Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries
Resources for
Finding Funding
Grants
A curated selection of grants. This
list is not exhaustive and may be updated with new grants at any time.
2023 Nebraska Library Commission Grants:
Grant applications for all 2023 NLC grants
closed on November 18, 2022.
Continuing Education and Training Grants
Internship Grants
Library Improvement Grants
Youth Grants for Excellence
2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Grants -
Through
the Nebraska Library Commission from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS).
Formula
Grants available to legally-established public libraries, tribal
libraries, and institutional libraries in Nebraska. Closed: January 14, 2022.
Nebraska Regional Library Systems:
Central Plains Library
System Scholarship Grants
Southeast Library
System Scholarships
Three RIvers Libvrary System Continuing Education Scholarships
Western Library System Scholarships
ALA Peggy Barber Tribute Grant -
Application
deadline: February 1, 2023. Awards three libraries $2,500 to
support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort. Each
year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library
programming.
For the 2022-2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit
applications for a grant to support programming related to
increasing access for groups that are identified as underserved or new
library users in the community. Some example proposals could
include: 1) a program to increase access to library resources for homebound
seniors, 2) a program that builds kits for patrons re-entering society so
they can more easily learn about and access local resources, or 3) a program
focused on media literacy that helps people learn how to access accurate and
important information.
ALA Libraries
Transform Communities Engagement Grant - Application
deadline: February 1, 2023. Two grants of $2,000 for a school,
public, academic, tribal, or special library to expand its community
engagement efforts. Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a
community engagement project with a specific theme.
For the 2022-2023 cycle,
libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement
project that focuses on
connection and reconnection with your
community. Your project can be a collaboration with an audience
that has not frequented your library in the past or an audience that has not
used the library recently (for example, because of the pandemic). 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. Please note that, while projects should be
community-driven, they must be spearheaded by the library.
National Endowment for the Arts 2023 Grant Opportunities -
These grants to organizations support specific projects in any part of the
nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions.
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.
Grants for Arts Projects.
Application deadlines: February 9 and July 6, 2023. NEA's largest
grant program for organizations, providing expansive funding opportunities
for communities across the nation in a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Cost share/matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. A minimum cost
share/match equal to the grant amount is required.
Challenge
America. Application
deadline: April 27, 2023. Offers support primarily to small
organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines to reach historically
underserved groups/communities that have rich and dynamic cultural
identities. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash
and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000
or greater.
Will Eisner Graphic
Novel Grants for Libraries -
Application deadline: February
12, 2023. Administered by the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
(GNCRT) of ALA and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation.
Recipients each
receive a $4,000 programming and collection development grant plus 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.
Three grants will be awarded: two recipients will receive the
Will Eisner
Graphic Novel Growth Grants which provide support to libraries that
would like to expand their existing graphic novel services and programs; one
recipient will receive the
Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant
which provides support to a library for the initiation of a graphic novel
service or program.
Eligibility: All applicants must be current members
of ALA in good standing at the time of application (personal or
organizational). The institution can be a school, public, academic or
special library and must be located in North America (Canada, United States,
or Mexico).
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grants - Application deadline: February
16, 2023. For programs aimed at enhancing Adult Literacy, Family
Literacy, and Summer Reading. Schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations
within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store are eligible to apply.
Other eligibility requirements are specific to each grant type and can be
found within the grants themselves. Youth Literacy Grants will open on March
9, 2023.
Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural
Communities -
Application deadline: February 28, 2023. Grants
to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities,
services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.
Open to any type of library in the U.S. and U.S. territories that serves
a small
and rural community - to be eligible, a library must have
a legal service area population of 25,000 or less
and be located at least
five miles from an urbanized area (town/city with a population of 25,000
or greater).
Review
slides from the Pre-Application Webinar.
FINRA Foundation Library Grants Program -
Application deadline: March 1, 2023. Grants up to $50,000 to
support public and academic libraries in their efforts to meet financial
and/or investor education needs at the community level by providing
high-quality education, services, and resources. The program also aims to
ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in access to personal finance
education and information.
ALA Great Stories Club Grants for Teens -
Application deadline: March 15, 2023. Libraries will receive copies
of books that explore questions of race, equity, identity and history to use
in reading and discussion groups, as well as a $500 programming stipend,
online training, an array of program resources and support throughout the
grant term. Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries
(public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States and its
territories that are located within an organization that reaches
underserved, under-resourced, and/or at-risk teens (e.g., alternative high
school, juvenile detention facility, tribal library) or working with a
partner organization that reaches underserved, under-resourced, and/or
at-risk teens.
