Grants for public libraries
Grants Tennessee public and regional libraries, and their Friends groups, can apply for, chosen from what libraries actually win: federal awards to recipients named public, regional or county library since 2019 (USAspending.gov), Tennessee State Library and Archives programs, and foundation grants to Tennessee libraries in IRS filings.
Federal programs incubators win
Programs are ranked by federal grant dollars to recipients named public library, library district or regional library, FY2020–FY2026 (USAspending.gov). Most federal library money reaches Tennessee libraries through the State Library's grants, listed below.
Grants to States (45.310)
IMLS Grants to States (LSTA): the federal money behind the Tennessee State Library and Archives' grants to public libraries (technology, training and more).
No open notice right now.
National Leadership Grants (45.312)
IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries: national competitive grants for library projects; Tennessee recipients have won them.
2 notices open or coming: National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027); National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2027) · 7 Tennessee awards on file
Community Facilities Loans and Grants (10.766)
USDA Community Facilities grants can build, renovate and equip libraries in towns of 20,000 or fewer.
No open notice right now.
Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access (45.149)
NEH Preservation and Access: caring for local history collections, archives and digitization.
No open notice right now.
Promotion of the Humanities Challenge Grants (45.130)
NEH Challenge Grants: capital and endowment support for humanities institutions, including libraries.
No open notice right now.
Open and coming grants that mention this work
- Training Opportunities for the Public (TOP) Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Done for this year · next round expected due around Mar 31, 2027 · Up to $20K
- State Board Programming Regrants (Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board) · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Done for this year · next round expected Jul 6 – Aug 14, 2027 · Up to $5,000
Tennessee programs that fund this work
- White-Reinhardt Grants (ag literacy) · American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture · Done for this year · next round expected due around Jun 12, 2027
- Public Library Technology Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Done for this year · next round expected due around Jul 10, 2027
- Archives Development Program Direct Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Done for this year · next round expected Jul 6 – Aug 14, 2027
- Family Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Forecast — no date yet
- Summer Reading Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Forecast — no date yet
- Youth Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Forecast — no date yet
- Beyond Words (school library disaster relief) · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · No deadline listed (see notice)
- Adult Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Forecast — no date yet
Foundations that funded Tennessee incubators
From their IRS filings. Foundations that take applications are listed first.
| Foundation | Based in | Funded | Total | Takes applications? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Frist Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $5M | Letter of inquiry first |
| James Stephen Turner Family Foundation Inc. | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $808K | Takes applications |
| Joe C Davis Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $215K | Takes applications |
| Jane I Pettway Foundation | TN | Bean Station Public Library; Blaine Public Library; Dandridge Memorial Library | $140K | Takes applications |
| Brown S & S Fdn | AL | Mr J Stokes Brown Public Library | $121K | Takes applications |
| Scarlett Family Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $75K | Takes applications |
| Adams Family Foundation I | TN | Adams Memorial Library; Lavergne Public Library | $53K | Takes applications |
| Hca Healthcare Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Fdn; Nashville Public Library Foundation | $50K | Takes applications |
| M A@rikard Charitable Trust | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $28K | Takes applications |
| Jim Horne & Evelyn S Hankins Foundation | TN | Wilson County Library System | $26K | Takes applications |
| Bartlett-Patterson Corporation | TN | Greenevillegreene County Library; Mosheim Public Library | $18K | Takes applications |
| The Thompson Charitable Foundation | NC | Friends of Knox County Public Library; Friends of the Knox Co Public Library | $18K | Takes applications |
| Athens Federal Foundation | TN | Eg Fisher Public Library; Meigs-Decatur Friends of the Library; Polk County Friends of the Library | $16K | Takes applications |
| Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $15K | Takes applications |
| H W Durham Foundation | TN | Memphis Library Foundation | $7,378 | Takes applications |
| La-Z-Boy Foundation | MI | Clyde W Roddy Public Library | $7,000 | Takes applications |
| Allan Jones Foundation | TN | Cleveland County Library | $3,855 | Takes applications |
| Publix Super Markets Charities Inc. | FL | Friends of the Knox County Public Library; Smyrna Public Library | $3,000 | Takes applications |
| Greenpoint Foundation Inc. | AL | Friends of the Burritt Memorial Library | $2,000 | Takes applications |
| Robert W and Elise B Lykins Charitable | KY | Nashville Public Library | $2,000 | Takes applications |
| The Fugitive Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $1,500 | Takes applications |
| Weeden Foundation | NY | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $1,500 | Takes applications |
| Tucker Foundation | TN | Friends of the Library Association Inc. | $1,000 | Takes applications |
| The Allstate Foundation | IL | The Friends of the Clarksville Montgomery County Public Library | $1,000 | Takes applications |
| Flora Belle Moss & Bessie Abigail Moss Foundation | TN | Memphis Library Foundation | $500 | Takes applications |
| Texas Instruments Foundation | TX | Friends of Knox Cnty Public Library; Friends of the Knox County Public Library | $163 | Takes applications |
| The Junior League of Nashville Inc. | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $1.4M | Check how to apply |
| Nashville Public Library Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library | $595K | Check how to apply |
| The Community Foundation of Middle | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $557K | Check how to apply |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | TN | Nashville Public Library; Nashville Public Library Foundation | $149K | Check how to apply |
Tennessee peers: see who funds them
- Nashville Public Library Foundation Nashville · 54 foundations
- Memphis Library Foundation Memphis · 10 foundations
- Nashville Public Library Nashville · 7 foundations
- Friends of the Knox County Public Library Knoxville · 7 foundations
- Johnson City Public Library Johnson City · 3 foundations
- Meigs-Decatur Friends of the Library Decatur · 3 foundations
- Mcivers Grant Public Library Dyersburg · 3 foundations
- Foundation for the Cleveland Public Library Cleveland · 2 foundations
- Friends of Tipton County Library Covington · 2 foundations
- The Chattanooga Public Library Foundation Chattanooga · 2 foundations
- Friends of the Tellico Village Library Inc. Loudon · 2 foundations
- Polk County Friends of the Library Benton · 2 foundations
Eligibility tips
- The Tennessee State Library and Archives runs grants for public libraries (technology, construction, training), funded in part by federal LSTA money. Tennessee State Library and Archives
- USDA Community Facilities grants go to public bodies and community nonprofits in towns of 20,000 or fewer and name libraries as eligible; low-income towns of 5,000 or fewer can get up to 75% of the cost. USDA Rural Development
- Many foundation grants to libraries in IRS filings went to a Friends of the Library or library foundation rather than the library itself. Look at who funded your peers below. Who funded this group?
Checked Oct 7, 2026. Each funder's official notice controls; confirm eligibility there before applying.