________-Estimated Deadline
California State Library: Community Impact Grants
Deadline: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:00 noon
Amount: $10,000 to $100,000
Eligibility: Libraries. Libraries with up to 14 outlets may apply for one local grant; libraries with between 15 and 30 outlets may apply for two local grants; libraries with 31 or more outlets may apply for three local grants.
URL: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/
Summary: Community Impact Grants (formerly known as “Local and Collaborative Grants”) help library workers respond effectively to local needs and align services with community aspirations. This program supports experimentation and research and development in California’s libraries. To receive funding, applicants must demonstrate attention to equity in their planning and implementation through existing and planned community partnerships, intentional connections made with marginalized communities, and the integration of equity principles and practices.
California State Library: Play for All
Deadline: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:00 noon
Amount: $10,000 to $75,000
Eligibility: Libraries
URL: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/
Summary: The Play for All funding opportunity provides grants to help California libraries design and create welcoming family play spaces and offer meaningful programming around play for marginalized young children. The purpose of these grants is to support libraries in addressing the barriers and inequitable access to quality play spaces and play-based programming young children may experience in marginalized, under-resourced, and underserved communities.
California libraries can apply for grant funding to support:
• Staff time to co-design, coordinate, and implement play-based programs. • Purchases of mobile and/or child-friendly furnishings, manipulatives, and materials to create play spaces for young children.
• Services from community organizations including parenting workshops and presentations about play-based child development.
• Participation in professional development workshops to gain knowledge and skills around play-based programming and spaces.
• Outreach and promotion of play resources and programs.
• Any additional allowable expenditures that help libraries provide young children access to play. Please note that if grant funds will be used to pay for a service from a
community organization or organizations, those organization(s) cannot be considered as a partner in the application.
California State Library: Sustainable California Libraries
Deadline: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:00 noon
Amount: $10,000 to $75,000
Eligibility: Libraries
URL: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/
Summary: The Sustainable California Libraries grant program funds climate and sustainability related community-driven programming for adults and intergenerational groups. The initiative also fosters connections between California library workers supporting climate resilience in communities. The purpose of these grants is to fund services, programming, and educational opportunities focused on sustainability and climate resilience.
California State Library: Teens Succeed
Deadline: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:00 noon
Amount: $50,000 to $75,000
Eligibility: Libraries
URL: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/
Summary: The Teens Succeed opportunity provides grant funding for teen internships, with a focus on developing social emotional and workforce readiness skills. The purpose of this grant is to address the challenges teens face in the aftereffects of the pandemic and to help prepare youth for success in life.
California State Library: eBooks for All
Deadline: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:00 noon
Amount: The collection, currently consisting of over 150,000 copies of over 90,000 titles, is designed to meet the recreational and informational reading needs of California’s diverse communities. Many titles are licensed for simultaneous use. The collection is available to all public libraries to provide for free to readers of all ages. Libraries wishing to have access to this collection must be on the Palace App, an eReader aggregator that can browse and display materials from Overdrive, CloudLibrary, and other similar services.
Match: Yes - 25%
Eligibility: In order to participate in this opportunity, libraries must join the eBooks for All project and offer access to Palace to their patrons. If your library has not yet joined and you are interested in participating, please email [email protected] to get started.
URL: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/
Summary: The eBooks for All opportunity provides funding for California libraries to build a diverse and inclusive collection accessible to all California libraries participating in the project and the communities they serve. The purpose of this project is to help create greater equity of access to eBooks and eAudiobooks for California readers.
KaBOOM!: Build it with KaBOOM!
Deadline: Continuous
Amount: $15,000 - Grantees are awarded a $15,000 grant to be used toward the purchase of playground equipment. To supplement the $15,000 KaBOOM! grant, grantees are required to raise a minimum of $9,000 (for a total project value of $24,000) up to a maximum of $35,000 (for a total project value of $50,000) towards the cost of the playground project. This amount does not include the cost for safety surfacing, freight, site preparation, installation supervision and any other non-playground equipment items.
Match: $9,000
Eligibility: Must be located in San Jose, Los Angeles County, San Francisco, Brisbane, San Bernardino, Anaheim, Oakland or Santa Ana (See other qualified Community Partner requirements) https://kaboom.org/grants/build_it_with_kaboom#eligibility
A Build it with KaBOOM! grant provides the facilitation and support of an experienced Project Manager as community members embark on a 5–12 week planning process. After selection, all partners will join together for a community Design Day, inviting play experts (the kids, of course) to design their dream playspace.
Cal Volunteers: Connecting Neighbors to Neighbors
Deadline: February 2025
Amount: Minimum of $500,000 and additional funds in increments of $250,000, not to exceed a total award of $1,000,000. A few smaller grants for $250,000 may be available.
