Community Partnerships for Literacy Mini-Grants

Purpose

To support the creation of literacy and learning centers in local community places. Libraries with community partners can establish an environment of familial and intergenerational learning in their communities.

Eligible community places may include:

  • Barbershops and beauty shops
  • Laundromats
  • Healthcare/social services
  • Community centers
  • Women’s/Youth Shelters

Mini-grants supports goal one of the LSTA Five-Year Plan: Community Engagement

Eligible libraries

North Carolina public libraries eligible for the Aid to Public Libraries Fund, community college libraries, UNC system libraries, and North Carolina Independent College and University (NCICU) libraries may submit one application.

All awardees must have Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov, as required by 2 CFR 25.300. Questions about your UEI? Email catherine.prince@dncr.nc.gov for assistance.

Funds

Between $4,000-$10,000, with no match required.  There is $220,000 available in funding for this opportunity.  

This opportunity will allow for the purchase of literacy materials (books, literacy tip sheets, etc.), interactive learning manipulatives, needed furnishings, and safety supplies.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: April 17 
  • Awards announced by: April 26
  • Grant period ends August 15
  • Final reimbursement due by August 31
  • Final report due by September 30

Allowable costs

  • Evaluation to show the extent to which the project has met its goals; 
  • Furnishings that are necessary to support the project;
  • Hardware, software, and/or technology necessary to support the project;
  • Indirect costs;
  • Library materials that are necessary to support the project;
  • Postage and printing costs for project materials;
  • Supplies necessary to support the project;
  • Other expenses that are reasonable and necessary to support the project.

Unallowable costs

  • Ongoing subscriptions and services beyond the funding period
  • Consultant costs
  • eMaterials, including eBooks, eAudio, and eVideo
  • Salaries, wages, and/or benefits
  • Travel costs
  • Activities or programs about advocacy, grant writing, or lobbying with a purpose of increasing funding and/or whose primary purpose is to establish a general message that 'libraries are good places and deserve to exist'; 
  • Architectural plans for existing or new buildings; 
  • Collection development activities, including electronic materials; 
  • Construction or pre-construction planning; 
  • Construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving contract labor in the construction trades is not allowable); 
  • Conventional arrangement, description, or cataloging of materials; 
  • Costs associated with content management systems (such as CONTENTdm); 
  • Digitizing runs of newspapers; 
  • Events, festivals, staff training, or acquisition of collections; 
  • Fundraising costs; 
  • General advertising or public relations costs not specific to LSTA-funded activities; 
  • General operating support;  
  • Ongoing expenditures such as subscriptions, utilities, Internet access, or other services ,
  • Pre-award costs; 
  • Promotional items and memorabilia including gifts, incentives, and souvenirs; 
  • Refreshments, entertainment, ceremonies, receptions, or social events; 
  • Sub-awards; and 
  • Other expenses prohibited by state or federal regulations.

Criteria

Only complete applications will be reviewed.  Applications received after 11:59 pm on April 17, 2024 will not be considered. Grant reviewers will score applications with a rubric, based on the below criteria:

  • Application includes a well-defined benefit or planned benefit to patrons demonstrating it is user-focused. Application makes a compelling case as to why the project is needed in the community.  
  • Funds requested must be for reasonable, necessary, and allowable costs to achieve the project’s goals; the application should provide rationale to support how the proposed expenditures were determined and why each is needed to achieve the project goals.  
  • The number, type, and total dollar value of prior LSTA grants the library has received, or is presently involved in, may be a factor in selecting applications for funding in order to promote equity.
  • All other factors being equal, the county distress rankings, as maintained by the NC Department of Commerce, may be a determining factor.

Final Report Requirements: Participants are required to provide the State Library with a short narrative and at least 3 types of items such as photos, comments and/or video clips from the project or stats from any usage. Additional information required includes: items purchased and literacy materials created. Please note, IMLS surveys may be required depending on the activities of the project; see the Project Activities and Required Surveys section on the Final Report webpage.

For general questions, contact Jasmine Rockwell.

For questions regarding the grant application process, contact Catherine Prince.

Apply now!