LLCF Bookmobile Grant Program

The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation (LLCF), founded by the celebrated children’s author and 1946 Newbery Medalist Lois Lenski, offers bookmobile grants to advance her long-standing mission of expanding access to high-quality literature for all children. Known for her commitment to children’s literacy and equity, Lenski believed deeply in the importance of ensuring that even the most disadvantaged children could enjoy reading. In that spirit, the LLCF has created a targeted grant program that supports bookmobiles reaching underserved and economically at-risk communities. The Bookmobile Grant Program specifically funds organizations that operate mobile lending libraries serving children from preschool through grade 8. These programs must provide lending access to fiction or nonfiction books designed for young readers, including Early Reader books and Young Adult or Hi-Lo titles. Grants are intended exclusively for the purchase of books for pleasure or educational reading. The program does not support the purchase of instructional or reference materials such as textbooks, encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, basal readers, workbooks, or magazine subscriptions. It also excludes book distribution or gift programs. Only organizations operating within the United States, its territories, or commonwealths are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include charitable 501(c)(3) organizations, public libraries, schools, and other non-taxable institutions that run bookmobiles. The Foundation specifically targets applicants serving economically or socially at-risk children who have limited resources for acquiring reading materials. Applicants must demonstrate clear need and provide documentation showing how funds were spent, along with a brief follow-up questionnaire after receiving a grant. Grant awards range between $500 and $3,000, and funds must be used exclusively for book purchases. These grants are not to be used for administrative, staffing, or operational expenses. The Foundation also notes that while it previously provided general children’s book grants to schools and libraries, the current focus is exclusively on mobile libraries. Interested organizations should review current guidelines carefully, as some third-party grant listing services may be out-of-date in their descriptions. The application cycle for bookmobile grants runs annually from February through September. Applications are typically made available around February 15 and are reviewed on a rolling basis, with evaluations expected within three months of submission. To be considered for a grant in the current year, applications must be postmarked by August 15. Any applications received after that date will be reviewed the following year. The final grants for each cycle are awarded by mid-October. Applicants can access the downloadable application and specific submission instructions via the Bookmobile Grants section of the Foundation’s website. All inquiries should be directed to the Foundation via email at bookmobile@loislenskicovey.org. There is no phone contact listed. The Foundation encourages applicants to read the full grant instructions on its website to ensure compliance with eligibility and funding criteria.

Applicants are advised to carefully read the grant webpage due to outdated third-party listings.