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Category Archives: Grants
A Year of STEM Public Library Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
In collaboration with Cummins Inc., ALA invites applications from U.S. public libraries to participate in A Year of STEM, 12 months of curated STEM programming to foster curiosity and STEM-mindedness in early childhood learners.
Applications are due October 28, 2026.
Through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process, 25 public libraries will be selected to receive the following:
- A $5,000 programming stipend to support program-related expenses, such as presenter honoraria, educational materials, field trip transportation, library staff time, marketing and publicity, STEM kit materials, program supplies and printing.
- Four STEM kits, developed by librarian advisors and delivered quarterly by mail.
- A copy of the A Year of STEM programming guide, featuring replicable STEM kits and program models, a STEM reading list for early learners and additional resources.
- Customizable promotional templates, including posters, postcards, bookmarks, web graphics, social media graphics and other materials to support outreach.
- Access to a private online discussion group in ALA Connect for conversation, peer support, and idea exchange among participating libraries.
- Virtual training videos covering grant logistics and administration, programming requirements, evaluation, project goals, tips for successful STEM programming and related topics.
Eligible institutions include public libraries (including tribal libraries) in the United States and U.S. territories. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Questions? Contact the ALA Public Programs Office.
This project is offered in collaboration with Cummins Inc.
Posted in Education & Training, Grants, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
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Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship: Applications Due September 16!
Board Members of accredited Nebraska Public Libraries are invited to apply for an individual scholarship to reimburse attendance costs for the 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16, or the 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19!
This grant can reimburse successful applicants for up to $500 of conference registration and related expenses, as described on our website here. More information is at that link, including a link to apply. Applications are due September 16, 2026 but apply now so you can plan accordingly.
**Only current Board Members from an accredited Nebraska Public Library can apply**
The 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16 is going to be even bigger than usual. MPLA (Mountain Plains Library Association) joins NLA (Nebraska Library Association) this year, which means a regional-level conference will be right here in Nebraska! It will be 12 years before MPLA joins the NLA Conference again. Don’t miss this opportunity!
The 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19 is a great match for so many libraries in our state. This is a national conference focused on rural and small libraries, full of information designed to fit those rural and small libraries. As ARSL says, “no scaling down required” for what you will learn here.
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library board members with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance at the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library trustees. Funding is provided by private funds, through the Lincoln Community Foundation.
If you have questions about the application, the requirements, or anything related to the application process, please reach out to our CE Coordinator.
Call for Speakers: Big Talk From Small Libraries 2027
The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2027 is open!
Submit your proposal by Friday, December 11, 2026.
This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better!
Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal.
We’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations.
Do you offer a service or program at your small library that other libraries might like to hear about? Have you implemented a new (or old) technology, hosted an event, partnered with others in your community, or just done something really cool? The Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve done, while learning what your colleagues in other small libraries are doing.
Here are some possible topics to get you thinking:
- Unique Libraries
- Special Collections
- New buildings
- Fundraising
- Improved Workflows
- Staff Development
- Advocacy Efforts
- Community Partnerships
- That great thing you’re doing at your library!
Speakers must be from small libraries or directly partnered with a small library and submitting a proposal to co-present with the library. Speakers from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people will be preferred, but presentations from libraries with larger service populations will be considered.
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2027 will be held on Friday, February 26, 2027 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. Speakers will present their programs from their own desktops. The schedule will accommodate speakers’ time-zones.
This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
Nebraska Library Commission Awards Grants for Youth Library Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sally Snyder
402-471-4003
800-307-2665
Nebraska Library Commission Awards Grants for Youth Library Service
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded $30,000 in grants for Excellence in Youth service. Of the grants awarded to thirty-one Nebraska libraries, several addressed the need for educational programs, Summer Reading programing, and materials like LEGO®, STEAM, and other activities to encourage creativity in young people.
