Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries
Resources for
Finding Funding
NCompass Live: Winning Grants for Your Library Programming - recorded
webinar and presentation slides - March 13, 2024, 1 hour 17 minutes.
Grants
A curated selection of grants. This
list is not exhaustive and may be updated with new grants at any time.
2025 Nebraska Library Commission Grants:
Grant applications for the 2025 NLC grants closed on November 15, 2024:
Continuing Education and Training Grants
Internship Grants
Library Improvement Grants
Youth Grants for Excellence
Nebraska Regional Library Systems:
Central Plains Library
System Scholarship Grants
Southeast Library
System Scholarships
Three Rivers Library System Continuing Education Scholarships
Western Library System Scholarships
Nebraska Library Association:
Louise A. Nixon
Scholarship
College and University Section -
Professional Development Grant,
Research Grant
ALA Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural
Communities - Applications due: December 11, 2024. Grants of
$10,000 or $20,000 to support costs related to a community engagement
project . 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).
Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants
for Libraries - Applications due: January 12, 2025. Two $4,000
Will Eisner Graphic Novel grants will be awarded in 2025: one Will
Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grant, which provides support to
libraries that would like to expand their existing graphic novel collection,
services, and programs; and one Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation
Grant, which provides support to a library or Friends Group for the
initiation of a new graphic novel service or program. 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.
IEEE Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) - Applications due: January
16, 2025. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) - Region 4's Science Kits for Public Libraries (SKPL) Grant
program is offering up to $2,000 in funding to public libraries to establish
a new circulating science kits collection. 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
NEA Big Read
- Intent to Apply due: January 23, 2025. Final Application due: January 30,
2025. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support community
reading programs designed around the NEA Big Read theme OUR NATURE: How
Our Physical Environment Can Lead Us to Seek Hope, Courage, and Connection.
Eligible applicants: Nonprofit arts organizations, universities/colleges,
school districts, public libraries, tribal organizations, museums, and
community service organizations located and operating within the United
States, U.S. Territories, and the Native Nations that share this geography.
Humanities Nebraska
- Grants to nonprofit organizations, including libraries, in
support of projects related to the humanities. Requires at least a 1:1 match
between HN grant funds and cash or in-kind budget items.
Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the
year.
Nebraska Arts
Council - Grants to: nonprofit organizations; 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".
Multiple grants categories, deadlines vary.
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. 2025 Application deadline: TBA
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. 2024 Application
deadline was September 15, 2024.
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. Annual deadlines:
Letter of Intent to Apply due January 15. Full Application due February 15.
USDA Community Facilities Loans & Grants -
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.
Program Period: Open Year Round.
Grant Application Guide for Rural Communities from the Center for Rural
Affairs.
4imprint one by
one Grants - $500 grants for promotional products to
organizations making a difference in their communities. Donation recipients
must be a 501(c)(3) organization, a school, a religious organization or a
registered Canadian charity. Several grants are awarded each business day.
Ash
Grove Charitable Foundation
- Grants of up to $25,000 to charitable, educational, and scientific
organizations, which are 501(c)(3) public charities, for capital and special
projects, such as construction, renovation, repairs, and restoration of
facilities. Accepts and makes decisions on applications throughout
the year.
BNSF Railway Foundation
- Makes grants to charitable organizations and divisions of local government
in the communities
in which BNSF Railway Company operates. Open application system -
you may apply at any time.
Dollar General Literacy and Summer Reading Grants - The next cycle for
grant applications will open in January 2025.
Nonprofit organizations as determined by the IRS, a public
library, school, or college providing direct literacy services are eligible to apply. The applicant organization
must be located 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.
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation -
Provides grants and donations in communities
served by First Interstate Bank, this includes Nebraska. Areas of
interest include arts and culture, civic and community affairs, K-12 and
higher education, health, human services, sustainability, and alleviating
poverty. Nonprofit organizations and units of government are eligible to
apply. Minimum grant amount is $2,500. Requests are reviewed
monthly.
IMLS -
Institute of Museum and Library Services - federal support for the nation's
libraries and museums.
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.
Pilcrow Foundation
-
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.
Annual application deadlines for grant cycles are April 1 and
October 1.
PLA
Digital Literacy Workshop Incentives - Applications for 2024-2025 were due: October 18,
2024. Supported by AT&T. PLA Digital Literacy Workshop
Incentive: This program will award $10,000 to large public
libraries and $5,000 to small public libraries, as well as provide the
necessary training resources, to conduct workshops that teach basic digital
literacy skills using PLA's
DigitalLearn courses and
training materials. PLA Digital Navigator Workshop Incentive:
This new pilot program will award $4,000 to public libraries with
digital navigators to utilize DigitalLearn materials and resources.
Libraries must already have a digital navigator to apply.
Robert B. Daugherty
Foundation - Grants to tax exempt organizations in Nebraska for
Capital Construction Projects, General Operating Support, and Program
Support.
Accepts requests for funding throughout the year.
Rural
Technology Fund - Grants for $500- $2,500 for Rural Technology Education
projects and Assistive Technology equipment to increase accessibility for
students with disabilities in public schools and libraries. No
specific deadlines - grants awarded every 30-60 days.
Sunderland Foundation
- Makes grants annually to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for
capital building construction projects within a certain geographic scope. In
Nebraska, grant applications are only accepted from the 'Metro Areas of
Omaha & Lincoln.' Applications are accepted and
reviewed throughout the year.
T-Mobile Hometown Grants - is a $25 million, five-year
initiative, through 2026, to support small towns, villages, and
territories across America by funding community projects. Grants of
up to $50,000 are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns to help fund
projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster
local connections in your town, such as the public library, the town square
pavilion, a historic building, an outdoor park, or a ball field. Elected
leaders, town managers/employees, and nonprofit leaders in small towns with
populations of less than 50,000 are eligible. Recipients are
selected and awarded quarterly.
Union Pacific Foundation Local Grants - 2025
Application deadline: TBA. 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.
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 highlighted
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.