Embedded Files
“Replay: What Libraries Should Know About Immigration Site Visits" 1/27 at 2PM or 1/30 at 10AM | "Centering Ethics in Generative AI" 1/29 at 3PM
January
January
January 20
The Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia presents a citation and a grant of $2,500 each to two libraries to support the creation of new services and/or new programming to directly serve those living with dementia. Applications that describe only existing services or programming are not eligible for this grant. The founder wishes to encourage institutional commitment to serving this population.
January 21
This program will award grants of $500 and $1,000 to support libraries in need. Specifically, grant funds will assist Friends of Library groups with priority projects. Additionally, in-kind book donation grants of $500 will be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles. To be eligible for a cash or in-kind grant, Friends groups must be in support of a rural/small U.S. library. Grants will be administered by United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, whose mission is to support those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for all types of libraries. Grant funding is provided by Penguin Random House. In addition to a grant of $500 or $1,000, or a book donation grant, recipients will also receive complimentary eLearning from United for Libraries, including a year of access to United for Libraries Learning Live monthly webinars which present in-depth training to library Trustees/Board Members, Friends, Foundations, advocates, and those who work with them, and training on how to leverage the grant funds to build support for the library and the Friends group.
Draft Application Deadline (Required): January 23
Final Application Deadline: March 6
The Minnesota legislature and Governor Walz have allocated $1 million to the State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid program, which is administered by the Minnesota Historical Society. The purpose is to o support historic preservation construction projects of a capital nature for publicly owned buildings. The minimum grant is $10,001. There currently is no request cap. Funds must be matched at least 1 to 1. Matching funds may be cash, in-kind, and/or donated services or materials contributed to the project. State funds may not be used as a match. Applicants must be a political subdivision eligible to receive state bond funds as defined in Minnesota Statutes sections, 16A.695 and 138.0525. The primary recipients of state capital project grants are public entities. The property for which funds are being requested must be publicly owned and must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or have been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register by the State Historic Preservation Office.
January 26
The Native Language Revitalization Grant supports efforts by school districts, charter schools, and Tribal contract schools in Minnesota to provide instruction in Indigenous languages, including Dakota, Anishinaabe, or other Native languages of the United States or Canada. This competitive state grant encourages the revitalization and expansion of language programs that strengthen cultural connections, support student learning, and help preserve Indigenous linguistic heritage across Minnesota communities.February
February
February 1 (3:30 PM)
The AASL Innovative Reading Grant awards up to $2,500 to projects that support the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for K-9th learners which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers.February 1 (3:30 PM)
The ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant is given to school library associations that are AASL Chapters for planning and implementing leadership programs at the state, regional, or local levels. Possibilities include programs that:- Involve new members;
- Train on-going leaders;
- Prepare school librarians to be building or district level leaders;
- Encourage collaboration among organizations.
February 2
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is an annual grant to recognize, promote, and support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community. For the 2023-2024 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on community empowerment. This is the process of facilitating a populace to build capacity and collaborate to make important decisions about their communities.February 2
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. This grant aims to help ease budget challenges by annually awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort. For the 2023–2024 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a grant to support programming related to civic education. Some example proposals could include: 1) a program focused on voting (i.e. a book discussion on the history of voting, a program to register voters, an event teaching patrons about voting rights, etc.); 2) a program teaching media and/or information literacy skills to build an informed general public; or 3) a program relaying avenues for community advocacy, such as how to run for local office. All library types — including public, academic, K-12, tribal and special libraries are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
February 3
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000.
February 5
This grant program awards funding to organizations that provide direct services to adults in need of literacy assistance in one of the following areas:- Adult Education Instruction
- GED or high school equivalency preparation
- English Language Acquisition
February 5
This grant program supports the creation or expansion of summer reading programs. Local nonprofit organizations, schools and libraries are eligible to apply if their programs meet the following criteria:- Target Pre-K through 12th-grade students who are new readers
- Target below grade level readers
- Assist readers with learning disabilities
February 5
Nonprofit organizations who support the whole family in literacy and are seeking funding are encouraged to apply if they provide all of the following:- Adult Education Instruction
- Children’s Education
- Parent and Child Together Time (PACT)
February 6
The Innovation in Service Learning Grants support schools and community partners in creating or expanding youth-led service learning initiatives that address real-world community needs. These grants encourage meaningful collaboration between students, educators, and local organizations to design projects that strengthen relationships, build civic skills, and increase opportunities for underserved youth to engage in sustained, impactful learning beyond the classroom.