The Nebraska Library Commission congratulates all the libraries who received grants as they develop new and innovative programs to ensure excellence in library service for Nebraska young people. You can find the full list of grant recipients on the Nebraska Library Commission grants database.Proposals include:
- Teen Art Club
- STEAM programing and materials
- Book club activities
- Children’s Theater Program
- Summer Reading programs
- Nebraska Wildlife Rehab Center Program
- Gaming & Teen Engagement Hub
- Makerspace items for children/youth
- After School Activity Kits
- StoryWalk
The following 31 Nebraska public libraries were awarded 2026 Youth Grants for Excellence funding:
Alice M. Farr Library, Aurora
Axtell Public Library
Bayard Public Library
Beatrice Public Library
Bridgeport Public Library
Central City Public Library
Clarkson Public Library
Crete Public Library
Fairfield Public Library
Falls City Library and Arts Center
Fullerton Public Library
Genoa Public Library
Gibbon Public Library
Grand Island Public Library
Keene Memorial Library, Fremont
Lincoln City Libraries
Louisville Public Library
Morrill Public Library
Maxine White-Sutherland Public Library
Ord Township Library
C.B. Preston Memorial Library, Orleans
Osmond Public Library
Papillion Public Library
Plainview Public Library
Scotia Public Library & Heritage Center
Shelton Public Library
South Sioux City Public Library
Lied Tekamah Public Library
Verdigre Public Library
Lied Lincoln Township Library, Wausa
Yutan Public Library
Youth Grants for Excellence are made available by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding from the State of Nebraska. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in General, Grants, Library Management, Public Relations, Youth Services
Tagged Youth Grants for Excellence
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Lois Lenski Covey Foundation 2026 Bookmobile Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Through the Bookmobile Grant Program, 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, Early Reader books through Young Adult and Hi-Lo books.
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.
Only hardcopy (paper) applications will be accepted by mail. A link to a downloadable application and detailed instructions for completing and sending the application are available at the Bookmobile Grant Application webpage.
2026 Applications must be postmarked by August 15, 2026.
Questions regarding the Foundation’s bookmobile grant program may be emailed to bookmobile@loislenskicovey.org.
About the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation
The purposes of the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation are to advance literacy and foster a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth. Lois Lenski, celebrated author and illustrator of over one hundred children’s books and the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, established the Foundation as a charitable institute in 1967. Since then the Foundation has assisted over 400 organizations in their efforts to nurture reading skills, gain access to books, and instill a love of reading.
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$31,000 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 10, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
$31,000 in Library Improvement Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Library Improvement Grants for 2026 totaling $31,000 to sixteen Nebraska public libraries.
These competitive grants were funded with state funds allocated through the Nebraska Legislature and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission. Library Improvement Grants help to facilitate growth and development of library programs and services by supplementing local funding with state funds designated for these purposes.
Grant funding was used to assist libraries with upgrading to Windows 11, as Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. Windows 10 computers no longer receive security and software updates, which puts those computers at a greater risk for viruses and malware. By Microsoft declaring Windows 10 EOL (End of Life) and no longer providing security updates, libraries were confronted with two issues. They were using computers that didn’t meet the Windows 11 security requirements and couldn’t be upgraded to Windows 11 and/or were using compatible computers that didn’t have fast enough processors and/or enough memory to run Windows 11 very well. Thus, many libraries applied for the Library Improvement Grant to fund the purchase of new Windows 11 computers.
The NLC provided reimbursement grants to libraries who had already purchased their own Windows 11 computers and purchased computers on behalf of the libraries that had not yet made their own purchases.
Andrew Sherman, NLC Library Technology Support Specialist, stated, “By diligently reviewing the computer vendors and the inventory they had available, the Library Commission was able to secure reasonable prices and fulfill all the grant requests for new computers.”
Sherman preconfigured the new computers, delivered, and installed them for the libraries. Libraries received desktop computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, and mice.
The libraries receiving grants are:
- Bridgeport Public Library
- Garfield County Library, Burwell
- Crawford Public Library
- Fairfield Public Library
- Hastings Memorial Library, Grant
- Greenwood Public Library
- Meadow Grove Public Library
- Morrill Public Library
- Newman Grove Public Library
- Osmond Public Library
- Plainview Public Library
- St. Edward Public Library
- Sidney Public Library
- Lied Tekamah Public Library
- Valentine Public Library
- Walthill Public Library
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in General, Grants, Library Management, Public Relations
Tagged Library grants, Library Improvement Grants
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Fern V. Heim Library Trustee Scholarship: Applications Open!
Board Members of accredited Nebraska Public Libraries are invited to apply for an individual scholarship to reimburse attendance costs for the 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16, or the 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19!
