1. Grant Finding and Writing Resources at the New Jersey State Library
Eileen Morales
Grants Manager
ext. 105
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2. Two Types of Support for Grant-Seeking Libraries
Reference Support: Funding Information Center at SLIC:
Books, periodicals, electronic resources to help libraries find funding opportunities and proposal writing guides
Moral Support: Grants Manager, Library Support Services Unit (work with both external and internal colleagues):
Provide assistance to public libraries who are trying to find grant funding for their local projects
Practical advice for applying to several different federal, state, foundation and corporate grantmakers
Work with NJSL staff to find and apply for grant opportunities aligned with State Library projects
With Lifelong Learning: to apply for grant funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support disaster preparedness training workshops in partnership with the New Jersey Cultural Alliance for Response
With the Talking Book and Braille Center: to apply for funds to support assistive technology training for veterans
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3. Grant Finding
Funding Information Center at NJSL (official network location of the Foundation Center, based in NY)
Consult with Teri Taylor, reference librarian, in person, via or over the phone: , ext. 166
Access funding-related books and periodicals in person
“Grants for Libraries” handout in your packet includes a list of “Ten Publications to Help Your Library with its Fundraising Efforts” – all of these available at FIC
Recommend The ALA Book of Library Grant Money
Use Foundation Directory Online Professional from anywhere within SLIC: search for grantmakers by name, area of focus, geographic scope, review 990s
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4. Grant Finding
Whether or not you can visit the Funding Information Center at NJSL (or other locations throughout New Jersey) in person, consult the:
Grant Information LibGuide:
Federal grants research
State of New Jersey grants research
Private grants research: foundation and corporate
Each tab includes useful links related to that topic.
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6. Federal Grants National Endowment for the Humanities
Common Heritage:
Up to $12k
Due: May 11, 2017
Public digitization of personal cultural heritage collections in the community and related programming
National Endowment for the Arts
Art Works:
$10k - $100k
Two deadlines: February 16, 2017 and July 13, 2017
Brooklyn Public Library: support literary programming at the Central Library's Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture. 
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8. State Grants
New Jersey Council for the Humanities (actually the state-level office of the NEH)
Action grant: up to $20k
Due: April, 2017
“meaningful humanities projects for New Jersey audiences”
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Career Connections
Come to the NJLA Conference Session, “Successfully Applying for Grants: Tips from the Source”
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10. Private Grants Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Three opportunities due: February 23, 2017:
Adult Literacy ($15k)
Family Literacy ($15k)
Summer Reading ($3k)
PNC Charitable Trusts and PNC Foundation
Deadlines vary
PNC Foundation: early childhood education and economic development
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11. Grant Finding Grants for Libraries Blog
Published once per month
Focus on specific grant opportunities that seem relevant to libraries
Link on our website and disseminated through NJSL Direct
When the State Library publishes its own funding opportunities, guidelines and applications are available on the “Grants for Libraries” sub-page of “Library Support Services”
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12. Grant Finding
Network!
Word of mouth helps you find opportunities through
Family foundations
Local offices of corporations
Business and social/volunteer organizations (e.g. Chambers of Commerce, Rotary)
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13. Grant Writing Recommended Books and Websites:
MacKellar, Pamela H. and Stephanie K. Gerding. Winning Grants: a How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians, with Multimedia Tutorials and Grant Development Tools. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2010.
Book focuses on library grant work and the use of strategic planning and goal setting as the foundation of grant work: ensures that efforts directly support library’s larger mission, vision and the actual needs of the community.
Outlines the project planning process: in high detail in a series of 12 steps, including a project planning worksheet.
Also includes library grant success stories and a multimedia toolkit with sample worksheets and checklists.
Point to the “Winning Grants” book and CD.
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14. Grant Writing Recommended Books and Websites:
Again review the NJSL Funding Information Center Lib Guide:
Go to “Proposal Writing” tab
Point to the “Winning Grants” book and CD.
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17. My Top Tips
Remember that grants are not a silver bullet for your budget – but they should be a strategic element of your annual development plan.
Don’t create a project to suit a funding opportunity; plan your project and then find the funding opportunity (and then maybe you’ll need to tweak it a little)
Once you find the opportunity, read the guidelines in their entirety first.
Overall: Pay attention to the funder’s goals: these should be your goals, too! Specifically mention these goals in your narrative and cite your strategic plan.
Tedious details: take note of font, point size, margins, page limits.
Once you’ve read the guidelines, tackle your budget before your start to write.
Helps frame the plan of work and budget narrative.
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18. My Top Tips
If offered, attend the opportunity-specific workshop or webinar, no matter how many times you’ve previously attended.
Get to know the program officer. Ask thoughtful questions.
Once you apply and are successful, communicate regularly with your funders!
And if you’re not successful, don’t be discouraged. Ask for help: from the Program Officer, from colleagues in the field, from the NJSL Grants Manager.
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19. Questions? Eileen Morales Grants Manager emorales@njstatelib.org
ext. 105
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