, June 3, 2022

Through the support of Penguin Random House, the Association of Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is has announced a new grant opportunity for small and rural libraries nationwide. If selected, grants will be awarded for up to $2,500. ARSL membership is NOT required to participate in this grant opportunity.

The program will award grants to libraries that demonstrate a true need. Grants are not limited to literacy and may be used for everything from library programming and books to resources like hotspots.

To apply and access a sample application, visit the website: https://www.arsl.org/prh-grant

NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections Grants

Deadline: Optional Draft due December 9, 2021; Application due January 13, 2022

The National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and support institutional resilience: the ability to anticipate and respond to disasters resulting from natural or human activity.

This award is up to $50,000 for planning and up to $350,000 for implementation for institutions seeking to ensure the “preservation of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art, and historical objects.” This grant is for preventative conservation, ways to manage humidity, moderate temperature and/or light pollutants to ensure the preservation of these special and culturally significant items.

For more information and to apply visit the website: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/sustaining-cultural-heritage-collections

Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grants for School Libraries

Deadline: December 31, 2021

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries provides funds to the nation’s neediest schools so to extend, update, and diversify the book and print collections in their libraries with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning.

Public school applicants must be Title 1 eligible. Neighborhood schools, charter schools, magnet schools, etc. are all welcome to apply, if Title 1 eligible. Private and parochial schools are also welcome to apply if at least 50% of their student population qualify for financial aid. The grant award may be used only for books, periodicals, eBooks, reference materials, and magazine/newspaper subscriptions. More than one school in a district/diocese/CMO may apply for the grant, however, each school must submit its own application.

For complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and application instructions, visit the Laura Bush Foundation website.

ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way" Grant

Deadline: December 15, 2021
The Association for Library Services to Children and Candlewick Press offer the "Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved" grant, created to honor Newbery Medalist and Geisel Honoree author Kate DiCamillo and the themes represented in her books. The award consists of a $3,000 grant to assist a library in conducting exemplary outreach to underserved populations through a new and innovative program or an expansion of work already being done.

This grant is open to any project that seeks to engage an underserved population of children from birth up to the age of 14. Special population children may include (but are not limited to) those who have learning or physical differences, those who are speaking English as a second language, those who are in a non-traditional school environment, those who are in non-traditional family settings (such as teen parents, foster children, children in the juvenile justice system, and children in gay and lesbian families), and those who need accommodation service to meet their needs. The grant recognizes that underserved populations vary from community to community, and all programs that seek to specifically address concerns in this area are eligible for consideration.

More information and the grant application are available on the ALSC website.

Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries

Deadline: Feb. 13, 2022

The American Library Association (ALA) and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are accepting applications for the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries, which recognize libraries for their role in the growth of graphic literature.

The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries awards three grants to school, public, academic or special libraries located in North America (Canada, United States, or Mexico):

• Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant provides support to a library for the initiation of a graphic novel service, program or initiative
• Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants will provide support to two libraries that would like to expand existing graphic novel services and programs

Each winning library will receive a grant award of $4,000 to support initiatives that align with the objective of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. The grant award will consist of the following: 

• $2,000 grant to purchase graphic novels from the distributor-partner (current partner is Diamond Comics Distributors),
• $1,000 grant to host a graphic novel-themed event at a library or another community location, and
• $1,000 grant to attend the ALA Annual Conference to receive their grant money.  This grant can be used towards any of the following: conference registration, transportation, lodging and food.

In addition, from the book publishers and the Eisner Foundation, the winning libraries will also receive the following graphic novels, valued at approximately $3,000:

• The Will Eisner Library: A graphic novel collection of Will Eisner’s work and biographies about Will Eisner* (comprising approximately 75 books)
• A selection of the winning titles from the current year’s Will Eisner Awards* at Comic-Con International (comprising approximately 100 books).

The grant is administered by ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. More information on the grant and the application process is available online.

NEH Public Humanities Projects Grants

Deadline: January 12, 2022 (Optional Draft due December 8, 2021)

The Public Humanities Projects program supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. Awards support projects that are intended to reach broad and diverse public audiences in non-classroom settings in the United States. Projects should engage with ideas that are accessible to the general public and employ appealing interpretive formats.

Public Humanities Projects supports projects in three categories: Exhibitions, Historic Places, and Humanities Discussions; and at two funding levels Planning (maximum award amount: $75,000) and Implementation ($400,000). Proposed projects may include complementary components: for example, an exhibition might be accompanied by a website or mobile app.

Project topics may be international, national, regional, or local in focus, but locally focused projects should address topics that are of regional or national relevance by drawing connections to broad themes or historical questions. Projects that don’t address issues of concern to wider regional or national audiences might consider local sources of funding, such as their state humanities councils. Award amounts offered to successful applicants will reflect the project’s scope and the size of its expected audiences.

Small and mid-sized organizations are especially encouraged to apply. They welcome humanities projects tailored to particular groups, such as families, youth (including K-12 students in informal educational settings), underserved communities, and veterans. Number of grants: Average of 17 awards per grant cycle

For more information and application materials, visit the website: https://www.neh.gov/grants/public/public-humanities-projects

YALSA Grant Applications due Dec. 1st

Deadline: December 1 of the current year.