February 11
This grant program situates the study of topics and themes in the humanities within sites, areas, or regions of historic and cultural significance to expand participants’ knowledge of and approaches to teaching diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives in the United States and its jurisdictions. Landmarks supports a series of one-week residential, virtual, and combined format workshops across the nation to enhance and strengthen how K-12 educators incorporate place-based teaching and learning in the humanities.February 11
This grant program situates the study of topics and themes in the humanities within sites, areas, or regions of historic and cultural significance to expand participants’ knowledge of and approaches to teaching diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives in the United States and its jurisdictions. Landmarks supports a series of one-week residential, virtual, and combined format workshops across the nation to enhance and strengthen how higher education faculty and humanities professionals incorporate place-based teaching and learning in the humanities.
February 12
Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides expansive funding opportunities to strengthen the nation’s arts and culture ecosystem. Through project-based funding, the program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Applications are welcomed from organizations serving rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. This grant funds art projects in the following disciplines: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts.
February 14 (5 PM)
The Justice & Liberation fund provides financial resources to Black-led groups working on the frontlines of justice. Organizations selected will receive unrestricted, general operating support of $50,000 paid out over two years. These grants will advance and strengthen the Black movement ecosystem in Minnesota.
February 15
The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) offers awards for the implementation of Holly Maxson Conservation Grants. The grants are designed to build awareness among students (middle school through undergraduate) about conservation and related fields and to encourage students to consider the field of conservation as a career path. A broad range of projects might be proposed, such as curriculum development, online resources, pilot projects within an institution, or video production. Two or more awards will be given every two years.February 15
Grants support projects and activities that improve public understanding of conservation and support under resourced institutions in meeting their collection care needs. This could include collaborating with an institution on rehousing of collections or giving a public lecture to help advance awareness of the conservation field. Priority will be given to projects and programming that develop community awareness of conservation, engage media coverage of conservation activities, and create connections between conservation practitioners and allied practitioners and/or the public.Funding may be used to help defray organizational costs, necessary materials and supplies, travel costs, honoraria, site fees, and other expenses such as marketing and publicity. Grants are not intended to support focused conservation treatment, large scale initiatives such as a collections assessment or ongoing programming, or activities at the AIC Annual Meeting.
February 24
The Recordings at Risk grant program supports the preservation of rare, unique, or historically significant audio and audiovisual recordings that are threatened by degradation or obsolete formats. Administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources and funded by the Mellon Foundation, the program provides regranting funds to help organizations digitize fragile time‑based media—such as magnetic tape, discs, film, and other formats—to ensure these recordings can be preserved, accessed, and used by researchers and the public for years to come.
