Public School Library Grants
- Grants are gifts of money; they do not have to be paid back. Nonprofit organizations or governments give grants to other organizations or individuals doing a work or supporting a cause that the donator approves of. When looking for grants for a public school library, the school must meet certain guidelines (that vary per grant) set forth by the donator and demonstrate need for the financial assistance.
- The NEA Foundation is a public charity created in 1969 and funded by donations from educators, corporate sponsors and public education supporters. Books Across America awards $1,000 grants to public schools who serve economically disadvantaged students. The award is for the purchase of books for the library.
The NEA Foundation
1201 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-7839
neafoundation.org - The Laura Bush Foundation awarded more than $850,000 to 158 school libraries in 2009. Each school received up to $6,000 to expand its book collection and update its facilities. In 2008 the Laura Bush Foundation donated over $1 million through the Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative, which helped schools damaged in Louisiana and Alabama during the 2005 hurricanes.
Laura Bush Foundation For America's Libraries
c/o Community Foundation for the
National Capital Region
1201 15th Street NW, Suite 420
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 955-5890
laurabushfoundation.org - The school library disaster relief fund is offered by Dollar General in conjunction with the American Association of School Librarians. The program is for public school libraries that were significantly damaged in a natural disaster such as a tornado, earthquake, hurricane or flood. Schools that also face a terrorist act (as qualified under federal guidelines) are also eligible for the award. The grant can go toward books, media and/or equipment for the school.
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
American Library Association
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(800) 545-2433, ext. 4382
ala.org