Each year YALSA offers more than $195,000 in grants and awards to members who work with or on behalf of teens. Grants include:

• Collection Development Grant This annual grant is funded by Baker & Taylor and awards $1,000 to two YALSA members who represent a public library, and who work directly with young adults ages 12 to 18.
• Great Books Giveaway Each year the YALSA office receives about 3,000 newly published children's, young adult and adult books, videos, and CDs for review. YALSA and the cooperating publishers annually offer one year's worth of review materials to up to 3 libraries in need.
• Frances Henne Research Grant This annual grant of $1,000 provides seed money for small scale projects which will encourage research that responds to the YALSA Research Agenda. 
• Innovation Award This annual $500 award is funded by Friends of YALSA (FOY) for a member who has brought a new teen project idea to life (big or small) through their library. The innovation should illustrate YALSA’s vision for teen services as outlined in: “The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action” and “Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff.” 
• *New* Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant This annual $1000 grant recognizes a librarian who has a creative, innovative project that promotes literacy (digital, media, visual, computer, data, financial, civic/ethical, news, information, multicultural, and/or cultural literacy). 
• MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens The Margaret A. Edwards Trust (MAE Award) is designed to honor a YALSA member who has developed an outstanding young adult reading or literature program. The award provides $500 to the winner and $500 to the winner's library or library agency. 
• YALSA Volunteer of the Year Awards acknowledge the contributions of YALSA members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the mission, goals and work of YALSA during a given service year. The recognition includes a one year membership to YALSA and a commemorative certificate for each category's winner(s). To nominate yourself, a group or an individual, please use this online form.
• YALSA Writing Award This award honors the best writing in YALSA’s blogs and journals. Prizes will be given for a winning article in each of the journals and blogs. 
• Scholarships, Stipends, and Fellowships YALSA offers various scholarships and stipends each year. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view. 

For more information, visit the YALSA grants website.

NEH/ALA American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries

Deadline: December 2, 2021

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the American Library Association (ALA) will distribute $2 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to help anchor libraries as strong humanities institutions as they emerge and rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of this emergency relief program is to assist libraries that have been adversely affected by the pandemic and require support to restore and sustain their core activities.

ALA will distribute up to 200 ARP grants of $10,000 each to libraries, with an emphasis on reaching libraries in historically underserved and/or rural communities. Libraries will be selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process. To qualify for this grant, the applying institution must be a library of any type (e.g., public, tribal, K-12, academic, special, prison) located in the United States or a U.S. territory. Note: Libraries that received funding through NEH’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organization program are not eligible to receive funding through this offering.

ARP: Humanities Grants for Libraries funding is designed to provide libraries with flexible funding to reaffirm and strengthen their roles, post-pandemic, as vibrant centers of humanities learning, conversation, and connection. Every day, libraries engage people in reading and discussing literature; host authors and speakers; lead important, and often challenging, conversations that stretch their patrons’ understanding of the world around them; and record and archive their communities’ stories through oral history collections and digitization projects. The general goals of this ARP funding opportunity include:

• To assist with creating or preserving jobs
• To support or maintain general operations
• To create or sustain humanities programs
• To implement new humanities activities or sustain existing activities

Below are several examples of eligible expenses; note that this list is not exhaustive:

• Salary and benefit support for library workers engaged in humanities activities
• Costs related to humanities programming (in-person or virtual), such as book clubs, guest lectures, exhibition development, oral history collection, digitization projects, or heritage festivals
• Purchases of books, e-books, or technology for use in humanities programming
• Marketing and advertising to support library humanities efforts

To apply for ARP: Humanities Grants for Libraries, or any grant from the ALA Public Programs Office, you must first create an account in their grant administration platform. For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/ARPhumanities

NNLM All of Us Community Awards: Health and digital literacy library grants

Deadline: October 15, 2021

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) All of Us Community Awards will provide funding to public library and community-based organization programs to expand health/digital literacy, and community partnerships through health programming and digital information access. First-time NNLM award applicants and new NNLM members are encouraged to apply and membership is free.

There are two award pathways:

1. Health Programming Pathway
   This award will support NNLM members to design and implement virtual and/or hybrid (virtual and in-person) programming to increase community skills in health literacy, digital literacy, and/or public understanding of clinical research.
   Amount: up to $15,000 each
   Number of awards: 15
   Possible programs: Health fairs, speaker/author events, health education classes, film screenings
   
   
2. Digital Information Access Pathway
   This award will support NNLM members to broaden online health information access in their community through technology and programs. Projects will increase community skills in health literacy, digital literacy, and/or public understanding of clinical research.
   Amount: up to $40,000 each
   Number of awards: 4
   Possible programs: Purchase loanable technology (hotspots, laptops, etc.), mobile tech carts in the community, digital literacy programming

To be eligible to apply, your organization must be:

• An NNLM member. Not yet a member? Sign up for free!
• A community-serving organization (public libraries, community-based organizations, etc.) or a partner with a community-serving organization for the project.
• Based in the United States and/or U.S. Territories.

For more information, including an application guide, visit the website: https://allofus.nnlm.gov/community-award-request-proposals 

Emergency Connectivity Fund: 2nd Round is Open!

Deadline: October 13, 2021

This $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps support remote learning through the FCC’s E-rate program. The ECF program will provide funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, and/or lack broadband access during the pandemic. 

Participating public and tribal libraries and K12 schools will receive 100% reimbursement for the cost of hotspots and other Wi-Fi capable devices, modems, routers, laptops, tablets, and similar devices to loan to patrons, students, teachers, and staff for use off and on library and school grounds.