Opens: January 26
Letters of Intent Due: TBD
Better Communities Grants are Rochester Area Foundation’s competitive grant awards, providing unrestricted funding for the core mission of critical community organizations. The purpose of these grants is twofold. First, we seek to empower nonprofits to expand, improve or pursue their best ideas, and second, to build the capacity and infrastructure of organizations that are poised for growth. RAF recognizes that support for general operations is some of the hardest funding to secure. Yet the uninterrupted running of core organizational activities is essential to the success of thriving communities.March
March
March 1
The Society for Industrial Archeology offers Industrial Heritage Preservation Grants (DeLony Grants) from $1000 to $3000 for the study, documentation, recordation, and/or preservation of significant historic industrial sites, structures, and objects. Awards are made to nonprofit organizations and qualified individuals. Contributions of in-kind services, as well as cash resources from the sponsoring and cosponsoring agencies may qualify for matching purposes. Funds may be used for a range of projects including, but not limited to: increasing public awareness of preservation efforts, photography, videography, preparing inventories and developing measured drawings of extant significant industrial sites, structures, maritime facilities and industrial artifacts.March 2
This fund aims to save historic environments in order to foster an appreciation of our nation’s diverse cultural heritage and to preserve and revitalize the livability of the nation’s communities. Grants from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. Applicants must be either a public agency, 501(c) (3), or other nonprofit organization to be considered eligible.March 2
The purpose of the fund is to assist in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. Grants may be made for activities and projects such as:- Obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, planning, paint analysis, archeology, or graphic design
- Hiring a preservation architect to create an interior restoration plan
- Hiring a consultant to develop a conservation plan for an interior's textiles
- Producing a historic furnishings plan
- Sponsoring a workshop on the preservation of historic interiors
- Restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, and preservation of designated historic interiors, including bricks-and-mortar interior construction
March 6
This grant supports Minnesota school districts, charter schools, and tribal schools in creating, evaluating, and implementing ethnic studies coursework for grades 5-12. Rooted in recent state legislation that expands ethnic studies instruction statewide, this competitive grant helps schools develop meaningful, community-informed curricula that reflect diverse histories, cultures, and experiences and enrich student learning across disciplines.
Registration Request Deadline: March 12
Through this program, direct support will be provided to community-based archives that represent and serve communities marginalized due to oppression. These grants may provide support in one or more of the following areas of need:- Operational costs, including staff, space, and utilities.
- Collections care, including the acquisition of new materials, physical and digital storage fees, and access and preservation efforts.
- Programming activities, including events, exhibitions, and increased community usage.
Community-based archives are defined as organizations that gather and share materials as members of under-documented communities to preserve and celebrate their collective histories. These archives serve to affirm and uplift their community’s existence and identity, to help combat patterns of misinformation, and to provide a trusted environment for the perpetuation of community traditions, art forms, and languages, among other forms of empowerment. Formed as counter responses to a long legacy of oversight and extraction by mainstream cultural heritage institutions and by the academy, these archives are essential to the creation of a more inclusive and multivocal American story.
March 15
The Games and Gaming Round Table of the American Library Association is proud to sponsor its annual grant program to enable libraries to develop gaming programs or collections for their public. Through the Game On! Grant, $2000 will be available to be awarded either as one grant of $2000 or two of $1000 each to assist a library (or libraries) in developing gaming programs or collections for their communities. GameRT members in good standing currently employed at a public, school, academic or special library in the United States or Canada are eligible to apply. GameRT membership requires ALA membership. Libraries will need to illustrate a plan for a sustainable gaming program or collection created with the funds as well as financial need and institutional support for the proposed project.
March 20
Operation Round Up is a program that allows members of the People's Energy Cooperative to simply "round up" electric bills to the next highest dollar and that monthly contribution to the trust fund is as little as a penny, but never more than 99 cents. The concept behind the program is to extend the principle on which electric cooperatives were built over 80 years ago - neighbor-helping-neighbor. ORU contributions are used primarily in the local area served by the Cooperative for charitable and educational purposes, including emergency energy assistance. The funding priority categories are: Community Service; Economic Development; Education and Youth; Environment; Emergency Energy Assistance. Contributions will generally be made only to non-profit organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(C) (3).
Opens March 5
Deadline March 26
The purpose of this funding is to create or expand community learning centers in order to provide high-quality academic support, enrichment and youth development programs during non-school hours for young people and their families. Funded entities must do 3 things: 1. Provide opportunities for academic enrichment 2. Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities 3. Offer families of students served opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education. Local education agencies (LEA), Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, American Indian organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, non-profit agencies and for- profit corporations, city or county governments, institutions of higher education, and other public or private entities are eligible to apply.
