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Private
The Pilcrow Foundation · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Due Apr 1, 2027 · 175 days left
- Award
- Up to $1,200
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
Small rural public libraries can get up to $1,200 in new hardcover children's books. The library raises $200 to $400 from a local sponsor, and the foundation matches it 2-to-1. Deadlines are April 1 and October 1 each year.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Corporate
Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Opening date not announced
- Award
- Up to $5,000
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy grants (up to $5,000) help schools, libraries and nonprofits support K-12 students reading below grade level. Applicants must be in a Dollar General state and within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. The...
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
The Pilcrow Foundation · Open
- Deadline
- No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Award
- Up to $800
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Rural public libraries hit by a tornado, flood, hurricane, or other natural disaster can get $800 in new hardcover children's books. No local match is needed. You ask for the application by email or mail.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Foundation
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: due about Aug 15, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- $500 – $3,000
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Groups that run a lending bookmobile for at-risk children can get $500 to $3,000 to buy children's books. Public libraries and schools with bookmobiles can apply. The yearly form usually comes out around February 15.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
Freedom to Read Foundation · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: due about Apr 6, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- Up to $1,000
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Libraries, schools, colleges, and nonprofits can get $1,000 for Banned Books Week events. The events teach people about the freedom to read. Groups that won in the past five years cannot apply.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Tennessee state
Tennessee State Library and Archives · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: due about Jul 10, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- Up to $20K
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
LSTA-supported grants that let recognized Tennessee public libraries buy or replace computers, software, networking hardware and peripherals for staff and public use. Requests must be under $20,000 and need a dollar-for-dollar local match, paid as...
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
American Library Association · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: about Dec 1, 2026 – Feb 2, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- Up to $2,000
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
Annual grant to two libraries for community engagement projects led by the library with at least one partner. Open to school, public, academic, tribal and special libraries.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Federal
Institute of Museum and Library Services · Open
- Deadline
- Due Nov 13, 2026 · 36 days left
- Award
- $25K – $1M
- ✓ Tennessee groups like yours (library) have won this program, so groups like yours can apply
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- i Past Tennessee awards on file: 14
National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) projects enhance the quality of library services nationwide. The program supports projects that: promote adult reading, and health and financial literacies; focus on programming and archival practices...
Checked today against the source
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Private
Little Free Library · Open
- Deadline
- No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Award
- Amount not specified
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Gives free Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to people and groups in places where books are hard to find. The box must be open to everyone. Applications are reviewed every month.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
The Lisa Libraries · Open
- Deadline
- No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Award
- Amount not specified
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
The Lisa Libraries gives new children's books to groups in low-income or underserved U.S. areas. Books can start or rebuild a small library or go home with children. Small grassroots groups are a priority.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
United for Libraries (ALA) and Penguin Random House · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: about Dec 17, 2026 – Jan 21, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- $500 – $1,000
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Friends of the Library groups at small, rural libraries can win $500 or $1,000 for a priority project. Twenty more libraries get $500 in book donations. The library must be in a town of 25,000 people or fewer.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Tennessee state
Tennessee State Library and Archives · Closed for this year
- Deadline
- Next round: due about Mar 31, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Award
- Up to $20K
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
Grants to Tennessee public libraries for public training, mobile hotspots, solar charging tables and internal network connections, funded through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Every participating library must offer public digital...
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Tennessee state
USDA Rural Development – Tennessee State Office · Open
- Deadline
- No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Award
- Amount not specified
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- i Past Tennessee awards on file: 127
Low-interest loans and grants to build, buy or improve essential community facilities in rural towns of 20,000 or fewer, such as clinics, fire stations, child care centers, libraries and food banks. Grants cover a share of the cost that depends on...
Checked 3 days ago against the source
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Private
American Library Association (with Cummins Inc.) · Open
- Deadline
- Due Oct 28, 2026 · 20 days left
- Award
- Up to $5,000
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
Twenty-five U.S. public libraries receive a $5,000 programming stipend, four STEM kits, and training for 12 months of early-childhood STEM programs.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Foundation
Believe in Reading · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Opening date not announced
- Award
- Amount not specified
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
Believe in Reading funds proven literacy programs run by nonprofits, schools and public libraries. Reading must be the main activity, for any age, including adult literacy and English learning. It does not pay for buildings, textbooks or general operating costs.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
Arts Midwest (with the National Endowment for the Arts) · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Opening date not announced
- Award
- $5,000 – $20K
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ! Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
Matching grants of $5,000 to $20,000 for a community-wide reading program built around one book. Public libraries, schools, colleges, and nonprofits can apply. Groups that are not libraries must partner with a library.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Local
Community Literacies Collaboratory (Brown Chair in English Literacy, University of Arkansas) · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Opening date not announced
- Award
- Up to $15K
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
This program gives up to $15,000 to literacy groups, libraries and literacy workers anywhere in the U.S. Projects must be free and open to the public. Arkansas projects get priority, so Tennessee applicants face more competition.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) · Open
- Deadline
- Due Oct 20, 2026 · 12 days left
- Award
- $50K – $300K
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
- ! Only 12 days left to apply
Nonprofit libraries, archives and museums can apply to digitize rare items. Projects should share stories of groups often left out of history. Grants range from $50,000 to $300,000.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
American Library Association (Publishing Committee) · Open
- Deadline
- Due Nov 6, 2026 · 29 days left
- Award
- Up to $5,000
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- ✓ No match required
Grants up to $5,000 to make reading lists, indexes, web guides, or other guides to library resources. Libraries, groups, and individuals can apply. Proposals are due November 6, 2026.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
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Private
American Library Association · Opening soon
- Deadline
- Opening date not announced
- Award
- Up to $2,500
Should we apply? · Get ready
- ✓ Open to: Public library or Friends of the Library
- ✓ Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
Annual grant awarding three libraries $2,500 each for a program or program series. The 2026-27 theme will be announced near December 2026.
Checked 2 days ago against the source