To help libraries take advantage of this one-time infusion of funding to offset expenses associated with providing connectivity to library patrons who need it most, the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office has created an Emergency Connectivity Fund Solutions Toolkit. "The ECF presents an unprecedented funding opportunity for libraries to expand broadband equity to those who need it most beyond the confines of library walls. With 100 percent reimbursement of costs for eligible equipment and services and the ability to receive upfront reimbursement, now is the moment to think big about how your library can leverage new funding to boost current technology lending efforts to reach more people or launch new services to connect your community…or both! Your library may also take advantage of other ARPA funds to support related digital inclusion needs, such as programming, staffing, and staff training."

NOTE: Organizations must be registered on SAM. It can take up to 20 days for SAM registration to become active. Apply as soon as possible. Go to https://www.sam.gov. See the ECF toolkit for more instructions on Preparing to Apply for the ECF Program.

ALA's  Emergency Connectivity Fund Solutions Toolkit: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/ECF 

Emergency Connectivity Fund: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund 

Communities for Immunity: Library and Museum Grants

Deadline Round Two:  October 29, 2021

Communities for Immunity is seeking proposals that aim to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake in communities across the United States.

 

Funding awards will be provided to museums and libraries to leverage their deep relationships with local communities to improve vaccine confidence through highly localized approaches. By providing funding awards to these trusted community institutions, the initiative will use new and existing resources to reach Americans across the nation. Additionally, a Community of Practice will be created to develop and refine vaccine education resources that will be shared with the broader museum and library community. This FAQ page includes resources to help you determine which groups in your community might have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy.

This funding opportunity is for museums, libraries, science centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, tribal organizations, and other cultural institutions located in the United States, including territories and tribal lands. To be eligible for this award, your organization must be either a private nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status or part of a State or local government or a multipurpose not-for-profit entity, such as a municipality, university, historical society, foundation, or cultural center. Additionally, organizations must qualify according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Eligibility Criteria.

An estimated 154 awards will be granted ranging from $1,500–$100,000. Projects are to be completed by March 31, 2022. Some smaller projects may use existing resources and materials to communicate about vaccines, like printing and distributing pamphlets about COVID-19 vaccination, facilitating a community discussion about vaccines, or opening or maintaining a vaccination site. Higher-budget proposals may create entirely new materials that can later be shared with other institutions. Read the applicant toolkit for more information about the application process.

Communities for Immunity seeks effective, innovative ways to engage vaccine-hesitant populations. Compelling proposals will include coordination with partners, such as local health officials, community organizations, or other libraries, museums, or cultural institutions.

Communities for Immunity is administered by the Association of Science and Technology Centers in partnership with the American Alliance of Museums and the Network of the National Library of Medicine, with the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional information, including a toolkit and details on registering and applying for the grant opportunity, is available on this website. 

Library of Congress Grants: Of the People: Widening the Path; Connecting Communities Digital Initiative

Deadline: November 14, 2021

Individuals and educational and cultural institutions who seek to amplify the stories of communities of color are invited to apply to new grant opportunities through the Of the People: Widening the Path Connecting Communities Digital Initiative at the Library of Congress. Of the People is a new, multi-part initiative funded by a $15 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to enable the Library to connect more deeply with Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. The Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI) will examine the ways technology can enable storytelling and expose more people to the Library’s expansive collections.

Library, Archives and Museums grant: The grant will support local cultural heritage organizations by enabling storytelling across a range of platforms. Specifically, the Library seeks to award up to $60,000 to a library, archive or museum to support the design and implementation of digital projects (digital exhibits, interfaces, multimedia productions or publications) that use digital materials from the Library of Congress to engage Black, Indigenous or other community members of color. For more details on the grant and to register for informational webinars, click here.

Higher Education grant: In support of the Library’s Digital Strategy, this program will offer grants to support students, faculty and staff in two-year and four-year higher education institutions that primarily serve communities of color. The grants will support the creation or maintenance of community stories in digital formats, where those stories would benefit from inclusion of Library collections. The Library will award one grant for up to $60,000 to a higher education institution to support the development of a digital interface, publication, exhibit or experimental approaches to integrating Library collections in a course, program, or interest group that will make use of the product for educational purposes at the institution. For more details on the grant and to register for informational webinars, click here.

Artist or Scholar in Residence program: The program will fund an Artist in Residence or Scholar in Residence for two years starting in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Each Artist/Scholar in Residence will be supported with $50,000 during the first year and $100,000 in the second year of the residency. Applicants should be artists or scholars whose work connects with the intersection of technology and cultural heritage, and engages with the legacies of racial division in the U.S. Proposed projects will help the Library and the American people imagine new ways of preserving, accessing and sharing the stories of underserved communities, connecting the nation’s past to its future.
For more details on this program and to register for informational webinars, click here.

ALA Grants for Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage

Deadline: December 1, 2021

The American Library Association (ALA) Let’s Talk About It initiative is a scholar-led reading and discussion program, made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The program involves reading a common series of books selected by national scholars and discussing them in the context of a larger, overarching theme. Reading and discussion groups explore the theme through the lens of the humanities by relating the readings to historical trends and events; other works of literature; and philosophical and ethical ideas.

The format for a Let’s Talk About It program involves a ten-week series on a given theme. For this grant opportunity, the theme is Women’s Suffrage. Every two weeks, a discussion group meets with a local humanities scholar to discuss one of the five books in the theme. The local scholar opens the program, bringing the book to life, provoking the group’s curiosity with insights and background on the author and the work. The scholar relates the reading to key humanities focus areas, raising questions and creating a catalyst that sparks discussion. The discussion group then breaks into small groups to talk about the book, share ideas and raise more questions. Finally, the large group reconvenes for final discussion and closing comments.

