The resources on this page are possible sources of funding for literacy nonprofits, along with grants, rebates, and resources for adult students and families. All information was correct at time of publishing, and is checked regularly, but we are not affiliated with all of the groups listed below so you should consider all information as a starting point for your own research.
Grants & Funding Sources Quick Links:
Grants & Funding for Nonprofits
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation | Link format: Website | Funds nonprofit organizations in five focus areas: Adult Literacy, Youth Literacy, Family Literacy, Rebuilding School Libraries, Summer Reading.
The Nora Roberts Foundation | Link format: Website | The primary focus of the Nora Roberts Foundation is to support literacy. Additional areas of focus are: Children’s programs, Arts organizations, and Humanitarian efforts, with local organizations being its priority. All organizations supported must be a registered 501(c)(3).
TESOL International Grants, Scholarships, & Awards | Link format: Website list | A variety of grants, scholarships, and awards, some to help people attend TESOL Conventions and others to recognize excellence.
Literacy Opportunity Fund (ProLiteracy) | Link format: Website | Grants for nonprofit literacy organizations within the US that provide literacy services directly to students.
Peggy Barber Tribute Grant from the American Library Association | Link format: Website | The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant of the American Library Association (ALA) that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming.
National Book Fund (ProLiteracy and publishing division New Readers Press) | Link format: Website | Gives in-kind donations of new classroom resources from the New Readers Press catalogue.
Gateways for Growth (American Immigration Council and Welcoming America): A competitive opportunity for localities to receive research support and technical assistance from the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America to improve immigrant inclusion in their communities.
Libraries Transforming Communities from the American Library Association | Link format: Website | Grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. To be eligible, a library must have a legal service area population of 25,000 or less and be located at least five miles from an urbanized area, in keeping with Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) definitions of small and rural libraries.
Institute of Education Sciences (IES) | Link format: Website | Funding opportunities for research and training.
Barnes & Noble Sponsorships and Charitable Donations | Link format: Website | Donations are available nationally, to nonprofits that focus on literacy, the arts, or pre-K – 12 education.
Big Lots! Community Support | Link format: Website | Big Lots invests in partnerships that improve and enrich the lives of families and children. Support is provided in the form of monetary gifts, gift cards, and merchandise in-kind.
Verizon Giving & Grants | Link format: Website | Funding priorities are aligned around Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity; new applications are by invitation only; link to contact your local community relations manager to see whether you are eligible to apply.
National Literacy Directory Innovation Grants | Link format: Website | Literacy and education programs listed in the Directory are eligible to apply for an Innovation Grant, which are awarded to successful and innovative approaches to increasing programmatic reach.
Texas Book Festival Collections Enhancement Grants | Link format: Website | The Texas Book Festival awards grants to support collection enhancement for Texas public libraries. This funding enables libraries to share the diversity and breadth of literature with their entire communities. Funding comes from book sales at the Texas Book Festival and other generous donors.
Mobile Learning Fund (ProLiteracy) | Link format: Website | Provides adult literacy programs and students with digital education materials to help teach adults to read. Subscriptions and licenses available through the Mobile Learning Fund include:
- New Readers Press Online Learning – a pre-high school equivalency (HSE) and HSE test preparation tool.
- Learning Upgrade – an app proven to teach English, HSE, math, and basic skills faster than traditional methods (also the grand prize winner of the Adult Literacy XPRIZE).
- Voxy EnGen – a digital solution that teaches English to new learners.
- Leamos – an online program that teaches basic Spanish reading and writing to native Spanish speakers and prepares them to move onto English language learning.
- News for You Online – a digital news source with easy-to-read stories that builds learners’ reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and English skills.
Grants, Rebates & Resources for Students & Families
Tech Tutoring | Link format: website | Free virtual Tech Tutoring sessions with Senior Planet (AARP). Participants receive help with their technology-related questions.
EveryoneOn | Link format: Website | An organization that helps bring low-cost internet and computer offers for those who need them.
Affordable Connectivity Program | Link format: Website | The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), formerly the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), is a broadband affordability program that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. ACP is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Internet Essentials From Comcast | Link format: Website | Information about how to access free or reduced price internet access for some families.
COABE Membership | Link format: Website | An outline of the many benefits COABE offers adult learners free of charge, including membership.
Grow With Google | Link format: Online form | Scholarship program available to US businesses interested in preparing employees with key business skills for in-demand tech roles. Eligible businesses can get access to up to 500 scholarships to select Google Professional Certificates on Coursera. This includes Professional Certificates in data analytics, digital marketing & e-commerce, IT support, project management, and UX design.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | Link format: Website | Dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five. NOTE: Not currently available in Texas, but please share with friends and families in other states!
Other resources in this section:
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Last checked/updated: 5/3/2024