Institute of Museum and Library Services
Native American Library Services Basic Grant (2027)
In short: Institute of Museum and Library Services expects to make 170 awards of $6,000 to $10,000. Open to tribal government.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- Award size
- $6,000 – $10K
- Total available
- $1.7M · about 170 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Tribal government
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Only tribes or Native American / Native Hawaiian organizations can apply
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
The Native American Basic Grants (NAB) program assists eligible Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. As information needs change, Tribal libraries must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The NAB program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/f48f25ae-6b74-4c02-bba7-d8f2c0cb7b06 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/0dbc20b0-9a91-4ee1-a2a2-a79e62b3c903
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct10
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct23
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Nov6
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Nov11
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov13
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Gibson County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice fy27-ols-nab-NOFO.pdf (47 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Registrations you need first (4)
SAM.gov · p. 3
“Register in SAM.gov (registration can take several weeks).” Open page 3
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 3
“Your Tribe must have an active SAM.gov account and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before you apply.” Open page 3
Grants.gov · p. 3
“Register in Grants.gov (registration can take several days).” Open page 3
Login.gov · p. 3
“You’ll need an active SAM.gov account and a Login.gov account to register and access Grants.gov.” Open page 3
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
Length limits
PDF Page Limit: 2 pages (suggested, not required) · p. 23
“PDF Page Limit: up to 2 pages (recommended) File Name:” Open page 23
Character limit (see quote): 200 characters max · p. 25
“Enter a brief descriptive title for your project, using no more than 200 characters, including spaces.” Open page 25
Formatting rules
single-spaced · p. 28
“We recommend limiting the Library Services Plan to two single-spaced, numbered pages.” Open page 28
0.5-inch margins · p. 28
“Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides, standard font, and font size of at least eleven points.” Open page 28
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 8
“This list is periodically updated; the following list was published on January 30, 2026, F ederal R egi ster: list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register Cost Share Requirements Cost sharing is not required for this program, and it will not…” Open page 8
Dates in the notice
November 13, 2026 · p. 1
“FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity Applications Due November 13, 2026 Native American Basic Grants Funding Opportunity Number:” Open page 1
Mistakes that get applications rejected (2)
Could get your application rejected: This list is periodically updated; the following list was published on January 30, 2026, F ederal R egi... · p. 8
“This list is periodically updated; the following list was published on January 30, 2026, F ederal R egi ster: list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register Cost Share Requirements Cost sharing is not required for this program, and it will not…” Open page 8
Not an eligible applicant: We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because your organization is determined to be... · p. 9
“We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because your organization is determined to be ineligible. To receive an IMLS award, your organization must be determined to be eligible and must comply with all applicable IMLS, administrative,…” Open page 9
Files from the official listing
The notice, forms and templates the agency attached.
- fy27-ols-nab-NOFO.pdf (660 KB)
FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunity - Native American Library Services Basic Grant
More from Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Inspire Grants for Small Museums (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
- National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2027) · Due Nov 13, 2026 · 34 days left
About the federal program
Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services
Program number 45.311 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · The Institute of Museum and Library Services · Project grant, direct payment for a set purpose
How applications are judged
Native American Library Services Basic Grants are non-competitive awards available to eligible applicants.
Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants are competitive grant programs. Successful proposals in these grant programs are structured to result in improved digital services, improved educational programs related to specific topics and content areas of interest to library patrons and community-based users; and enhanced preservation and revitalization of Native American and Native Hawaiian cultures and languages.
Match
None required (federal program listing).