This grant can reimburse successful applicants for up to $500 of conference registration and related expenses, as described on our website here. More information is at that link, including a link to apply. Applications are due September 16, 2026 but apply now so you can plan accordingly.
**Only current Board Members from an accredited Nebraska Public Library can apply**
The 2026 NLA and MPLA Conference in La Vista on October 14-16 is going to be even bigger than usual. MPLA (Mountain Plains Library Association) joins NLA (Nebraska Library Association) this year, which means a regional-level conference will be right here in Nebraska! It will be 12 years before MPLA joins the NLA Conference again. Don’t miss this opportunity!
The 2026 ARSL (Association for Rural and Small Libraries) Conference in Montgomery, Alabama on September 16-19 is a great match for so many libraries in our state. This is a national conference focused on rural and small libraries, full of information designed to fit those rural and small libraries. As ARSL says, “no scaling down required” for what you will learn here.
The Fern V. Heim Scholarship Award was established to provide assistance to current public library board members with preference to members of the Nebraska Library Association Public Library and Trustee Section (PLTS) for attendance at the Nebraska Library Association Conference or the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.
The purpose of these grants is to assist Nebraska libraries in improving the library services provided to their communities through continuing education and training for their library trustees. Funding is provided by private funds, through the Lincoln Community Foundation.
If you have questions about the application, the requirements, or anything related to the application process, please reach out to our CE Coordinator.
Rob-See-Co Announces 2026 Rural Library Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
Applications are due June 30, 2026.
Originally launched in 2023 to commemorate the company’s 10th anniversary and honor Agnes Robinson’s dedication to the rural library in Waterloo, NE, the program continues to hold special meaning. Agnes, great-grandmother of Jim Robinson, CEO of Rob-See-Co, was a passionate advocate for rural libraries. Today, the program extends support to libraries across rural communities within the company’s footprint.
Previous grant recipients have used funding to expand book collections, digitize local newspapers, enhance children’s programming, and develop makerspaces.
“The grant funding we received made it possible for us to create a ‘pop-up town,’ a versatile resource we’ve already planned to use in multiple ways,” said Mandy Cook, Marysville Public Library Director. “Encouraging children to engage in imaginative play is incredibly important—it supports speech, overall development, and even early literacy skills. We are truly grateful to Rob-See-Co for providing us with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through outreach in our small town.”
In 2026, Rob-See-Co will award ten $500 grants for a total of $5,000 to selected rural libraries across CO, IA, KS, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX and WI. Funds may be used for core educational, preservation and interpretive purposes, including collection development, facility improvements, traveling exhibits, guest speakers, staff training, programming, and publications.
“These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to the dealers, distributors, growers, and communities we serve, while honoring my family’s legacy and the history of Rob-See-Co,” said Robinson. “We’re proud to continue investing in rural libraries that play such an important role in our communities.”
Libraries can visit https://rsclibrarygrant.com/ to apply. Applications are due by June 30. Grant recipients will be announced on October 1, 2026.
Union Pacific Foundation: 2026 Community Ties Giving Program
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/index.aspx
The Union Pacific Foundation’s 2026 Community Ties Giving Program provides Local Grants from $5,000 to $30,000 to local nonprofit organizations spread widely across Union Pacific’s footprint, primarily in the western and midwestern United States. A map and list of eligible communities is available on the Union Pacific website.
The application deadline is April 30, 2026.
Funding is provided for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes: Safety, Workforce Development, Community Vitality, and Environmental Sustainability.
Libraries fall under the Community Vitality funding priority – to “Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment”.
Visit the Union Pacific website for the Application and grant guidelines.
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Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026 is tomorrow!
Join us tomorrow for the 15th annual Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference. Registration is still open, so head over to the Registration page and sign up!
We have a full agenda for the day, with speakers from academic and public libraries presenting on a wide variety of topics specifically tailored for small libraries: intellectual freedom, mental health, food insecurity, STEAM, serving disabled patrons, school/university/public library partnerships, a Tiny Art Show, and much more.
And, Nebraska library staff and board members can earn 1 hour of CE Credit for each hour of the conference you attend! A special Big Talk From Small Libraries CE Report form has been made available for you to submit your C.E. credits.
This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people.