For this grant opportunity, up to 25 libraries will be selected through a competitive application process to host Let’s Talk About It programs exploring the key humanities focus areas presented in the Women’s Suffrage theme. Between March and September 2022, participating sites will host reading and discussion events for each of the five titles on the Women’s Suffrage theme’s reading list. To qualify for this grant, the applying institution must be a library (public, tribal, school, academic, or special) residing in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

The Let’s Talk About It initiative seeks to:

• Help communities see firsthand the ways in which the humanities give profound meaning to the human experience.
• Facilitate reflection and discussion of important issues and subjects through the lens of the humanities.
• Nourish connections between libraries, local scholars, and the community.

The goals of the Let’s Talk About It: Women’s Suffrage theme are to:

• Advance civic education and knowledge of a key moment in the history of voting rights through facilitated discussion, focused on a series of books and questions curated by national scholars.
• Provide opportunities for communities to deepen their knowledge of American history and culture by examining events and individuals who impacted the women’s suffrage movement.
• Engage communities in critical reflection and discussion on the women’s suffrage movement, the movement’s lasting impact, and the history of voting rights and citizenship.

Applicants should design a minimum of five programs using the LTAI model and plan to collaborate with a local scholar for each event. Each program must highlight one of the five books in the LTAI: Women’s Suffrage theme. Plans for the facilitated conversation should suit an adult audience and incorporate relevant key humanities focus areas. Libraries selected for funding will receive:

• $1,000 to support costs related to hosting LTAI: Women’s Suffrage programs
• 10 copies of each of the five theme readings:
• The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss
• Women Making History: The 19th Amendment Book, essays compiled by the National Park Service
• Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha S. Jones
• Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells by Michelle Duster
• The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow 
• Access to online copies of an LTAI programming guide and LTAI: Women’s Suffrage theme support materials (e.g. scholarly essay, discussion questions, related reading list)
• Training on the LTAI model through a virtual workshop hosted in February 2022
• A suite of online resources developed to support LTAI: Women’s Suffrage programming, including template press releases, social media messaging, logos, and digital promotional materials
• Technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term, such as access to online learning opportunities for grantees intended to assist project directors in promoting the LTAI programming, completing grant reporting requirements, and participating in evaluation and a community of practice for project directors and staff

For guidelines and more information, including a link to the application, please visit the website: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/ltai/suffrage/guidelines.

NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grants

Deadlines: Optional Draft due November 15, 2021
Application due: January 14, 2022

Proposals are welcome in any area of the humanities from organizations of all types and sizes. The Digital Humanities Advancement Grants program (DHAG) supports innovative, experimental, and/or computationally challenging digital projects at different stages of their lifecycles, from early start-up phases through implementation and sustainability.

IMLS encourages DHAG applicants to work in collaboration, and employ the expertise of, library and archives staff at your institution or across the country to strengthen knowledge networks, empower community learning, foster civic cohesion, advance research, and support the traditionally underserved.

The maximum award amounts are:

• Level I: $50,000
• Level II: $150,000
• Level III: $350,000 in outright funds, with an additional $50,000 in matching funds

Examples of an expected output include: Article; Digital Infrastructure; Digital Material and Publication; Report; Software; Teaching Resources. Projects can be carried out during a time period of up to thirty-six months.

DHAG applicants must respond to one or more of these programmatic priorities:

• research and refinement of innovative, experimental, or computationally challenging methods and techniques
• enhancement or design of digital infrastructure, such as open-source code, tools, or platforms, that contribute to and support the humanities
• research that examines the history, criticism, ethics, or philosophy of digital culture or technology and its impact on society, including racial, religious, and/or gender biases
• evaluative studies that investigate the practices and the impact of digital scholarship on research, pedagogy, scholarly communication, and public engagement

Application: Please visit the website at https://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-advancement-grants for more details and application information.

ALA Grants--Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries

Deadline: September 16, 2021

The American Library Association (ALA) invites libraries in small and rural communities to apply for round three of grant funding to help  address issues of concern in their communities. The goals of these grants are to teach library workers facilitation skills, through the LTC: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries asynchronous six-part e-course and facilitation guide, that will empower them to lead a community conversation and to provide flexible funding to support libraries’ community engagement efforts.

Up to 100 U.S. libraries in small and rural communities will receive $3,000, online professional development, and resources to tackle issues ranging from media literacy to COVID-19 safety to unemployment. Applicants must have a membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries. This opportunity is open to all types of libraries serving small and/or rural communities in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) defines libraries serving small communities as those with a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and a rural community as one that is more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area.

Libraries that previously were awarded LTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grants are eligible to apply for additional funding to expand their previously awarded projects.

For more information, and to apply, visit the website. 

FREE Library Journal Webcast: New Federal Funding for Libraries: What It Means For You

Event Time: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM Pacific, 10AM Mountain, 11AM Central, 12 Eastern

Learn about the brand new funding for public libraries that the Federal government has made available through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund.

In this webcast, we will cover how many millions are included; how libraries can get it directly from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, through their state library, or from the FCC; what expenses are eligible to spend it on; and more. Led by Stephanie Gerding (me!), writer of ALA's Winning Grants, Second Edition, the Library Grants blog, and library grants expert.

