Grants for Libraries and Library Personnel
Researching Funding Opportunities
Funding Databases | Web sites | Print Resources | Planning & Considerations
Recommended Funding Databases for Libraries
Foundation Giving
A web-based database from the Foundation Center, a foundation-supported clearinghouse of information on private funding sources. Includes information on over 93,000 private and corporate foundations, corporate givers, and grantmaking public charities.
In Foundation Search use the "Fields of Interest" index to identify library-related subjects or simply type your terms into the "Text Search" box. In Grant Search use the "Recipient Type" and/or "Subjects" index(es) or type keywords into the "Text Search" box.
Foundations in Wisconsin: A Directory 
This database will allow one to search Wisconsin foundations by name, officer/director, donor, city, county, area of interest, and more.
First select "Area of Interest" and then "Libraries or Library Science" for best results.
Private & Government Giving
Offers up-to-date and complete descriptions of approximately 23,000 private and federal funding sources, representing nearly 400,000 funding opportunities. Grants in the non-science areas are included.
Enter keywords (e.g. libraries) in the "All Fields" search box.
Provides information on over 10,000 grants available to both individuals and organizations from 4,000 federal, state, and local governments, commercial organizations, associations, and private foundations.
Searchable by multiple library-related subject headings or type relevant keywords into the main search box.
IRIS: Illinois Researcher Information Service
Includes over 8,000 federal and private funding programs for researchers, scholars, faculty and graduate students. Grant programs for institutions are included as well.
Select "Library Science" or one of its subcategories in the IRIS Keyword Thesaurus.
SPIN: Sponsored Programs Information Network
Provides access to funding information for research, development activities, international projects, collaborative programs, fellowships, academic exchange programs, and more. Searchable by citizenship, geographic areas and restrictions, deadlines, subjects, and more.
In Advanced Search, choose applicant type "Library" or "Librarian/Library Professional."
Government Giving
Billed as the place to find and apply to government grants, this resource can be difficult to use in identifying what is actually available. Instead, visit individual agency web sites and/or use the resources below to find grants - then use grants.gov to apply. This site also includes grant opportunities notices posted in the most recent seven days, links to grant application packages, resources such as proposal writing information. (Free: http://www.grants.gov)
Type relevant word or words in keyword search box (e.g. preservation).
Start here for links (organized by topic) to state government, education, business, and other information resources, with its links to city, county, and local government and community web sites in Wisconsin. (Free: http://search.wi.gov/cpp/)
Type grants and libraries in the search box provided.
Additional Web sites of Interest
AASL Funding Opportunities (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslawards/aaslawards.cfm
ACRL Awards Program (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/awards/index.cfm
ALA Awards and Scholarships
http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/scholarships/allscholarships/index.cfm
ALA Grants
http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/grants/pubresearchtravel/index.cfm
ALA Public Programs Office
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/index.cfm
ALCTS Award Opportunities and Honors (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=ergonomicbib&template=/ContentManagement/
ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=127503
ALSC Scholarships (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Scholarships&template=/ContentManagement/
ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=70045
ASCLA Awards (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclaawards/index.cfm
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/topics/Pages/libraries.aspx
Chronicle of Philanthropy Deadlines (RFPs)
http://philanthropy.com/deadlines/
Foundation Grants for Preservation in Libraries, Archives, and Museums
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/foundtn-grants.html
Institute of Museum and Library Services
http://www.imls.gov/
International Awards, Grants, and Exchanging (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/iro/awardsactivities/awardsgrants.cfm
LAMA Awards (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/llama/awards/index.cfm
Library Grants Blog
http://librarygrants.blogspot.com/
Libri Foundation
http://www.librifoundation.org/
LITA Awards and Scholarships (ALA)
http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/litaresources/litascholarships/litascholarships.cfm
National Endowment for the Humanities - Apply for a Grant
http://www.neh.gov/grants/index.html
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/