So, come join us for a day of big ideas from small libraries!
$20,000 in Internship Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 24, 2026
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christa Porter
402-471-3107
800-307-2665
$20,000 in Internship Grants Awarded to Nebraska Public Libraries
The Nebraska Library Commission recently awarded Nebraska Library Internship Grants totaling $20,000 to eighteen Nebraska public libraries. These internship grants will support public library interns who will contribute to the scope and value of the diverse programs and activities in Nebraska’s public libraries.
“The internships are a great opportunity for students to get involved in library work. Beyond earning money and gaining valuable work experience, the student is exposed to the broad range of library services and programming. Internships provide an opportunity for the student to view the library as a viable and satisfying career choice. In addition, interns bring a fresh perspective and their own unique talents to the library,” said Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner.
Student interns will learn about library work as they shadow staff, assist with day-to-day library operations, and implement special projects. Some of the activities that students will participate in include:
- Summer Reading Programs for youth, teens, and adults
- Public relations: website, social and print media, designing and posting flyers and other forms of marketing
- Various programming: Story hour, movie days, craft days, junior book talks, Lego Club, puzzle contest, preschool story time, after school programs, STEM activities, gaming setups
- Creating new teen programming
- Attending library board meetings
- Partnerships with other libraries, Community College, Head Start, County Extension, Child Development Center, and Senior Center
- Basic library duties: circulation, cataloging, shelving, weeding, processing acquisitions, and library displays
The following 18 Nebraska public libraries were awarded 2026 internship grant funding:
Atkinson Public Library
Alice M. Farr Library, Aurora
Axtell Public Library
Bayard Public Library
Dundy County Library, Benkelman
Central City Public Library
Crawford Public Library
Crete Public Library
Elgin Public Library
Greenwood Public Library
Lincoln City Libraries – Charles H. Gere Branch Library and South Branch Library, Northeast Service Unit – Victor E. Anderson & Bethany Branch Libraries, Bennett Martin Public Library, Youth Services Outreach, Bess Dodson Walt Branch Library, Eiseley Branch Library & Williams Branch Library
Madison Public Library
Morrill Public Library
Cordelia B. Preston Memorial Library, Orleans
Ponca Carnegie Library
Shelton Public Library
Maxine White-Sutherland Public Library
Verdigre Public Library
Funding for the project is supported and administered by the Nebraska Library Commission, in partnership with the Nebraska Library Systems.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
Nebraska’s Regional Library Systems consist of four non-profit corporations governed by boards representative of libraries and citizens in the region. The four systems were established to provide access to improved library services through the cooperation of all types of libraries and media centers within the counties included in each System area.
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in General, Grants, Library Management, Public Relations
Tagged grants, Internship Grant, Library grants
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Apply for a 2026 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Every year, in the process of choosing the Coretta Scott King Book Award winners and honor books, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table Jury Committee receives multiple copies of over 100 titles by African American authors and illustrators.
Awarded by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee, the grant program provides books submitted for consideration for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards to libraries and other organizations to expand their collections.
Applicants must demonstrate the following:
- Why the collection is needed in their community?
- Why the collection is needed in their agency or institution?
- How would acquiring the collection will help to better serve the children and youth of their community?
- That the materials will be made freely available to children and youth without censorship
A committee appointed by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee Chair will review the applications and based on the total number of points, determine the recipient or recipients of the materials. To assure agencies and institutions receive age appropriate books, the committee reserves the right to divide a single grant among two or more agencies or institutions.
Applications due March 15, 2026. For more information, and to apply, visit https://www.ala.org/cskbart/bookgrant
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
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Dollar General Literacy Foundation 2026 Grants Application Cycle is Open
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for programs aimed at enhancing Adult, Family, and Summer Reading Literacy programs. The Foundation will also accept applications for its Youth Literacy grant program starting on March 5, 2026.The application deadline for Adult, Family, and Summer Reading Literacy Grant applications is February 5, 2026. Interested applicants may find eligibility information and apply by visiting the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant Programs website.
To be eligible for a grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, your organization must be a nonprofit organization as determined by the IRS, a public library, school or college providing direct literacy services within a state that Dollar General Corporation operates in and is within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Other eligibility requirements are specific to each grant type and can be found within the grants themselves.