Presented by: Kajeet, Baker & Taylor, Bibliotheca, Brainfuse, Playaway, and Library Journal

Presenters:

Michael Flood, GM/SVP of Education Markets, Kajeet
Jason Broughton, State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
Thomas McMurdo, Assistant State Librarian, Information & Access, Vermont Department of Libraries
Joshua Muse, Library Consultant, Vermont Department of Libraries
Cynthia Landrum, Deputy Director, Library Services, IMLS
Catherine Prince, Federal Programs Consultant, State Library of North Carolina

IMLS American Rescue Plan Act Grants ($15 Million)

Deadline: June 28, 2021

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has a new funding opportunity for museums, libraries, and Native American and Native Hawaiian communities. This $15 million federal investment will provide support to address community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and in assisting with recovery. Grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000-$50,000.

Proposals may continue, enhance, or expand existing programs and services, or they may launch new ones to address emergent needs and unexpected hardships. Reflecting IMLS’s goals of championing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and advancing collections stewardship and access, successful projects for this grant program will:

• Advance digital inclusion through approaches that may include, but are not limited to, improving digital platforms, online services, connectivity (e.g., hotspots), and creating digital literacy programs, as well as creating new processes and procedures needed to sustain a robust online environment.
• Support hiring new staff and training or retraining existing staff to ensure a workforce that has the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Build community-focused partnerships, networks, and alliances with organizations with an emphasis on complementing, rather than duplicating, resources and services.
• Support the creation and delivery of online and in-person educational, interpretive, and experiential programs and exhibitions for learners of all ages.
• Provide trusted spaces for community engagement and dialogue to foster recovery and rebuilding.
• Support efforts to collect, preserve, manage, and interpret documentary sources and tangible objects representing all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic experience.

Award announcements will be announced in October 2021. Make sure you register early for a D-U-N-S® number; register with the System of Award Management (SAM) at sam.gov, and create a Grants.gov account.

Application: To apply for this grant, view the Notice of Funding Opportunity for all details, and visit the IMLS website.

NEA Grants for Arts Projects

Deadline: July 8, 2021 (register on SAM.gov no later than June 16, 2021)

These National Endowment for the Arts grants support artistically excellent projects that celebrate creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity. Cost share/matching grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required. Projects may be large or small, existing or new, and may take place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Projects may consist of one or more specific events or activities. Applicants may be nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes with small, medium, or large budgets, and from rural to urban communities.

Grant applications previously submitted to the Art Works category will now be submitted to the Grants for Arts Projects category. Earliest announcement of grant award is April 2022. For more information, visit the website and navigate the links on the upper left-hand side of the page.

FTRF Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week Grants

Deadline: June 4, 2021

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants to non-profit organizations including all types of libraries, schools,  universities to support activities which raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Week celebration (Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2021). Grants are awarded at two levels, $1,000 and $2,500. 

Create an exciting program, host a community conversation, or create an eye-catching display celebrating the freedom to read! Because of COVID-19, entries for virtual projects are welcome this year. 

For more information and to apply, visit www.ftrf.org/?page=Krug_BBW.

NASA@ My Library Grant

Deadline: July 21, 2021

NASA@ My Library is a STEM education initiative created to increase and enhance STEAM learning opportunities for library patrons throughout the nation, including geographic areas and populations currently underrepresented in STEAM education. 

Sixty U.S. public libraries will be selected through a competitive application process to become NASA@ My Library Partners. They will receive training and resources to implement NASA events and programming, access to a university Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support patron engagement, and a $1,600 programming stipend to purchase materials for NASA STEAM activities and/or support presentations by local NASA-funded SMEs.  

NASA@ My Library is offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and Education Development Center (EDC).

Application: For more information, including the application, project guidelines, and frequently asked questions, visit the website: http://www.ala.org/tools/programming/nasalibraries. 

What's the most important part of a grant proposal?! The abstract/summary! It's the first impression and critical to success. It is often carefully scrutinized to determine if the proposal should be considered, so it should be able to stand on its own. Even though it is often placed at the beginning of a grant proposal, it isn't an introduction. Instead, it should include all the elements of your grant proposal. Write it last to make it shine!

State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grants

Deadline: Opens June 2, 2021; closes after 2,000 submissions. Plan ahead!

 State Farm Neighborhood Assist offers $25,000 grants to support Neighborhood Improvement Projects  throughout the United States. Submissions are accepted for any cause that would help enhance a local neighborhood. The program has three phases:
1) Individuals submit causes they think deserve a $25,000 grant.
2) The State Farm Review Committee narrows down the submissions to the top 200 and pairs them with nonprofit organizations that can help make them happen.
3) The public votes to select the top 40 causes.

Each winning cause that meets all of the entry criteria will receive a $25,000 grant, which is provided to the eligible nonprofit that administers the cause. If the administrators of the cause are not eligible, a qualified nonprofit organization can be selected whom they are associated with to accept the grant on their behalf. The submission process opens on June 2, 2021, and will close when 2,000 submissions have been made. Visit the State Farm Neighborhood Assist website to download the 2021 Submission Guide and prepare for June 2nd.

The Lisa Libraries Book Donation Program

Deadline: Ongoing

The Lisa Libraries donates new children's books and helps establish small libraries for organizations that work with kids in poor and under-served areas. Founded in 1990, the Lisa Libraries was started by author Ann M. Martin and friends to honor and memorialize children's book editor Lisa Novak. Some of the libraries established have been at day-care centers, prison visiting areas for children of incarcerated parents, homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, and after-school programs. The Lisa Libraries supplements under-filled shelves as well as provides books to many children who may never have owned a book before. Since its founding, the Lisa Libraries has contributed over 350,000 books to nonprofit organizations across the country. Visit the website for easy application criteria.

