Library Grants and Funding Opportunities

Oklahoma Department of Libraries offers information about grant opportunities, application resources, and funding support to help libraries serve their communities.

Public libraries play a vital role in providing access to technology and digital resources in their communities. The FFY25 Technology Grant supports libraries in strengthening their technology infrastructure and expanding access to modern digital tools.

Administered by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, this Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)-funded grant helps libraries address local technology needs, enhance digital literacy, and improve technology-enabled services that support learning, creativity, and community engagement.

Eligible organizations may apply for up to $10,000, for foundational or innovative technology.

Deadline: May 29, 2026

Please contact the Statewide Programs team with any question: email StatewidePrograms@libraries.ok.gov or call 405-522-3293.

Funding is provided by a Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). 

Libraries play a key role in sharing information and resources to support citizens becoming civically engaged in their communities. This grant provides an opportunity for libraries and community-based literacy programs in partnership with libraries to share accurate and current information to achieve the following purposes:  

• fostering on going civic engagement, and/or
• achieving citizenship for eligible individuals.

Eligible organizations may apply for up to $14,000 for activities. These can include any combination of providing resources, programs, instruction, and/or one-on-one tutoring to support the grant’s purpose.

Deadline: May 31, 2026

Please contact the Statewide Programs team with any questions. Email statewideprograms@libraries.ok.gov or call 405-521-2034. 

Please note: This grant opportunity is contingent upon both continued federal fiscal year 2026 funding through Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and project approval by the ODL Board of Directors on June 13, 2026.

The Professional Development Conference Grant supports continuing education opportunities for Oklahoma public library staff. Funded through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the grant helps library professionals attend conferences and training that strengthen skills, support certification goals, and improve library services across the state. Eligible applicants may request funding assistance for approved professional development opportunities.

Deadline: July 20, 2026

Have questions or need help? Email ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.

The Professional Development Conference Grant supports Oklahoma public library staff attending the 2026 Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Annual Conference. Funded through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the grant helps library professionals expand their skills, connect with peers, and strengthen library services in communities across Oklahoma. Funding is available to assist eligible applicants with conference registration reimbursement for the ARSL conference in Montgomery, Alabama.

Deadline: June 19, 2026

Have questions or need help? Email ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.

The grant will enable libraries to support public programming connected to the America 250 commemoration, encourage civic engagement, historical reflection, and community dialogue, highlight history through local and national perspectives on American experiences, and expand access to high-quality educational and cultural programming for communities across Oklahoma.

Eligible organizations may apply for up to $2,500 for activities. Funded activities may include a combination of public programs, educational events, exhibits, community history projects, and related resources that advance the purpose of this grant.

Eligible applicants include Oklahoma Public Libraries, Library Systems, and Tribal Libraries. Libraries must be eligible for State Aid in FY25. Libraries with prior ODL grants must be in good standing and have successfully completed all reporting and compliance requirements for any ODL-issued FFY 2024 grants.

Read the Terms & Conditions to confirm eligibility before applying through Foundant.

Deadline: On-going

Application submissions will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are expended. Application reviews will take place on the first and third Mondays each month until funds are expended. 

For application assistance, email courtney.rutledge@libraries.ok.gov.

Please note: This grant opportunity is contingent upon continued federal fiscal year 2025 funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Rob-See-Co announced the continuation of its Rural Library Grant program for 2026, reaffirming its support for small and rural libraries across its service area. The program, originally launched in 2023 to honor a family legacy of library advocacy, provides funding to help rural libraries strengthen their role as community hubs. Past recipients have used grant funds for projects like expanding collections, digitizing newspapers, enhancing children’s programming, and creating makerspaces.

For 2026, the company will award ten $500 grants (totaling $5,000) to rural libraries in 14 states, including Oklahoma. Funds can be used for a wide range of needs such as programming, facility improvements, staff training, exhibits, and educational resources. Applications are due June 30, 2026, and recipients will be announced October 1, 2026.

Deadline: June 30, 2026

Libraries have an opportunity to provide Special Olympics Young Athlete backpacks for check out! Inside, customers will find the book We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio, an activity guide, items like poly dots and scarves, and more ways to make exercise fun.

Young Athletes is a sport-and-play program from Special Olympics Oklahoma for kids with disabilities ages 2-7. Share this chance to build motor skills and confidence at home with families in your community. Fill out the interest form to get started. Email eli@sook.org with any questions.

Deadline: On-going

Oklahoma Arts Council grants ensure individuals statewide have access to the arts. Much of the agency's budget is invested directly into Oklahoma communities in the form of grants, and more than 40 percent of the agency's grant funding supports arts and arts education programming in rural areas.

INTEGRIS Health is committed to partnering to improve the health of the communities it serves. The Community Giving Fund invests in nonprofit partners working to address complex issues that impact community well-being. Grant submissions typically open in the fall.

The Priddy Foundation is dedicated to the support of programs in human services, education, the arts, and health, which offer significant potential for individual development and community improvement.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant programs are available to qualifying nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store. They award grant funding to organizations that provide direct services to individuals of all ages, including Adult Education Instruction, GED or high school equivalency preparation, English Language Acquisition, children’s summer reading programs, and youth literacy initiatives.

The Pilcrow Foundation mission is to provide new, quality, hardcover children’s books to rural public libraries across the United States. The new books provided through the Children’s Book Project become part of the library’s permanent children’s book collection, thus ensuring children’s access to quality books for years to come.

 The Lisa Libraries donates new children's books and small libraries to organizations that work with kids in poor and under-served areas.

The C.W. Titus Foundation primarily awards grants for health, children’s services, and social services. It also provides support for arts and cultural programs.

The BlogSpot was put together by authors of the book, Winning Grants: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians,  Stephanie Gerding and Pam MacKellar. The site lists new and updated library grant opportunities.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine offers funding for projects that improve access to health information, increase engagement with research and data, expand professional knowledge, and support outreach that promotes awareness and use of NLM resources in local communities.

Rural Community Development Initiative Grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas.

Grand River Dam Authority supports and assists activities, organizations, and causes which advance both governmental public purposes, as well as corporate purpose of GRDA by promoting community and economic development, tourism and recreational activities.

Grants.gov is the federal government’s official, centralized portal for finding and applying for federal grant opportunities. Managed under the President’s e‑Government initiatives and maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services, its mission is to simplify access to over 1,000 competitive discretionary grant programs offered across 26 federal agencies. 

Questions? Please email librarydevelopment@libraries.ok.gov.

ODL now offers a quick way to view all of our currently available grants in one place! Thanks to new functionality in Foundant, you can browse open grant opportunities any time.

Check back often, as new opportunities may be added throughout the year—and be sure to bookmark the page for easy access!

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