Match: No
Eligibility: The primary applicant must be a local government (city and county government only). To better facilitate local programs and leverage community resources, California Volunteers is prioritizing collaborative partnerships where the local government applicant partners with other agencies and organizations to co-lead this work:
• Non-Profits and Community-Based Organizations
• Neighborhood Associations or Councils
• Third Places (e.g. Libraries, Parks, Community Centers)
• Organizations focused on Disaster and Climate Response
Link: https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/grants/
Podcast Link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grantingsuccess/episodes/Cal-Volunteers Neighbors-to-Neighbors-Grant-Program-e2e7ngb
The applicant(s) should build upon an existing neighborhood program that leverages a diverse set of partnerships – including local neighborhood and community groups; neighborhood associations; local, regional, and state government agencies; third places; local business councils; and/or climate and disaster organizations – to provide the following: I. A comprehensive calendar of activities and events, including workshops, trainings, and block parties, that provide space for neighbors to connect and strengthen their bonds. II. A portfolio of volunteer initiatives that address a defined community need, including, but not limited to, climate and disaster concerns. III. A detailed strategy for utilizing third places, such as
libraries, parks, and community centers, to strengthen the community’s utilization of local resources and feelings of ownership, stewardship, and comradery.
Collections Assessment for Preservation Program
Deadline: February 2025
Amount: Allocation amounts range from $3,600 to $4,000 per assessor based on the annual operating budget of the institution.
Match: 1:1
https://imls.gov/grants/available/collections-assessment-preservation-program
The Collections Assessment for Conservation (CAP) program is designed to help small and mid-sized museums better care for their collections.
A CAP assessment is a study of an institution’s collections, buildings, and building systems, as well as its collections care policies and procedures. The assessment involves a site visit by collections and building assessors, who spend two days touring the museum and interviewing staff and governing officials. The assessors then prepare a comprehensive report that outlines recommendations for improving collections care.
A CAP assessment may assist small and mid-sized museums by:
● Providing recommendations and priorities for collections care specific to your collections ● Facilitating the development of a long-range preservation plan
● Serving as a fundraising tool for future collections projects
IMLS: 21st Century Museum Professionals Program
Deadline: March 2025
Amount: $100,000–$500,000
Match: You must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of your IMLS request
https://imls.gov/grants/available/21st-century-museum-professionals-program
The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) grant program advances the growth and development of a diverse workforce of museum professionals. The 21MP program supports projects that offer professional development to the current museum workforce; employ strategies to train and recruit future museum professionals; and support evaluation efforts to identify and share effective practices. IMLS recognizes the important role of strong local and regional networks as an essential tool for providing peer to peer learning, training and mentoring opportunities. The 21MP program encourages applications from museum associations, museum studies programs at institutions of higher education, and museums that serve as key parts of the professional learning and training environment.
American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship Initiative
Deadline: March 2025
Amount: $100,000 to $750,000
Match: No
https://imls.gov/grants/available/american-latino-museum-internship-and-fellowship-initiative This initiative is designed to provide opportunities for internships and fellowships at American Latino museums for students enrolled in Institutions of Higher Education, including Hispanic-Serving
Institutions. The initiative will nurture students carrying out studies relating to American Latino life, art, history, and culture.
Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program Deadline: May 2025
Amount: Around $500k
Eligibility: In order to receive a grant under the PPOHA program, an institution of higher education must offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or postbaccalaureate program.
Institutions must be designated as an eligible institution of higher education in order to apply for the Title V, Part B program, and must meet the program specific requirements to be defined as an HSI.To be designated as an eligible institution of higher education, an institution must apply for and receive designation through an application process. Please refer to the most recent Application for Designation as an Eligible Institution. You may contact the program office if you have questions regarding eligibility. Link: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/ppoha/index.html
Purpose: The Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Program provides grants to: (1) expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic students; and (2) expand the postbaccalaureate academic offerings as well as enhance the program quality in the institutions of higher education that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students and helping large numbers of Hispanic and low-income students complete postsecondary degrees.
CNRA: Museum Grant Program
Deadline: May 2025
Amount: Between $50,000 and $500,000 for program projects; and $100,000 to 1 million for capital projects.
Match: Nonprofit organizations are not required to provide a match.
Matching funds are required for public agencies in an amount not less than 5% of the requested grant amount. However, public agencies directly serving an underserved community and with compelling circumstances, may ask the State to consider approving a lower match (see question #33). Matching funds must be incurred during the project performance period.
Link: https://resources.ca.gov/grants/california-museum
Purpose: The Museum Grant Program has approximately 27.7 million available and may be awarded over multiple rounds depending on the competitive pool.
