Grants for public libraries
Grants that Tennessee public and regional libraries, and their Friends groups, can apply for. We list the programs libraries like yours have won.
In Davidson County
- Free grant help: Davidson County is served by the Greater Nashville Regional Council. It writes and runs grant applications for local governments and their partners, for free or at low cost. These include EDA ? and ARC ? grants.
- Numbers for your need statement: Davidson County facts. Poverty, income, jobs, broadband and more, next to the numbers for all of Tennessee, with sources ready to paste.
- Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): Davidson County is outside the Appalachian region, so ARC grants don't apply here.
Foundations that give the most in Davidson County
Every purpose, not just this one: local funders often back new kinds of projects. Invitation-only foundations are left out.
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Total here | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Employee Assistance Foundation | TN | 3703 | $6.2M | Takes applications |
| The Community Foundation of Middle | TN | 1408 | $83.7M | Ask before applying |
| United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc. | TN | 445 | $28.4M | Ask before applying |
| Hca Healthcare Foundation | TN | 398 | $11.8M | Takes applications |
| Joe C Davis Foundation | TN | 319 | $14.4M | Takes applications |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc. | DE | 309 | $7.5M | Ask before applying |
| Scarlett Family Foundation | TN | 281 | $12.2M | Takes applications |
| Carolyn Smith Foundation | TN | 261 | $6.9M | Takes applications |
| The Frist Foundation | TN | 240 | $48M | Ask before applying |
| The Bank of America Charitable | NC | 226 | $1.3M | Takes applications |
| The Healing Trust | TN | 208 | $7M | Takes applications |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN | TN | 153 | $24.8M | Ask before applying |
All foundations that gave in Davidson County · All grants open in Davidson County
Federal programs libraries win
We rank programs by the federal grant dollars they paid to groups like yours. That means groups named public library, library district or regional library. We counted awards from October 2019 through September 2026 (federal fiscal years 2020–2026), from USAspending.gov. Most federal library money reaches Tennessee libraries through grants from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Those are listed below, with foundation grants from IRS filings.
Grants to States (program number 45.310)
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants to States, under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). This federal money pays for the state library's grants to public libraries, for technology, training and more.
No open grant right now. · 88 Tennessee awards on file · 12 in Davidson County
National Leadership Grants (program number 45.312)
IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries: grants for library projects, open to the whole country. Groups in Tennessee have won them.
2 grants open or opening soon: National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2027); National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027) · 14 Tennessee awards on file · 3 in Davidson County
Community Facilities Loans and Grants (program number 10.766)
USDA Community Facilities grants can build, fix up and equip libraries in towns of 20,000 or fewer.
1 grant open or opening soon: Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program (Tennessee) · 127 Tennessee awards on file · 1 in Davidson County
Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access (program number 45.149)
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Preservation and Access: grants to care for local history items and old records, and to put them online.
No open grant right now. · 6 Tennessee awards on file · 2 in Davidson County
Promotion of the Humanities Challenge Grants (program number 45.130)
NEH Challenge Grants: money for buildings, equipment and long-term savings funds (endowments). They go to history and culture groups, including libraries.
No open grant right now.
Open and opening-soon grants for this work
- A Year of STEM · American Library Association (with Cummins Inc.) · Due Oct 28, 2026 · 21 days left · Up to $5,000
- Training Opportunities for the Public (TOP) Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Next round: due about Mar 31, 2027 (estimate) · Up to $20K
- State Board Programming Regrants (Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board) · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Next round: about Jul 6 – Aug 14, 2027 (estimate) · Up to $5,000
- Peggy Barber Tribute Grant · American Library Association · Opening date not announced · Up to $2,500
Every grant that fits, as public library or Friends of the Library Foundations that fund this work Follow new ones by RSS
Tennessee programs that fund this work
- School Library Grants · Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries · Next round: due about Dec 31, 2026 (estimate)
- Libraries Transform Communities: Engagement Grant · American Library Association · Next round: about Dec 1, 2026 – Feb 2, 2027 (estimate)
- White-Reinhardt Grants (ag literacy) · American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture · Next round: due about Jun 12, 2027 (estimate)
- Public Library Technology Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Next round: due about Jul 10, 2027 (estimate)
- Archives Development Program Direct Grant · Tennessee State Library and Archives · Next round: about Jul 6 – Aug 14, 2027 (estimate)
- Beyond Words (school library disaster relief) · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Adult Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening date not announced
- Family Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening date not announced
- Summer Reading Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening date not announced
- Youth Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening date not announced
Foundations that funded Tennessee libraries
From their IRS filings. Foundations that accept applications are listed first.
| Foundation | Based in | Funded | Total | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Frist Foundation | TN | Nashville Public Library Foundation | $5M | Ask before applying |
| 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 |
| The West End Home Foundation | TN | 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 |
| Thackston Family Foundation | TN | Lebanon-Wilson County 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 |
| The Bob & Susan Card Charitable Foundation | TN | Foundation for Clevelandbradley County Public Library | $250 | Takes applications |
| Texas Instruments Foundation | TX | Friends of Knox Cnty Public Library; Friends of the Knox County Public Library | $163 | Takes applications |
| Dollar General Literacy Foundation | TN | Memphis Library Foundation; Nashville Public Library Foundation | $2M | Ask before applying |
Tennessee peers: see who funds them
- Nashville Public Library Foundation (in Davidson County) Nashville · 57 foundations
- Nashville Public Library (in Davidson County) Nashville · 8 foundations
- Memphis Library Foundation Memphis · 12 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, for technology, building and training. Federal LSTA money pays for part of them. Tennessee State Library and Archives
- USDA Community Facilities grants go to public bodies and community nonprofits in towns of 20,000 or fewer. Libraries are on the list of things they pay for. 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.