Happy September! Here is a roundup of grants available to libraries with deadlines in the next few months, or with rolling or ongoing deadlines. Check back each month for an updated list!
McMurry Library Grants
Deadline: September 15, 2024
The Carol McMurry Library Endowment was established in 2000 within the Wyoming Community Foundation to provide support to Wyoming library staff and volunteers and to publicly accessible Wyoming libraries in three areas: Education & Training (Library & Individual), Library Resources, and Library Foundation Development. Resource grants can be used to purchase library books, audio-visual materials, informational software and hardware, and databases. Applications can be submitted for children, youth or adult resources, both physical and electronic. The library is expected to provide a collection analysis to support its justification for a grant and information on the population to be served by the project. More information can be found on the Wyoming State Library website.
Rocky Mountain Power Foundation
Deadline: September 15, 2024
The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation has four grant opportunities throughout the year. The next opportunity is for Arts festivals, cultural heritage, museums, music, theater/drama and visual arts. Grants generally are less than $10,000 with most between $2,000 and $5,000.
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
Deadline: September 20, 2024
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports the training and professional development of library and archives professionals; developing faculty and information leaders; and recruiting, educating, and retaining the next generation of library and archives professionals in order to develop a diverse library and archival workforce and meet the information needs of their communities. The program supports projects that develop or enhance practices, programs, or initiatives encouraging diverse or underrepresented students to pursue careers in library and information science, develop or enhance initiatives, programs, or curricula to increase the capacity of institutions to educate or retain diverse or underrepresented library and information science students, develop or enhance professional development and training programs to enable the library and archival workforce to meet the needs of their communities, support the research of untenured, tenure-track library and information science faculty, furthering the faculty member’s long-term research agenda, career trajectory, and professional development.
National Leadership Grants for Libraries
Deadline: September 20, 2024
The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that develop, enhance, or disseminate replicable practices, programs, models, or tools to strengthen library and archival services for the American public. The program supports projects that serve the learning needs of the public through libraries and archives, improve community well-being through libraries and archives, provide broad access to and preservation of information and collections through libraries and archives; or provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program
Deadline: September 23, 2024
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will accept applications for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. This grant, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to fund initiatives that ensure communities have the access and skills to fully participate in the digital world, regardless of their background or circumstances. NTIA anticipates issuing between 150 and 200 grants within a range of $5-$12 million per award. Eligible organizations include state agencies, such as agencies responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities; native entities; nonprofits; community anchor institutions; local educational agencies; and workforce development programs.
PLA/AT&T Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive
Deadline: October 18, 2024
The Public Library Association (PLA), in partnership with AT&T, offers funding and resources through the Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive program to support libraries in teaching essential digital skills using PLA’s DigitalLearn course modules and training materials that are freely available to anyone. Fifty large libraries will receive $10,000 each to teach a minimum of 75 learners. Fifty small libraries (service population of less than 100,000) will receive $5,000 each to teach a minimum of 30 learners. Grant funds can be used for hiring trainers, purchasing training aids, giveaways, and technology, printing materials, advertising workshops, translating materials, providing snacks, transportation, and childcare, renting space, and more.
Council on Library and Information Resources: Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives
Deadline: October 30, 2024
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices, a program of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), supports the digitization of rare and unique materials held by collecting organizations in the U.S. and Canada. For the 2024-2025 cycle, up to $4,000,000 in grants will be provided for projects digitizing materials in a variety of formats that enrich the public’s understanding of the histories of underrepresented communities, particularly those of people of color and other communities and populations whose work, experiences, and perspectives have been insufficiently recognized or unattended. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, academic, independent, and community-based organizations as well as government entities in the U.S. and Canada that collect, preserve, and share rare and unique materials with the general public.
Kindness Grows Here: Kid Kindness Grants
Deadline: November 1, 2024
Kindness Grows Here is a grassroots organization on a mission to create a kinder world by fostering kindness in youth. Through Kid Kindness Grants, support is provided to kids between the ages of five and 18 who have ideas for spreading kindness. The intent of these grants is for young people to be involved in developing and carrying out their own ideas dedicated to solving problems in their community by spreading kindness. Applications must be written and submitted by someone who is five to 18 years old. Both individuals and groups of kids may apply, including a group of friends, a school club, a classroom, a scout troop, or a sports team, etc. Individuals may apply for up to $250. Small groups (two to four kids) may apply for up to $500. Large groups (five or more kids) may apply for up to $800. All applicants must have an adult supervising their project.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Deadline: December 11, 2024 Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. To be eligible, a library must have a legal area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries. ALA will award four rounds of grants to be distributed over the next four years ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Participating libraries will first conduct community input-gathering sessions to assure that their work aligns with local needs. Libraries will be required to identify the primary audience they are hoping to reach (e.g., homebound seniors, children with autism, Deaf community members) and facilitate a community conversation with the impacted populations in order to guide the improvement of the library’s services. Grantees would then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities based on the needs identified by their audience.
