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 are
due 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
Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Grant -
Application deadline: November 30, 2022. Provides funds to our Nation's neediest schools so that they can extend, update, and diversify the book and print collections in their libraries with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning.
Funds may be used for the purchase of print or Braille volumes,
audiobooks, e-books, or magazine/serial/e-magazine subscriptions.
Eligible applicants: public schools, neighborhood schools, charter
schools, and magnet schools that are Title 1 eligible; private and
parochial schools if at least 50% of the student population qualify for
financial aid. Schools must have a library or designated space on campus
where books are accessible to all students to check out.
Science Kits for Public
Libraries (SKPL) - Application deadline: January
16, 2023. An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) program to provide up to $2,000 in seed money for the creation of
new circulating science kit collections. Open to public libraries that
serve geographic areas inside or partially inside the IEEE-Region 4 -
this includes portions of Nebraska - see the green-shaded area of this
map: IEEE
Regions in the USA
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).
Register for the Pre-Application Webinar to be held Nov. 8 at 1pm CT.
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
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.
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.
Pilcrow Foundation
- Provides new, quality, hardcover children's books to rural public
libraries across the United States. Rural communities serving a population
under 10,000 (priority to community populations under 5,000). 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.
Annual application deadlines for grant cycles are April 1 and
October 1. Disaster Relief Grant - limited number of special non-matching grants to
libraries affected by recent tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, or other
natural disasters.
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.