The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s Early Literacy Grant program is designed to support early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age eight by providing children with books.
Donor Name: Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
State: Minnesota
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/10/2025
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Organizations working with these children are encouraged to apply for books to be given to families to keep and read to their children. The Early Literacy Grant program receives books through partnerships with Mankato-based publishing companies, Capstone and ABDO.
Priority Considerations
Priority in funding will be given to projects that:
- Target diverse and at-risk populations that may not be receiving books through any other avenues in the community.
- Diverse populations may include: based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical disability, etc.
- At-risk populations may include: free/reduced lunch, ECSE, WIC, CCAP, ELL, etc.
- Strengthen parental awareness of early literacy needs including communication and language development.
- Include a parent education component.
- Offer new and creative ways to reach diverse and at-risk families.
- Collaborate with other organizations to provide literacy enhancements.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications must be submitted by an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a unit or agency of government or a public institution.
- Proposal must benefit SMIF’s 20-county region.
- Books must be distributed within one year of the grant award date.
For more information, visit SMIF.
