Happy January! 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!
Penguin Random House & United for Libraries Grants to Rural and Small Libraries
Application Dates: February 3-17, 2025
Penguin Random House, in partnership with United for Libraries, is offering grants to support rural and small U.S. libraries. Grants of $500 and $1,000 will be awarded, from a total grant pool of $25,000. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles. Along with the grants, recipients will receive free eLearning from United for Libraries, including monthly webinars on leveraging grant funds to support libraries. Free sessions will help libraries prepare for the application process and strengthen their grant-writing skills. For more details and to register, visit this United for Libraries form.
ALA Pat Carterette Professional Development Grant
Application Dates: February 15, 2025
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 September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. 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.
Library of Congress Literacy Awards
Application Dates: February 18, 2025
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the U.S. or abroad. 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, which 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 Kislak Family Foundation Prize ($100,000) is awarded to an organization based either inside or outside of the United States with an outsized impact on literacy relative to its size and/or years of operation. The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded to an organization based in the United States for making a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the U.S. or the national awareness of the importance of literacy. The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded to an organization that is based either inside or outside the United States for their significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the U.S. Successful Practices Honorees ($10,000) are recognized for their successful implementation of a specific literacy promotion practice. Up to 15 organizations that apply in the major prize categories will receive $10,000. Emerging Strategies Honorees ($5,000) are recognized for a literacy initiative in its early stages of development (5 years or fewer) that demonstrate significant creativity and promise in their approach to literacy. Up to 5 organizations will receive $5,000.
STARS Virginia Boucher Distinguished ILL Librarian Award
Deadline: February 21, 2025
This is an award from Reference and User Services Association and the American Library Association . The STARS Virginia Boucher Distinguished ILL (Interlibrary Loan) Librarian Award is an annual award consisting of $2,000, sponsored by OCLC, and a citation. It recognizes an individual for outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and contributions to interlibrary loan and document delivery through recent publication of significant professional literature, participation in professional associations, and/or innovative approaches to practice in individual libraries. The candidate must have been employed in a library and held some responsibility for his or her institution’s ILL, document delivery, or resource sharing services at the time the contributions to be honored were made.
BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award
Deadline: February 21, 2025
BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award from Reference and User Services Association and the American Library Association . This award is available to a librarian that has distinguished themselves in the field of Business Librarianship. This award is sponsored by Mergent by FTSE Russell. The recipient’s contribution may lie in a variety of endeavors, such as authoring a seminal book or articles in business librarianship, the development of an imaginative and successful program centered around business within a library, the teaching of business librarianship in a particularly creative manner, the display of unusually strong leadership in a professional association geared to business librarianship, or other activities that encourage librarians to excel in business librarianship.
Wyoming Community Foundation General Grants
Deadline: March 15, 2025
General Grants from Wyoming Community Foundation . WYCF is focused on funding programs that meet the needs of Wyoming communities. Applications are accepted in the areas of Arts and Culture, Health and Human Services, Education, Environment and Conservation, Civic and Community Building. 501(c)3 nonprofits are eligible to apply and, on occasion, public/governmental agencies. Previously funded grants have supported the Boys and Girls Club, 4-H, pre-school scholarships, youth mentorship and leadership, library safety and security, and more.
Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture
Deadline: March 15, 2025
Talk Story grant funding supports library and community organization opportunities to highlight AANHPI and AIAN stories through programs, services, and collection materials. Children and families can connect to rich cultural activities through Talk Story in their homes, libraries, and communities while challenging mainstream Anglocentric literacy practices. They welcome libraries and community organizations to develop their own Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture project to serve family literacy needs. Four grants of $500 are available to libraries and community organizations that serve AANHPI or AIAN children and their families. With the exception of cross-border tribal organizations, organizations must be based in the United States or U.S. territories. Organizations who have previously been awarded two Talk Story grants are ineligible for additional awards.
University of Washington: Scaling Community Through Archives
Deadline: April 1, 2025
The University of Washington (UW) iSchool’s Scaling Community Through Archives is seeking to advance community archives work in diverse public library contexts, with a focus on rural or small libraries and large, urban public library systems. All public library staff are eligible to apply including librarians, archivists, paraprofessionals, and others. A stipend of $7,000 can be used for implementing a community archiving project (e.g. staff time, equipment, event costs, honoraria, etc.). Participants will also receive $2,000 toward travel costs for training on September 9-11 in Seattle, WA. Cohort participants will receive support and guidance through check-in meetings and opportunities for mentoring and learning with the other cohort participants. Proposed community archives projects can be at any stage of development or implementation, such as the continuation of an in-process project, the beginning stages of a longer-term project, or a project that will take place within the span of the program. The funds can be used to advance an existing effort or to develop a new community archives project. All proposed projects should have clear deliverables which can be accomplished during the program timeline. Some examples of the types of projects you may consider include hosting a “Story Fest” or similar community event, setting up a mobile preservation station and hosting digitization/oral history recording events in your community, launching a community-centered oral history project, or developing a community-focused web archiving program.
Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award
Deadline: April 15, 2025
This award was established with funding from Simon and Schuster to honor Maureen Hayes for her life-long efforts to bring together children and authors/illustrators. The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award pays for the honorarium and travel for a visiting author/illustrator. Applicants must be personal members of ALSC as well as the ALA.
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 Grant 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.