The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is an annual grant to recognize, promote, and support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries.
Donor Name: American Library Association
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/02/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.
Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a community engagement project with a specific theme. For the 2025-2026 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on the concept of “Libraries as a Lifeline: Building Belonging for All.”
Some example proposals could include (but are not limited to):
- a project that establishes a Community Care Corner with outreach materials, hygiene kits, and local resource guides;
- a program that collaborates with a local partner to offer micro-skill sessions on subjects like budgeting, digital literacy, or navigating healthcare;
- projects that develop community connection by hosting neighbor gatherings over meals or creative activities to celebrate diversity;
- a program that hosts moderated community conversations on local issues by partnering with schools, non-profits, or civic groups.
Funding Information
Two libraries will be selected to receive $2,000 to advance their community engagement efforts.
Grant Period
The grant period may be one to two years in length.
Eligible Expenses
Grant funds are restricted to project-related expenses. Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Purchase of collection materials
- Tech equipment (e.g. virtual meeting licenses, iPads, Wi-Fi hotspots, etc.)
- Project supplies (e.g. markers, index cards, post-its, etc)
- Library staff time
- Payment to project partners for reimbursement or direct funding of services and support provided (e.g. childcare providers, translators, instructors, co-facilitator, etc.)
- Promotion and publicity.
Eligibility Criteria
- This opportunity is open to school, public, academic, tribal, and special libraries in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
- Applying libraries must demonstrate commitment to community engagement work and must submit at least one letter of support from a community organization partnering with them in this endeavor.
- The library/applicant must hold either an ALA institutional membership OR ALA personal membership.
- Individuals and non-library entities are not eligible for funding.
- Late, incomplete, and ineligible applications will not be reviewed.
- Libraries are invited to apply by designing and outlining a library-led community engagement project focused on community empowerment. Project activities may include:
- Developing direct, sustained, and innovative community engagement programs and services
- Executing a relevant and creative community engagement program or event
- Partnering with a community organization that builds the capacity of the community for this work
- Creating and publishing educational or promotional materials for the greater library community and/or presenting an innovative model program at conferences
- As you develop your proposal, please note that projects with the following qualities will be prioritized:
- Innovative: How is your proposed project innovative? Think beyond book clubs/discussions as to how the library can creatively and meaningfully engage members of the community in exploring the proposed topic.
- Community-driven: The community empowerment topic you choose to focus on should be reflective of local needs/interests and the project you design should be developed with community input and buy-in. Strong, detailed letters of support are encouraged to demonstrate the involvement and interest of community members/organizations and the relevance of the project to the community.
For more information, visit ALA.