March 31
T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, and nonprofit community leaders from town with a population less than 50,000 can apply for up to $50,000 in funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest.April
April
April 10
These grants primarily fund projects that can be completed within 12 months. Small grants award notifications are sent eight weeks after the application deadline. While there is no pre-application process for small grants, Grants Office staff are available to discuss your project as you prepare your application. If not funded, you will receive feedback on your application so that you can strengthen it and re-apply in another cycle. Structured grants, a simplified small grant option, are tailored to specific types of projects, such as developing a disaster plan for a small repository, acquiring microfilm, or conducting a museum self-assessment. All structured grants are small grants, and follow the small grants process listed above; however, the applicant must simply use the appropriate short form structured grant application rather than the standard Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grants application form. MNHS small grants are awarded quarterly, and applications are due on the second Friday of January, April, July, and October.
Opens: March 16
LOI Due: April 17
Application Deadline: May 18
The Hungry for History® grant program celebrates America’s food history by telling the stories of local and regional food specialties across the United States. This program is designed to commemorate significant food dishes created prior to 1970 and the role they played in defining American culture and forging community identity. Hungry for History is intended to help communities nationwide put the spotlight on their renowned locally and regionally created food dishes with historic roadside markers.Opens: March 16
LOI Due: April 17
Application Deadline: May 18
The Historic Transportation Marker Grant Program helps communities across the United States celebrate and share their transportation history with the public. Through this initiative, fully-funded cast-aluminum historical markers highlight significant transportation subjects—such as canals, bridges and tunnels, railroads, and early aviation—that shaped the movement of people and goods prior to 1945. These markers preserve local heritage, educate residents and visitors, and bring greater recognition to important transportation stories in towns and regions nationwide.Opens: March 9
Application Deadline: April 27
Does your community have a great piece of folklore that should be shared? Legends & Lore is designed to promote cultural tourism and commemorate legends and folklore as part of our heritage. Generally speaking, folklore is the stories, customs, traditions, and expressive arts and crafts that are passed on from one person to another, often from generation to generation. Folklore is the knowledge that people share as members of a group or community. Our shared identities and sense of belonging are the result of shared traditions, stories, customs, and activities.Rolling Basis
Rolling Basis
The Brooks and Joan Fortune Foundation (BJFF) primarily provides funds to support education, art, and outreach programs and projects. In general, the foundation desires to support specific activities that result in a defined outcome rather than general operating funds or fundraising campaigns. While the foundation activities have historically been located in Indiana and Florida, requests from around the country will certainly be considered. All recipients must have a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. Applications may be submitted between April 1 and December 31 via our Online Grants Manager. They will be screened and evaluated upon receipt to determine eligibility. Organizations will be notified via email as to the status of their proposal. Grant funding is dispersed throughout the year.
The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to start the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization. Applications may be submitted at any time. Applications submitted by 10:59 PM CT on the last day of the month will be considered in the following month.
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. Applications can be submitted at any time, and libraries can be awarded up to $1,000 for a project.
The Jeffris Family Foundation invites applications for grants from the Jeffris Heartland Fund, to support the development of important historic preservation projects in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The decision to pursue a grant from the Jeffris Heartland Fund must be made in consultation with a Director of the Foundation to discuss your project and request a Jeffris Heartland Fund application form. Directors can also assist grant-seekers with the application process, provide related technical assistance to guide wise and constructive use of the grant funding, and administer grants once awarded. Applications, once invited, are accepted at any time. Award notices are issued within approximately 30 days of receipt of the application. Grants will be made in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 to cover 50% the cost of an Historic Structure Report, and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash from sources unrelated to the Jeffris Family.
The PFund Foundation offers event sponsorships for events, gatherings, conferences, and convenings serving a primarily LGBTQ+ audience. Sponsorship amounts typically range from $500 - $1,000 and organizations are limited to receiving one sponsorship per calendar year. Applications are reviewed on the last Monday of each month. After grants are reviewed, payment processing takes about 4 weeks. Please make sure to apply at least 60-days before your event date.
Through the Impact Library Program, Little Free Library provides free book exchanges where they can have a meaningful impact in the United States. The program aims to strengthen community ties, inspire readers, expand easy book access, positively influence literacy outcomes, and make Little Free Libraries available in high-need areas. Applications are reviewed monthly and applicants are notified by the end of the month after the month they applied.