For the Adult and Family literacy grant programs, the maximum grant amount is up to $10,000. The Summer Reading maximum is $3,000 and the Youth Literacy grant is $4,000. Applying for a grant does not guarantee that amount due to the large volume of requests we receive.
Adult Literacy Grants – Grant Application deadline: February 5, 2026.
Funding is awarded to organizations that provide direct services to adults in need of literacy assistance in one of the following areas:
- Adult basic education
- GED or high school equivalency preparation
- English language acquisition
Family Literacy Grants – Grant Application deadline: February 5, 2026.
Funding is awarded to nonprofit organizations who support the whole family in literacy, providing:
- Adult education instruction
- Children’s education
- Parent and Child Together Time (PACT)
Summer Reading Grants – Grant Application deadline: February 5, 2026.
Local nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries can receive funding to support the creation or expansion of summer reading programs that meet the following criteria:
- Target pre-K to 12th grade students who are new readers
- Target below grade level readers
- Assist readers with learning disabilities
Youth Literacy Grants – Grant Applications will open on March 5, 2026. Application deadline: April 2, 2026.
Schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help students that are below grade level or having trouble reading may apply with funding provided to assist in the following areas:
- Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
- Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
- Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs
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ALA Games & Gaming Round Table 2026 Game On! Grant
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The Games and Gaming Round Table of the American Library Association is proud to announce its annual grant program, the Game On! Grant, to enable libraries to develop gaming programs or collections for their public.
Applications are due March 15, 2026.
Through the Game On! Grant, $2,000.00 will be available to be awarded either as one grant of $2,000 or two of $1,000 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. Previous winners have received support for chess tournaments materials, a circulating multilingual board game collection, video games for after school clubs, and more.
GameRT currently provides $1000 of annual grant funds for the Game On! Grant. The rest of the annual grant funds are provided by gracious donors.
Cards Against Humanity (CAH) has provided a grant donation to fund $1000 toward the Game On! Grant for 5 consecutive years. Award years 2025-2029 will include this amount. Read more about why CAH supports libraries in this blog interview.
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NEA 2027 Grant Opportunities Now Available
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is pleased to announce that grant guidelines and application materials are now available for 2027 Grants for Arts Projects. These grants to organizations support specific projects in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions.
Application deadlines are February 12, 2026, and July 9, 2026, for projects taking place beginning in 2027.
Activities funded through Grants for Arts Projects enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the arts, foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, and benefit from arts education at all stages of life. We also support arts and health programs, including creative arts therapies, that advance the well-being of people and communities.
The NEA welcomes applications from first-time and returning applicants; from organizations serving rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities of all sizes; and from organizations with a range of operating budgets.
To simplify the application intake and review process, Our Town and Challenge America applicants will apply within the Grants for Arts Projects program and choose the “Design & Our Town” or “Challenge America” discipline. Other disciplines include Arts Education, Dance, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater & Musical Theater, and Visual & Media Arts.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the NEA’s goals.
Cost share/matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. Designated local arts agencies that are eligible to subgrant may request from $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting projects. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required.
See the Grants for Arts Projects Program Guidelines for additional details, including agency funding priorities for FY 2027 and a series of short videos about the guidelines available for applicants.
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Apply Now: Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant, an annual award supporting innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries.Applications due February 2, 2026. View the full award guidelines and apply online at www.ala.org/LTCEG.
Now in its seventh year, the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant recognizes, promotes and supports innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. It will provide two $2,000 grants to expand the community engagement efforts of a school, public, academic, tribal, or special library.
Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining activities for a library-led community engagement project. 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.
Each year, the grant supports community engagement projects with a specific theme. For the 2025–2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on the concept of “Libraries as a Lifeline: Building Belonging for All.” Libraries should work collaboratively with community members and at least one partner organization to develop a project that addresses a local issue and builds upon community assets.
Some example proposals could include (but are not limited to): a project that establishes a Community Care Corner with outreach materials, hygiene kits, and local resource guides; a program that collaborates with a local partner to offer micro-skill sessions on subjects like budgeting, digital literacy or navigating healthcare; projects that develop community connection by hosting neighbor gatherings over meals or creative activities to celebrate diversity; a program that hosts moderated community conversations on local issues by partnering with schools, non-profits or civic groups.