Funding shall be prioritized for museums severely affected by COVID-19 and that serve historically underserved communities or students subject to Title I of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Additionally, projects must meet one of the following priorities:
● serving pupils and teachers at schools eligible to be served under Part A of Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
● serving children in low-income communities;
● supporting museums in engaging or collaborating with underserved communities; ● advancing preservation of at-risk cultural and natural collections and historic buildings;
● improving access;
● supporting the ethical stewardship of culturally sensitive art and artifacts, including, but not limited to, engaging in consultations with California Indian tribes or repatriation; or ● educating the public about critical issues affecting Californians.
The intent of this program is to solicit proposals for program projects or capital projects that assist and enhance museums that are deeply rooted in, and reflective of, previously underserved communities.
Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff Deadline: November 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $25,000
Match: Yes
https://imls.gov/grants/available/museums-empowered-professional-development-opportunities-museum staff
Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program. It is designed to support projects that use the transformative power of professional development and training to generate systemic change within museums of all types and sizes.
Museums Empowered has four project categories:
● Digital Technology: Provide museum staff with the skills to integrate digital technology into museum operations.
● Diversity and Inclusion: Support museum staff in providing inclusive services to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds and to individuals with disabilities. ● Evaluation: Strengthen the ability of museum staff to use evaluation as a tool to shape museum programs and improve outcomes.
● Organizational Management: Strengthen and support museum staff as the essential part of a resilient organizational culture.
Museums for America
Deadline: November 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $250,000
Match: Yes
https://imls.gov/grants/available/museums-america
The Museums for America program supports museums of all sizes and disciplines to undertake projects that strengthen their ability to serve the public through exhibitions, educational/interpretive programs, digital learning resources, professional development, community debate and dialogue, audience-focused studies, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Museums for America has three project categories:
● Lifelong Learning
● Community Engagement
● Collections Stewardship and Access
Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
Deadline: November 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $500,000
Match: If your request for federal funding is between $5,000 and $100,000, then no cost share is required. If your request for federal funding is between $100,001 and $500,000, you must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of your federal funding request.
https://imls.gov/grants/available/museum-grants-african-american-history-and-culture The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program is designed to build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums.
The AAHC program supports projects that nurture museum professionals, build institutional capacity, and increase access to museum and archival collections at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums
Deadline: November 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $50,000
Match: No
https://imls.gov/grants/available/inspire-grants-small-museums
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums is a special initiative of the Museums for America program. It is designed to support small museums of all disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through exhibitions, educational/interpretive programs, digital learning resources, policy development and institutional planning, technology enhancements, professional development, community outreach, audience development, and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Inspire! has three project categories:
● Lifelong Learning
● Institutional Capacity
● Collections Stewardship and Access
National Leadership Grants for Museums
Deadline: November 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $750,000
Match: Yes
https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/national-leadership-grants-museums
National Leadership Grants for Museums support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the American public.
Laura Bush Foundation For America's Libraries
Deadline: November 2025
Amount: Varies depending on ask
Match: No
https://www.bushcenter.org/lbf-application-details
Eligibility:
● A certified librarian or other paid professional must be assigned as responsible for the collection, care, and use of the materials housed in the school library.
● Public school applicants must be Title 1 eligible. Neighborhood schools, charter schools, magnet schools, etc. are all welcome to apply if Title 1 eligible.
● Private and parochial schools are also welcome to apply if at least 50% of their student population qualify for financial aid.
● Your school must have a library or designated space on campus where books are accessible to all students to check out.
● Principal must digitally sign principal agreement in the application.
● All financial documentation must be completed for your application to be complete – this includes the school/district W-9 and a voided blank check OR a bank letter.
● Per the grant guidelines of the Laura Bush Foundation, the grant is to be used to purchase school library books, e-books, and magazine requests as outlined in your grant application. Use of the funds for shelving or furniture of any kind, equipment (i.e.: computers, electronic readers, Kindles, etc.), staffing, software, videos, guides, tests or exams, classroom book sets, or similar items, is prohibited.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Outdoor Equity Grant Program (Round 2) Due: 2026
Amount: Max $700,000
Match: No.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30443
The Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP) will increase the ability of residents in low income urban and rural communities to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. OEP grants will improve the health and wellness of Californians by connecting underserved communities to natural areas throughout California.
Building Forward: Library Facility Improvement Grant
Deadline: TBD
Amount: Max $10mil
Match: Yes, 50%
Link: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/buildingforward/
Purpose: The Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program supports capital projects for public library buildings that address critical maintenance needs, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and expand access digitally and physically.