AARP Community Challenge Grants -
Application deadline: March 15, 2023. To fund quick-action projects
to make communities more livable for people of all ages. For three project
types: Permanent physical improvements in the community; Temporary
demonstrations that lead to long-term change, and New, innovative
programming pilots or services. Open to the following types of
organizations: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits (Nonprofit
organizations must be recognized by the IRS in order to receive funds.);
Government entities; Other types of organizations considered on a
case-by-case basis. Funds will not be provided to any for-profit company,
nor individuals.
T-Mobile
Hometown Grants Program - Grants of up to $50,000 are
provided to up to 25 small towns every quarter to help fund projects to
build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local
connections in your town, such as the town square pavilion, a historic
building, an outdoor park, a ball field, or a library. Elected leaders, town
managers/employees, and nonprofit leaders in small towns with populations of
less than 50,000 are eligible to apply. Requests are reviewed quarterly.
Nebraska Library Association:
Louise A. Nixon
Scholarship
College and University Section -
Professional Development Grant,
Research Grant
Humanities Nebraska
- Grants to nonprofit organizations, including libraries, in
support of projects related to the humanities.
Nebraska Arts
Council - Grants to: nonprofit oprganizations; government
agencies, including libraries; tribal governments; schools, colleges,
universities; and religious organizations. For "art projects and programs of
the highest artistic excellence that reflect creativity and innovation while
providing opportunities for artists and arts organizations".
Nebraska Community Foundation - grants available from
many affiliated funds in over 250 communities across the state of Nebraska.
Nebraska
State Historical Society Foundation (NSHSF) Statewide Grants Program
- Grants that benefit local historical and educational
organizations with programming and learning opportunities in community
history. Examples of applying organizations include museums, historical
societies, and libraries that use core educational, preservation and
interpretive programs.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the
Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Acquisition, construction, or
rehabilitation of facilities. Libraries fall under Public
Works and must be Accredited. Requires a 25% match.
Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) from
the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. To construct and/or improve
community facilities such as libraries. Nebraska municipalities, including
rural cities and villages, are eligible to apply. A CCCFF grant cannot
account for more than 50% of the total project costs. And, at a minimum,
local cost-share is 1:1.
USDA Community Facilities Grants and Loans -
To purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, such as libraries, in
rural areas - cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally
Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents.
Pilcrow Foundation
-
Annual application deadlines for grant cycles are April 1 and
October 1. Provides new, quality, hardcover children's books to rural public
libraries serving a population under 10,000 (priority to community
populations under 5,000) across the United States. Children's
Book Project Grant - provides a 2-to-1 match to grant recipients who
contribute $200-$400 through Friends of the Library or other local sponsors.
Disaster Relief Grant - limited number of special non-matching grants to
libraries affected by recent tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, or other
natural disasters.
Union Pacific Foundation Local Grants - The Union
Pacific Foundation considers support to 501(c)(3) public charities located
in
communities served by Union Pacific Railroad. Libraries fall under the
Community Spaces funding priority - supporting the local economy by building
and enhancing community spaces.
BNSF Railway Foundation
- Makes grants to charitable organizations and divisions of local government
in the communities
in which BNSF Railway Company operates.
Peter Kiewit Foundation
- Applicants must have a valid 501(c)3 status or be a unit of government in
Nebraska. Invests in proven and promising programs, systemic solutions,
capital projects, general operations, planning and capacity building, and
policy development. Accepts and makes decisions on applications quarterly.
Robert B. Daugherty
Foundation - Grants to tax exempt organizations in Nebraska for
Capital Construction Projects, General Opperating Support, and Program
Support.
Accepts requests for funding throughout the year.
Sunderland Foundation
- Supports construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits served by
the Ash Grove Cement Company - Nebraska included. Makes grants annually to
publicly-supported charitable organizations with tax exempt status under
section 501(c)3.
IMLS -
Institute of Museum and Library Services - federal support for the nation's
libraries and museums.
Resources for Finding Funding
Foundation Resource Directory - Maintained and published by
the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF). Contact information, brief
summaries, fields of interest, limitations, and grant application information on
foundations, both in and out of Nebraska.
GrantStation -
Sign
up for a free weekly newsletter of grant opportunities - current and past
issues are at
GrantStation Insider. Also check the weekly highlited
Funding Alerts -
database profiles of local, national, Canadian, and international
grantmakers with upcoming deadlines. Watch for
TechSoup special promotions on discounted memberships.
Library Grants
- announcements of library specific grants.
ALA
Grants - grants awarded by ALA divisions and funding sponsored
by major library vendors.
K-12 Grant Opportunities
- weekly listings of new funding opportunities for K-12 schools and
individual educators.
Grant Resources
from NebraskAccess.