Happy August! 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!
Building Capacity to Increase Older Adult Access to Health Essentials Programs
Deadline: August 23, 2024
AARP Foundation seeks to support local, regional or national partners to build their capacity to connect adults age 50 and older to programs that increase access and affordability of food, health care and medicine (“health essentials programs”).
Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Bookmobile Book Grants
Deadline: September 1, 2024
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation awards grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8. Bookmobiles operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses.
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.
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.