The Arts & Culture program funds organizations across many artistic disciplines and cultural practices and support structures that equip and empower artists and culture bearers to practice, to produce, and to lead. This grant provides general operating (unrestricted) and specific program/project (restricted) grants to organizations, groups, and Tribal Nations primarily in Minnesota.
This program seeks to build vibrant and equitable communities for all Minnesotans by working to transform existing systems and create new ones that enable every resident, regardless of race, geography, or income, to have opportunities for upward economic mobility, individual and generational wealth building, access to stable, affordable housing, and an ability to meaningfully and fairly engage in civic and democratic processes. We provide operating and project grants to organizations in Minnesota. With very few exceptions, applicants must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to be eligible for a grant. Government entities may apply for funding for innovative projects. However, we generally will not fund activities that are traditionally the sole responsibility of government.
Rolling basis through October 15, 2026, or until all funds have been expended
For organizations that work to create, celebrate, and teach the art, culture, and heritage of the many diverse cultural groups that make up Minnesota, including but not limited to Indigenous organizations, communities whose culture and heritage have been historically underrepresented, recent immigrant communities, and veterans. Emergency Response grants are to be used to assist communities responding to major events in Minnesota to:- Facilitate the process of grieving,
- Encourage healing,
- Create memorials, and/or
- Assist in recovery of the community.
Funded by the Minnesota Department of Health and carried out by the St. Paul Conservatory of Music, this program aims to improve student social-emotional health, enhance musical arts awareness, improve engagement in school, and increase community vitality through music. Students involved in the program will have an opportunity to engage in artistically excellent individual and group music instruction from St. Paul Conservatory of Music faculty.
The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund helps to build the capacity of existing preservation organizations and encourages collaboration among these organizations by providing grants for mentoring and other peer-to-peer and direct organizational development and learning opportunities. The purpose of these grants is to support the leadership and effectiveness of staff and board members of preservation organizations to fulfill their mission and to create a stronger, more effective preservation movement. By linking organizations with specific skills/programs to those seeking to develop similar abilities, the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund promotes individualized mentoring and the sharing of expertise. Valuable lessons can be learned from someone who has successfully navigated the same situation that an organization currently faces. Grants from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund support travel costs and mentor honoraria with a maximum reimbursement of $2,500. Only Organizational Level Forum members or Main Street America members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation are eligible to apply for funding from the Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund grant program. To learn more about Forum and join today, visit our website.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. More than 93,000 properties are listed in the National Register, representing 1.8 million contributing resources (e.g. buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects). When a property or district is placed on the National Register, the designation does not include funding for a plaque or sign. As a result, many do not have any signage. The Pomeroy Foundation bridges this gap to provide grants so public properties & historic districts can commemorate their placement and share this achievement with their community.
The Rural Technology Fund provides grants for Rural Technology Education projects and Assistive Technology projects. If you are interested in applying for funding to support your project, please review the grant types at the link below and be sure you submit to the correct application. Applications are reviewed and grants are awarded every 30-60 days, and there are no specific deadlines for applying. Grant are available to school and organizations operating in the United States.
Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs. 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, can apply. Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy, English as a second language projects, or Braille related projects for the blind or visually impaired. Because addressing literacy is not a short-term process, Believe in Reading’s grants are renewable for up to a maximum of three years, but a first year award does not guarantee any subsequent awards. At this time, the maximum grant amount is $10,000, however the vast majority of grants awarded are for $3,000 or less. First time applicants will not be funded for more than $3,000.
Projects must be completed by May 31, 2026
Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) is the premier educational program by the Library of Congress. The TPS Midwest Region, which covers Minnesota, is managed by Illinois State University. The Midwest Region offers grants up to $25,000 to organizations interested in the Library's mission to engage all Americans with the use of primary source material. A successful grant application will include a thorough description of the intended project, its audience, and content, as well as be supported by a timeline of activities, budget, and narrative. Evaluators also look for management supports and a sustainability plan. TPS Regional directors make granting decisions within six weeks of submission.Report abuse