May 13 Webinar! Winning Library Grants: Demystifying the Process

Date of webinar: May 13, 2021 10:00 AM PT (11 MT, 12 CT, 1 ET)

Missed the live webinar? The recording, downloadable slides, and a resources handout are available at: https://4libraries.thinkific.com for a $29 payment. Online course and live webinars also available. Thanks to everyone who attended. It was wonderful! 

Need a boost in motivation or skills for your grant work? Whether you are new to grant work or want a few new tips, discover the confidence and practical knowledge you need to win library grants with Stephanie Gerding, library grants expert and author of ALA’s Winning Grants.

Together we will go step by step through an easy-to-follow process for successful grant work. Using this proven strategy for success, you will learn the best method for writing winning grant proposals! Discover the most important thing to keep in mind when doing library grant work, find out what what funders are looking for in a successful grant proposal, and how to bring clarity and professionalism to your grant proposals.

Libraries are eligible for billions of dollars in recovery funding as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 passed in March, 2021. There are lots of grant opportunities! Learn tips for writing LSTA grants and getting the funding your community deserves. Shortcuts, practical advice, and a valuable handout will be shared. You CAN win grants for your library!

 Special pricing: $39.00 includes recording and handout.

Registration has ended.

Recent (2021) webinar feedback:

• "​This was one of the best webinars I have attended.  And I now have a grant opportunity that I plan to apply for right away! I am very grateful for this."
  
• "This was a fantastic presentation. I've already suggested it to coworkers and I'm excited to implement some of these tips in future grants."
  
• ​"This webinar is very timely and informative, especially considering the current climate.  The pandemic is wrecking havoc on most businesses, including libraries.  Because we have to find new methods to appeal to and support our patrons, additional funding through grants is extremely helpful."

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants

Deadline: May 20, 2021 (by 10 pm CST)

All types of schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help K-12th grade students that are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. The maximum grant amount is $4,000. Grants will be announced September 6, 2021. Applicant organization must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:

• Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
• Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
• Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs

For more information and to apply, visit the Dollar General 2021 Youth Literacy Grant website.

Believe in Reading Grants

Deadline: Ongoing (Grant applications are considered once a month)

Believe in Reading is funded by The Steve and Loree Potash Family Foundation. "Illiteracy has become such a serious problem in our country that 44 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children."  Believe in Reading funds excellent programs dedicated to the teaching and encouragement of reading for all ages anywhere in the world. 

Believe in Reading’s grants are renewable for up to three years, but a first year award does not guarantee any subsequent awards. At this time, the maximum grant amount is $10,000, new applicants are rarely funded for more than $3,000.

• Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs.
• Believe in Reading awards grants only to organizations that have been designated as having tax exempt status according to the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3), or its equivalent for educational institutions, including public libraries.
• Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy or English as a second language projects.
• Believe in Reading targets successful literacy programs which serve populations that show out of the ordinary needs, such as geographic areas with low reading scores and high poverty levels.

For more the grant guidelines and application, visit the website. 

Walmart Foundation Community Grant Program

Deadline: Proposals accepted Feb. 1, 2021-Dec. 31, 2021

The Community Grant Program awards grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 through every local facility (Walmart Stores, Sam's Clubs, and Logistics Facilities). Applications may be received anytime from February 1, 2021 until the deadline of Dec. 31. Eligible nonprofit organizations must directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding. All organizations applying for a Local Community grant must be registered with CyberGrants FrontDoor prior to applying. Organizations applying must meet one of the following criteria:

• An organization holding a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), (4), (6) or (19) of the Internal Revenue Code. 
• A recognized government entity: state, county, or city agency, including law enforcement or fire departments, that are requesting funds exclusively for public purposes;
• A K-12 public or private school, charter school, community/junior college, state/private college or university; or
• A church or other faith-based organization with a proposed project that benefits the community at large.

For more information and to apply, visit the website.

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund

Deadline: May 20, 2021

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund will assist public, school, academic, and tribal libraries across the United States and US Territories that are experiencing substantial economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted their ability to serve their community, especially traditionally underserved populations.

The Fund has 1.25 million dollars and will provide grants between $30,000 and $50,0000 to libraries/library systems/districts that have seen a substantial reduction in funding that impacts their ability to provide essential services to underserved populations in low to moderate income groups.

Grants are to help support library operations, including but not limited to staff time, collections, technology, equipment. Grants are to re-stablish, sustain, amplify, or create new needed services, to underserved target audience(s).

Library systems (municipal, county, district) and library school districts can submit only one application per system or district, but the application can request support for one or more library and /or one or more target audience across your system or district.

The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund is generously supported by Acton Family Giving as part of its pandemic responsive grant making. Initial seed funding was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of its efforts to bolster educational and cultural organizations devastated by the economic fallout out from COVID-19. Grants will be announced on June 23, 2021.

Visit the website to read the grant guidelines, view a recorded webinar, review sample applications, and apply.

NEH American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations Grants

Deadline: May 14, 2021

American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations emergency relief grants provide grants from $50,000 up to $500,000 to cultural organizations and educational institutions to support humanities projects across the fields of education, preservation and access, public programming, digital humanities, and scholarly research for one year. 

