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LSTA Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants (formerly Local and Collaborative grants) help California’s libraries respond effectively to local needs and align services with local community aspirations; support experimentation and research and development in California’s libraries; and provide training and support in grant writing and grant management for the California library community. The funding period is July 2024 – June 2025.

Timeline

Grant opportunity opens: January 10, 2024
2024-2025 LSTA Information Session: Recording Available
Office Hour 1: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm. Registration is required.
Office Hour 2: Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm. Registration is required.
Grant opportunity closes: March 6, 2024, at 12:00 noon
Application review period: April 2024
Application status and selection notification: May 2024
Grant period begins: July 1, 2024
Grant period ends: June 30, 2025

Awards will be made after federal IMLS funding levels are confirmed for 2024-2025 and the 2024-2025 California State budget has passed. Successful applicants can expect to receive project funds up to 8 to 10 weeks after the payment claim form is received by the State Library.

Project Details

We invite libraries and other eligible organizations to apply for funding to support community impact projects that address community needs and align with community aspirations.

Projects should be guided by the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Projects should align with Goal 1 of the California Library Services and Technology Act Investment Plan 2023–2027. Preference is given to projects that deliver programs and services directly to Californians. To help expand the libraries and communities that benefit from LSTA funding, the State Library encourages applications from library jurisdictions and branches that have not received LSTA funding in the last five years, and collaborative groups of libraries representing a variety of regions, library sizes, and populations.

Applicants may apply for funding for two types of projects:

Local Community Impact Projects: Projects that focus on one library jurisdiction and can include projects focusing on one branch in one library jurisdiction.
Collaborative Community Impact Projects: Projects that are implemented by three or more library jurisdictions.

Learn about current and past Community Impact (formerly Local and Collaborative) projects.

Eligibility and Requirements

Local projects are open to California libraries. Libraries with up to 14 outlets may apply for one local grant; libraries with between 15 and 30 outlets may apply for two local grants; libraries with 31 or more outlets may apply for three local grants. Libraries applying for a local grant may also apply for a collaborative grant.

Minimum funding request: $10,000
Maximum funding request: $100,000

Collaborative projects are open to California libraries, library consortia, and library-focused non-profit organizations. A library, library consortium, or library-focused non-profit may apply for, and participate in, up to two collaborative grant opportunities. Libraries that apply for a collaborative grant may also apply for a local grant.

Minimum funding request: $50,000
Maximum funding request: $250,000

All applicants should have at least one community connection in place before submitting an application. Applicants requesting $75,000 or more should have at least one project partner, in addition to a community connection, before submitting an application.

Applicants must refer to the application instructions for full details about allowable and unallowable expenses.

In order for projects to be funded through LSTA, they must:

Adhere to the general guidelines for LSTA eligibility.
Follow the State Library’s current LSTA five-year plan.
Adhere to the federal restrictions on funding which are included in the application instructions and grant guidelines.
Use funding according to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2CFS 200).
Be in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in order to purchase devices that can connect to and browse the internet. Information on CIPA requirements can be found in the application instructions.
Participate in the Public Library Survey each year.
Register for and complete the California Cultural Collections Protection Survey (must have completed within the last 3 years).

To Apply

Applications will be completed and submitted online using the California State Library’s grant application portal. Please be sure to review the Application Instructions thoroughly before beginning the application and expect to reference the instructions while completing the application. Use the link included below to access the online application. A separate budget form and certification and signature form must be completed and submitted with the online application.

Email LSTAgrants@library.ca.gov with questions.