Philanthropy News Digest (RFPs)
http://www.foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_education.jhtml
PLA Awards and Grants (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaawards/index.cfm
RUSA Awards Program (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/awards/index.cfm
School Grants
http://www.schoolgrants.org/
Technology Grant News
http://www.technologygrantnews.com/
TechSoup
http://www.techsoup.org/go/liba
United Nations - Grant Programs for Libraries
http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/sflib/libmgnt/grants.htm
US Department of Education - Grant Opportunities
http://www.ed.gov/programs/find/search/index.html?src=ln
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction - Grants and Financial Assistance
http://dpi.wi.gov/grants.html
Wisconsin's Certified Community Foundations
http://www.wisconsingives.org/
YALSA Awards and Grants (ALA)
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/awardsandgrants/yalsaawardsgrants.htm
Print Resources at UW Libraries
Annual register of grant support. Chicago : Marquis Academic Media, Marquis Who’s Who.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: LB2338 A88
The Big book of library grant money. Prepared by the Taft Group for the American Library Association. Chicago : American Library Association.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683.2 U6 B54
Founding and funding family literacy programs : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. Carole Talan. New York : Neal-Schuman.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z716.45 T35
Fundraising for libraries : 25 proven ways to get more money for your library. James Swan. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683.2 U6 S93
Getting your grant : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. Peggy Barber, Linda D. Crowe. New York : Neal-Schuman.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683.2 U6 B37
Grant coordination. Cathleen Mook. Washington, D.C. : Association of Research Libraries, Office of Leadership and Management Services.
School of Library and Information Studies Library. General Collection, Call number: 025.11 M778g
Grants for libraries : a how-to-do-it manual. Stephanie K. Gerding, Pamela H. MacKellar. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers.
School of Library and Information Studies Library. General Collection, Call number: 021.83 G313g
National guide to funding for elementary and secondary education. New York, NY : Foundation Center.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: LC243 A1 N38
National guide to funding for libraries & information services, 8th edition. New York, NY : Foundation Center.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683.2 U6 N38
National guide to funding in arts and culture, 8th edition. New York, N.Y. : Foundation Center.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: NX396.6 N385.
Public libraries and private fund raising : opportunities & issues : a report of the Urban Libraries Council. Prepared by Thomas H. Jeavons. Evanston, Ill. b The Council.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683.2 U6 J43
Raising money for academic and research libraries : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. Edited by Barbara I. Dewey. Publisher: New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Memorial Library, Reference Room 262. Grants Information Collection, Call number: Z683 R34
Researching Grants: Planning and Considerations
- Know your program or project proposal intimately. Proposal help is available. See, Proposal Writing Web Resources and Proposal Writing Books
- Plan ahead: researching and finding grantmakers both take time
- Sources often are inconsistent from one to the next. Try using a Prospect Worksheet.
- Documentation takes time: (copies of tax-exempt status, contacting references, revising proposal, updating resumes, meetings, making contacts, updating and comparing cost figures, creating a budget document etc.)
- Read funder guidelines carefully (Ex: Ben & Jerry's: http://www.benjerry.com/foundation/ guidelines.html)
- Check information which includes recent giving history of funders (Example: NEH Recent Awards at http://www.neh.gov/news/recentawards.html)
- Check both print and electronic resources. Do NOT rely on web-based searching for funders. Only 3,810 of the 67,000 grantmaking foundations in the U.S. have web sites! Only 9 of 66 total Wisconsin-focused library grantmakers have web sites.
- Read current funding news which includes or is relevant to your interests. (Example: NEH News at http://www.neh.gov/news/index.html)
- Consider collaborative projects and programs.
- Never fit the program to the funder.
- Think outside the box, especially with program areas. (Library funding can be funding for arts & culture, education, information technology, rural development, community development, neighborhood enhancement. Be creative with subjects: building expansion /bricks and mortar funding = funding for classrooms, educational settings, educational environments, learning environments.)