Happy March! 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!
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 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and American Indian and Alaska Native (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.
McMurry Continuing Staff Education Grants
Deadline: March 31, 2025 (also May 31, July 31, September 30, and November 30)
Grants of up to $2,000 are available to employees at Wyoming’s libraries who have been employed at the same library for a minimum period of 12 months. This grant supports coursework for certification or completion of degree in a library-related subject area or attendance at conferences, workshops or seminars. Grants are made bi-monthly, beginning January 31. (See deadlines above.)
Native American Library Services: Enhancement Grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Deadline: April 1, 2025
This grant program is designed to assist eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. Projects may involve, but are not limited to, activities such as educational programming for all ages; digital media and technology enhancements; professional training, internships, and mentorships; supporting and engaging with cultural practitioners and scholars; oral history collection and documentation; and more. Applications involving partnerships or collaborations are welcome so long as the Tribe is the lead applicant. Potential partners can include other departments within the Tribe, Tribal colleges and universities, school libraries, or local non-Tribal libraries and non-profits. If the Tribe collaborates with a partner, the Tribe must meet all eligibility requirements, serve as the lead applicant, and administer the award on behalf of the other(s).
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.
EBSCO Solar Grants
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Solar power is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available. EBSCO now has more than 500 solar panels offsetting the amount of “brown power” we buy and generating clean energy to reduce EBSCO’s environmental footprint. We believe we can help make a critical impact on improving the environment and we want to help a library make the same transition to green power. For the tenth year in a row, EBSCO is accepting applications for grants that will fund solar installations at libraries around the world. EBSCO will be making a total of $300,000 in grants available. Applicants must be EBSCO customers.
Young Adult Services Symposium Stipends
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Every year YALSA holds the Young Adult Services Symposium and provides up to two stipends for attendance. Both stipends offer up to $1,000 in funds for travel and registration. One stipend will be awarded to a library worker with one to ten years of experience who works directly with young adults, and the other will be awarded to a student enrolled in an ALA-accredited MLS program at the time of the symposium.
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 honorarium 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 this 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
These grants are given to organizations and programs that support and improve the general welfare and quality of life in the communities in which BNSF Railway Company operates. Generally, requests that clearly fall within one or more of the following categories will be considered for funding: 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.