Through this funding opportunity, NEH will award grants to museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, independent research institutions, academic presses, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and other humanities organizations across the country to help these entities continue to advance their mission during the interruption of their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In keeping with Congress’s intent in enacting the American Rescue Plan, applicants may propose new humanities projects or focus on sustaining core humanities programs and activities. Relief funding may also be used for activities that emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff at cultural organizations across the country.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for the American Rescue Plan: Humanities Organizations program is available on the NEH website. Questions about this grant program should be directed to ARPorganizations@neh.gov. Before submitting an application, your organization must have a current and active D-U-N-S® number and Grants.gov registration.

Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Grants

Deadline: May 28, 2021

The Library of Congress is accepting applications from organizations that aim to incorporate Library of Congress resources into educational programs and materials for learners representing diverse professions and communities. The Teaching with Primary Sources grants support the Library’s mission to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.

Eligible grantees include: institutions of higher education, colleges, universities, professional associations, library systems, cultural institutions; educational organizations such as K-12 schools, after-school programs, literacy organizations, centers, clubs, associations of home-schooling parents, honor societies; and other professional, civic, regional, state and community groups.

Projects that receive funding may focus on diverse content areas (such as STEM, literacy, social studies, public health and journalism) or populations (such as English language learners, pre-service or in-service teachers, incarcerated youth and members of civic organizations). Applicants can propose using the Library’s online collections in one or more of the following approaches:

• Deliver educational programming to various categories of learners.
• Create and distribute primary source-based educational materials or tools for teaching specific content.
• Convene meetings of similar organizations to devise strategies for furthering common learning and teaching goals with Library of Congress materials.
• Conduct research with significant practitioner involvement that investigates the impact of incorporating Library of Congress resources into educational initiatives.

Grants will range from $35,000 to $100,000 for a 12-month period, with the possibility of up to two 

years of additional funding subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance under the current award. The grant period for initial awards is Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022.

For more information, please see the “Teaching with Primary Sources Funding Opportunity 2021” on theTeaching with Primary Sources Partner Program webpage. 

March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding

Woohoo! Get ready, library grant writers. Libraries are eligible for billions of dollars in recovery funding as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 passed by Congress on March 10, 2021. There will be lots of grant opportunities coming up! Here's an overview of some of the funding included: 

• The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) received $200 million
• $178 million allocated for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) will go to state library administrative agencies on a population-based formula, with $2 million state minimum
• $7.172 billion for an Emergency Education Connectivity Fund through the FCC’s E-rate program. Participating libraries will receive 100% reimbursement for the cost of hotspots and other Wi-Fi capable devices, modems, routers, laptops, tablets and similar devices to loan to patrons
• More than $360 billion to state, local and tribal community governments to offset potential cuts to public health, safety, and education programs
• $130 billion for education costs for the safe reopening of K-12 schools; hiring additional staff; reducing class size; modifying spaces; addressing academic & mental health needs
• $40 billion for colleges and institutions of higher education to defray pandemic-related expenses and provide emergency assistance to students
• $135 million each for National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities to support state and regional arts and humanities agencies. 40% of this funding is designated for grants and administration for state arts and humanities agencies, while 60% percent will go for direct grants eligible to libraries
• Visit ALA's site for a helpful overview and links to more information, including a handy form for thanking your members of Congress for passing legislation to help libraries and communities recover from the pandemic. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/american-rescue-plan-library-relief  

The Book Love Foundation Grants

Deadline Extended! March 15, 2021 April 15, 2021 
The Book Love Foundation believes that a love of reading is essential. We assist teachers with building inclusive classroom libraries to inspire and nurture a lasting love of reading. The Book Love Foundation seeks teachers who demonstrate a passion for promoting a hunger for books. These teachers recognize the diversity of every class of readers and they challenge each student to build an independent reading life of increasing depth and joy. Teachers who apply for a Book Love Foundation grant must demonstrate that they are already committed to the support of readers through current classroom practices and curates a book collection that represents our world. Applicant must be a full time preK-12 classroom teacher in the United States or Canada. Applicant must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to independent reading and book clubs as regular classroom practices.

Applicant must be willing to maintain the Book Love Foundation library in the applicant's classroom. The books received from this grant are not intended for a school-wide library or to be permanently divided among teachers. Creative sharing, however, is always encouraged.

Grant awards in 2021 will range from $1000.00 to $2000.00. Books are chosen by the grant winner to meet the needs of the students he/she teaches. For more information and to apply, visit the website: https://www.booklovefoundation.org/apply

2021 EBSCO Solar grant program

Deadline: May 3, 2021

For the fifth year, EBSCO Information Services is accepting applications for grants that will fund solar installations at libraries around the world. $200,000 in grants will be available to help winning libraries reduce their utilities expenses by installing solar arrays. All academic, school and public libraries that are current EBSCO customers are eligible to apply. EBSCO will pay for the initial installation through the grant. The library, town, or college will own the system and will be responsible for all post-installation/ongoing maintenance of the solar array. The EBSCO Solar webpage at www.ebsco.com/solar includes details such as the timeline, a link to the submission form and FAQs.

AASL Inspire COVID Recovery Grants

Deadline: February 1, 2021

Through a special offering of its Inspire Collection Development Grant, made possible through the generous support of Marina “Marney” Welmers, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) will offer a second round of grants to specifically address collection loss and remote access requirements due to COVID-19 public school closures. The grants are intended to help meet the needs of public middle and high school libraries making the return to in-person learning.

Purchasing can include books, online subscriptions and/or software collections, as well as accessibility extensions (hotspots, increased bandwidth, etc.). At least four grants of up to $5,000 will be funded. The application includes a two-page narrative that allows the applicant to describe their need and how they will use the funds.

