Online Update

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Grant

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Grant -- Grants range from $500 to $3,000 -- The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Inc. annually awards grants for purchasing books published for young people in preschool through grade 8. Public libraries, school libraries, and non-traditional libraries operated by 501(c)(3) agencies are eligible. The Foundation provides grants to libraries or organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants for 2012 are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses. Deadline: June 15, 2012

Dollar General Youth LIteracy Grants

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants -- Grants range up to $4,000 -- The grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Grant funding is 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

To qualify, your library needs to be located within 20 miles of a Dollar General store (store locator map), and provide literacy programs for new readers, below grade level readers, or readers with learning disabilities. Deadline: May 16, 2012

Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation Literacy and Education Grant

Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation Literacy and Education Grant -- Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 -- These grants provide direct support for children in literacy and education programs such as summer reading programs, early childhood education programs and literacy programs for children with special needs.”  These grants are for one-time purchases or to fulfill a short-term need, such as the purchase of materials or books. Deadline: August 31, 2012

Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums

Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums -- Grant amount: up to $100,000 Matching Requirement: Cost sharing of at least one third is encouraged, but not required -- These grants will support the planning and designing of up to 30 Learning Labs in libraries and museums throughout the country. The Labs are intended to engage middle- and high-school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media. Grantees will be required to participate, in-person and online, in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Projects are expected to provide prototypes for the field and be based on current research about digital media and youth learning. Deadline: June 15, 2012

Preservation assistance grants available from NEH

The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Division of Preservation and Access has offered Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions for more than a decade. These grants help small and mid-sized cultural heritage institutions such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections.

Awards of up to $6,000 support preservation related collection assessments, consultations, training and workshops, and institutional and collaborative disaster and emergency planning. Preservation Assistance Grants also support education and training in best practices for sustaining digital collections, standards for digital preservation, and the care and handling of collections during digitization. Institutions may request funds for a preservation assessment of digital collections. NEH does not fund digitization or the development of digital programs in this grant category.

All applications to the NEH must be submitted through Grants.gov. The 2012 guidelines for Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions are available at www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html. You will also find sample project descriptions, sample narratives, and a list of frequently asked questions. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2012.

Small and mid-sized institutions that have never received an NEH grant and those considering projects in digital preservation are especially encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact the staff of NEH's Division of Preservation and Access at 202-606-8570.

Target Stores Early Childhood Reading

Every year, Target awards grants to K-12 schools and other nonprofit organizations that provide reading and arts programs for children and youth. Target Early Childhood Reading Grants are awarded to schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations to support programs like afterschool reading events and weekend book clubs. Grants are intended to support programs that help foster a love of reading and encourage children to read with their families.

Grants will be for $2,000 each, and eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools, libraries, and public agencies.
 
Visit the Target website for complete program guidelines and to submit an online application.

Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust Grants for Public and School Libraries

The Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust has announced the availability of Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust Grants for Public and School Libraries. These small grants (under $5,000) are for school and public libraries seeking to offer innovative programs that promote reading for pleasure for young adults.

There is no specific deadline to apply. Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications that feature new or creative programs will receive special consideration over those simply seeking funds for collection development or for a book discussion group. For further information and/or an application, please contact: Julian L. Lapides, Esquire, Trust Manager, 600 Wyndhurst Avenue, Suite 246, Baltimore, MD 21210; (410) 464-0100.

The Trust prefers to be contacted by mail or phone.

Walmart Store, Sam's Club Giving Programs

The Walmart Foundation supports the charitable organizations that are important to its customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Support for local, state and national organizations provides opportunities in the communities the company serves.

Through its Giving Programs, Walmart Stores and Sam’s Clubs can recommend grants beginning at $250 to local charitable organizations. To learn more, visit http://walmartstores.com/communitygiving/238.aspx?p=8979.

ALA Awards, Grants Site

This is the American Library Association's (ALA's) online resource for awards, grants, and scholarships.

ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/allawardsgrants/

Pepsirefresh.com offers grants for community projects

Pepsirefresh.com is looking for people, businesses, and non-profit organizations with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it.

Applications are accepted from the 1st through the 15th of each month, or until 1,000 ideas are submitted, whichever comes first. Voting on accepted submissions takes place throughout the month, and if your idea was not accepted one month you can try again the next. Grant requests can be submitted in the following categories: $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000.

Project partners include:

• GOOD, the integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community.
• DoSomething.org, one of the largest organizations in the United States that helps young people rock causes they care about.
• City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. City Year is a proud member of AmeriCorps.
• GlobalGiving is an online marketplace that connects you to the causes and countries you care about. You select the projects you want to support, make a tax-deductible contribution, and get regular progress updates -- so you can see your impact.

For more information about this new community grant project, or to submit your idea, visit www.pepsirefresh.com.