Visit the grant guidelines for more information.
Last year, the Mountain Top Library (N.Y.) and Pottsboro (Texas) Library won grants for projects concentrated on building neighborhood connections. The winning libraries used LTCEG funds to create a collaborative, modern town map and launch a local civic engagement series.
ALA announced the creation of the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant in 2019, an initiative made possible by a matching grant and ongoing support from former ALA president and longtime generous supporter Nancy Kranich.
The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is part of Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC), ALA’s community engagement initiative. Since 2014, LTC has reimagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types, from across the country, have utilized the free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a safe space for residents to come together to discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.
LTC is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office. To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
Posted in Grants, Library Management, Programming, Public Relations
Tagged librariestransform
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2026 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications for the 2026 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries are now open! These grants recognize libraries for their growth of graphic literature and award funds for graphic novel collection development and programming.The application deadline is January 11, 2026.
The objective of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries is to facilitate library-generated programs and services that will promote graphic novels to library patrons and to the local community.
Two Will Eisner Graphic Novel grants will be awarded in 2026: one Graphic Novel Growth Grant, to a library that would like to expand their existing graphic novel services and programs; and one Graphic Novel Innovation Grant, to a library for the initiation of a new graphic novel service or program.
Each winning library will receive a $4,000 programming and collection development grant, which includes $1,000 to attend the ALA Annual Conference to receive their grant money. In addition, the wining libraries will also receive a collection of Will Eisner’s works and biographies, as well as a selection of the winning titles from the current year’s Will Eisner Awards at Comic-Con International, valued at approximately $3,000.
All applicants must be current personal or organizational members of ALA in good standing at the time of application. The institution can be a school, public, academic, or special library and must be located in North America – Canada, United States, or Mexico.
Visit the Eisner Grants page for the application form and grant details. Be sure to also check out the Eisner Grant FAQ page for new updates and additional information, including samples of some of the previous winning grant applications.
For any questions, contact ALA Graphic Novels & Comics in Libraries Round Table Staff Liaison, Tina Coleman, at ccoleman@ala.org.
Will Eisner (1917-2005) was an acclaimed American comics writer, artist, teacher, and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the most important contributors to the development of sequential art (a term he coined) and is known for the cartooning studio he founded; for his highly influential comic series, The Spirit; for his use of comics as an instructional medium; for his leading role in establishing the graphic novel as a form of literature with his 1978 groundbreaking graphic novel, A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories; for his 20 years of teaching at the School of Visual Arts, leading to his three textbooks. In a career that spanned nearly seven decades – from the dawn of the comic book to the advent of digital comics – Will Eisner was truly the “Father of the Graphic Novel.”
Posted in Books & Reading, Grants, Programming, Youth Services
Tagged #eisnergrant, #GNCRT, #graphicnovels, #willeisner
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Apply for Programming Support with the ALA Peggy Barber Tribute Grant
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply for the annual Peggy Barber Tribute Grant, to help ease library budget challenges by awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.
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.
Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle are now open through February 2, 2026. Read the grant guidelines and apply online.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2025-2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications to support programming related to strengthening community ties through libraries as third spaces.
As one of the few remaining “third spaces” – public spaces where individuals can gather outside their homes or workplaces – libraries are uniquely positioned to bring people together and strengthen communities. Example proposals could include (but are not limited to): an intergenerational gardening program, a program series engaging adults in play-based programming, or a visual arts performance at the library in partnership with a local theater group. Proposed programs should include how it will bring people in your community together, how the program will foster connection amongst participants, and how the program can help folks share space with other people in the community.
All library types – including public, academic, K-12, tribal, and special libraries – in the U.S. or U.S. territories are eligible. Applicants must have a personal or institutional membership with either the American Library Association OR the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Last year’s grant was for programming related to combatting isolation for older adults. The 2025 grant was awarded to:
- Falls City Library & Arts Center in Nebraska to start offering weekly special offerings to older adults called ‘Senior Socials’, to create a space for seniors to gather and socialize consistently. The library will implement weekly senior programs, such as continuing its existing craft program and adding events like chair yoga, classic movie showings, and special speakers.