Criteria, eligibility, and application requirements can be found at www.ala.org/aasl/awards/special.

ALA Pat Carterette Professional Development Grant

Deadline: March 1, 2021

The American Library Association's (ALA) Learning Round Table (LRT) will award up to $1,000 to an individual to participate in a continuing education event(s) between Sept. 1, 2021 and Aug. 31, 2022. Monies may be used to participate in continuing professional development event(s) offered by the American Library Association (ALA), an ALA-related unit or association, State Library Associations, ASTD, the American Management Association (AMA), or any other Learn RT Board approved activity/event. Grant funds can be used to cover registration, travel, lodging, or other expenses related to the event. Documentation/receipts will be required prior to payment. If the recipient is participating in a ALA or ALA-related event, monies will be transferred internally instead of being paid to the recipient. 

The award recipient will be required to share their new learning with other Round Table members in some way (newsletter, blog, list serve, etc.). In addition to the financial award, the recipient will be provided with access to a member of LRT, who will serve as a “Professional Development Mentor” throughout the award year. If the recipient is already an ALA member or becomes an ALA member, they will also receive a free one-year membership in LRT.

This grant, named after LRT's much admired past-president, the late Pat Carterette, is designed to honor her passion for professional development in the field of library and information sciences. A former staff development and continuing education coordinator at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library and the first Continuing Education Coordinator for the State Library of Georgia, Pat believed in providing outstanding educational opportunities for her colleagues to grow and develop within their field.

Applicants do not have to be ALA members to apply. Applicants must complete an online application (available at http://www.ala.org/rt/learnrt/pat-carterette-professional-development-grant).

NEA Challenge America Grants

Deadline: April 22, 2021 (advised to begin registration process on SAM.gov and Grants.gov by the end of March)

Since 2001, the National Endowment for the Arts grant program, Challenge America, has promoted equal access to the arts in communities across America. Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. The program features an abbreviated application, a standardized $10,000 grant amount, and a robust structure of technical assistance to facilitate entry to Arts Endowment funding opportunities. This category is an entry point for organizations seeking Arts Endowment funding as first time applicants  as well as previous Arts Endowment applicants who have not been recommended for funding in the last three years.

Challenge America supports arts projects in all artistic disciplines. Projects must extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. Possible projects include, but are not limited to: arts programming, including commissioning or presentation of artists or artwork; marketing and promotional activities; and organizational planning. Projects may consist of one or more specific events or activities, and should not cover an entire season of programming. Applicants should carefully read the application Review Criteria and address those criteria in the application. All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1 to 1. For more information, please visit the website: https://www.arts.gov/grants/challenge-america. 

Library of Congress Literacy Awards

Deadline: March 5, 2021

Through the generosity of philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors nonprofit organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. The awards also encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for promoting literacy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. They are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading.

The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded for an outstanding and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels to an organization based either inside or outside the United States that has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy. The organization will meet the highest standards of excellence in its operations and services.

The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the United States or the national awareness of the importance of literacy to an organization that is based in the United States.

The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the United States to an organization that is based either inside or outside the United States.

Successful Practice Honorees ($5,000): Each year up to 15 organizations that apply in the three major prize categories are recognized for their successful implementation of a specific literacy promotion practice.

For more information and to apply, visit the website.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grants

Deadlines: February 18, 2021

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and libraries that offer literacy programs in communities served by Dollar General in 44 states through the following grant programs:

• Adult Literacy Grants support organizations that provide direct services to adults in need of literacy assistance in one of the following areas: Adult Basic Education, GED or High School Equivalency Preparation, and/or English Language Acquisition. Maximum grant amount: $10,000.
• Family Literacy Grants support nonprofit organizations who support the whole family in literacy. Such as Adult Education Instruction, Children’s Education, Parent and Child Together Time (PACT); Maximum grant amount: $10,000.
• Summer Reading Grants help nonprofits and libraries with creating or expanding summer reading programs for Pre-K – 12th grade students, below grade level readers, or readers with learning disabilities. Maximum grant amount: $3,000. 

Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and libraries offering literacy programs in communities served by Dollar General. For more information visit the website.

ALA American Dream Literacy Initiative Grants

Deadline: January 29, 2021

The American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation invite public libraries to apply for grants of $5,000 to expand services for adult English language learners or adults in need of basic education and workforce development. Up to 16 grants will be awarded.

Public libraries are eligible if they serve adult English language learners and are located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center or corporate office. Visit the Dollar General Store Locator. The grants allow libraries to augment their print and digital ESL collections; increase computer/internet access and training; provide job training; hold ELL, GED and citizenship classes; implement virtual or in-person programs for adult literacy learners and raise the visibility of services for immigrant populations.

Visit the website to view the award guidelines and preview application criteria.

The Snapdragon Book Foundation

Deadline: February 14, 2021

The Snapdragon Book Foundation was started by a school librarian from Houston, Texas who believes all children deserve access to books. Grants are given to U.S. school libraries serving children, PreK through 12 years old. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. 

Grant funds may be used for: books that will be used repeatedly by school-aged children through classroom libraries, central library (or something similar); processing or cataloging fees from book vendors (for processing of the books ordered in conjunction with your Snapdragon project); reference materials for use by students; and for magazine or newspaper subscriptions.

For ideas of successfully funded grant projects, view the awarded grants on the website. For more information and the online application, visit: http://snapdragonbookfoundation.org.