Wyoming Humanities’ Indian Education for All Program
Deadline: Ongoing
One of the best ways to fulfill the Indian Education for All Act is to have Tribal Knowledge Keepers visit Wyoming classrooms. This is not always feasible because costs for travel and honorarium to those wanting to share their valuable wisdom. To address these challenges, Wyoming Humanities is offering funds for K-12 educators in Wyoming to bring an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper into their school, classroom, or field trip. All requests for support should help fulfill Indian Education for All standards and requirements. Wyoming Humanities will offer one-time compensation to support the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Keeper in the classroom, including: a $350 Honoraria (a “thank you” for the Indigenous Knowledge Keeper’s time and energy) and $200 in travel funds (if 100+ miles roundtrip) Payment will be made directly to the Indigenous Knowledge Keeper. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If payment is required prior to the classroom visit, apply at least six weeks before the visit. If payment is NOT required prior to the classroom visit, apply at least four weeks before the visit.
Wish You Well Foundation
Deadline: Ongoing
The Wish You Well Foundation supports adult and family literacy in the United States by fostering the development and expansion of new and existing adult literacy and educational programs. The focus is on supporting nonprofit organizations that teach adults the literacy skills they need to communicate, grow, and thrive within their communities. Grants amounts range from $200 to $10,000.
Scholastic Possible Fund
Deadline: Ongoing
The Scholastic Possible Fund was established to provide a single repository of quality children’s books to be donated to charity partners that share the Company’s mission to improve global literacy and put books into the hands of children who might otherwise have none. The Fund seeks to improve access to books in underserved communities and to provide relief in communities recovering from crises or natural disasters. The non-profit partners receiving donations from the Fund have demonstrated the ability to effectively educate children and families in diverse communities about the importance of books and reading from birth through adulthood.
Jan Stauber-Sherlock Holmes Literacy Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
The mission of the Jan Stauber Grants is to provide needed financial assistance to persons and organizations developing literacy programs and other educational experiences that will introduce young people to Sherlock Holmes. Educators or librarians can be awarded up to $1,000 for a project that encourages young people to read and introduces them to Sherlock Holmes.
Books Save Lives Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Each Books Save Lives Grant will provide up to $5,000 per school library. The grant money must be used toward purchasing diverse books and the books must remain on the shelves for a minimum of three years. Applicants must nominate a school library within the United States to receive a Books Save Lives Grant. Applications may be completed anonymously. The grant must be used to purchase diverse books for school libraries. Winning libraries may select titles and quantities based on book lists provided by WNDB. We will ship the books directly to the school. Note: we will continue adding books to the lists. Winning schools must provide a signed written agreement that the books they receive via the grant will remain on shelves for a minimum of three years.
Art Resources Transfer’s Library Program
Deadline: Ongoing
This program provides free books on contemporary art to public institutions nationwide. Public libraries, public schools, prisons, and reading centers that self-define as under-served are eligible to order free books through our Library Program. Institutions can order anytime throughout the year. Books are entirely free and shipped free of charge.
The Pilcrow Foundations Children’s Book Project Program Grant
DEADLINE: Rolling The Pilcrow Foundation, a national non-profit public charity, provides a 2-to-1 match to rural public libraries that receive a grant through its Children’s Book Project and contribute $200-$400 through a local sponsors for the purchase of up to $1,200 worth (at retail value) of new, quality, hardcover children’s books. We provide a list of over 500 quality hardcover children’s books from which Children’s Book Project grant recipients can select books best suited for their community. The book list includes award-winning and star-reviewed titles from educational and literary organizations.
Black Hills Corporation Community Giving
DEADLINE: Ongoing
Areas of focus are arts and culture, civic and community development, education, environment, human services, and youth development. Giving limited to Black Hills Energy service areas.
BNSF Railway Foundation Grants
DEADLINE: Ongoing
Supports organizations and programs that support and improve the general welfare and quality of life in the communities in which BNSF Railway Company operates. Generally, they will consider requests for funding that clearly fall within one or more of the following categories: civic services, cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and human service organizations, youth organizations, and a federally recognized tribal government.
T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program
DEADLINE: Ongoing
T-Mobile is investing $25M in 500 rural towns over 5 years to jumpstart projects and build stronger communities. These grants can be used to help upgrade tech at your local library, build new hiking trails, revitalize historic buildings, and more.