- Hartford Public Library in Michigan aims to create more senior events focusing on keeping older adults physically and socially active, such as Tai Chi, chair yoga, and cardio drumming. The library will also start incorporating prizes such as non-perishable food and household and personal care products at senior bingo events.
- Pottsboro Library in Texas will promote community bonding and celebrate older adults as knowledge contributors with ‘Share & Learn’, a community-driven program where seniors take on the role of presenter by sharing valuable skills and life experiences with others to help preserve knowledge and boost self-confidence.
Margaret “Peggy” Barber was a transformative leader in ALA and the library field who was behind the creation of National Library Week and the Celebrity READ series. Read Library Journal’s tribute.
The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant was created with donations from Barber’s friends and colleagues. To support the grant, make a contribution to the Peggy Barber tribute fund within ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund.
To stay informed about future grants and awards offered by ALA’s Public Programs Office, sign up for the Programming Librarian e-newsletter.
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Applications Now Open for 2026-27 NEA Big Read Grants
For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of the NEA Big Read, a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs. This year’s NEA Big Read will center around the theme America250, honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial.”The Intent to Apply deadline is January 15, 2026. Final Application due: January 29, 2026. Visit Arts Midwest’s website for complete grant guidelines and to apply.
The 24 NEA Big Read books available for programming this cycle celebrate America’s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people. Using a book selection as inspiration, applicants will facilitate discussions, writing workshops, and creative programming activities that explore this theme and celebrate the unique aspects of their communities.
NEA Big Read At-A-Glance
- What is it? The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around the central theme America250 using one of 24 available books as inspiration. It offers matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
- Who can apply? Nonprofit arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.
- Where? Your organization must be located and operate within the United States or the Native Nations that share this geography.
- When to apply? A mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 15, 2026, with final applications due January 29, 2026. Funded programs will take place between September 2026 and June 2027.
The NEA Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest.
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Penguin Random House and United for Libraries Announce 2026 Grants for Rural and Small Library Friends Groups
In celebration of the 20th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, Penguin Random House and United for Libraries announced new grants for Friends of Libraries serving rural and small libraries across the country. Grants of $500 and $1,000 (totaling $25,000), will be awarded to support libraries in need. Applications for the 2026 grants will be open from December 17, 2025 – January 21, 2026.
These funds will assist Friends of Library groups, or nonprofit groups that support and fundraise for libraries in their communities, with priority projects. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase Penguin Random House titles.
For more information about the grants and to sign up for updates, visit www.ala.org/united/prhgrant.
Empowering Friends groups to advocate for intellectual freedom
The grant program comes at a critical time for the library community as the freedom to read faces increased attacks in the form of book bans and challenges. Once primarily focused on school libraries, public libraries have become targets of book banning efforts in recent years, with reports sent to ALA documenting 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024, the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990.
“Small and rural libraries are community cornerstones, but today—when the freedom to read is under attack across the country—they are more important than ever. These grants will empower Friends groups to bolster their support and advocacy, ensuring these vital community centers not only survive but thrive. We are honored to launch this program during National Friends of Libraries Week and pleased to partner with United for Libraries to boost the important role of Friends Groups,” said Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Library Sales and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House.
When will applications open?
Applications will be open from Dec. 17, 2025-Jan. 21, 2026, and applicants will be notified by March 30, 2026.
For libraries that are interested in applying but don’t know where to start, United for Libraries will present free virtual informational sessions beginning in December, including two 30-minute sessions that include an overview of the process and tips on applying, and a one-hour webinar featuring 2025 grant recipients and their projects. On-demand training includes a session on grant writing basics, and a session on how to start a Friends of the Library group (for libraries that do not currently have an active group); learn more and register.
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. Recipients will also receive complimentary registration for Friends of the Library Day of the United for Libraries virtual conference (July 30, 2026) and United for Libraries Friends virtual retreat (spring 2027).
“Friends groups provide much-needed support to libraries by raising money for programs and projects not covered by regular funding, and by being strong advocates for their libraries — their help is crucial right now, when so many libraries are facing challenges to materials, resources, and programs,” said 2024-2026 United for Libraries President Deborah Doyle. “These grants provided by Penguin Random House will enable Friends in rural and small areas to fulfill an unmet need of the library, and to take their support to the next level with United for Libraries training and resources.”
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.
