Community Impact Grants for Libraries in California

The LSTA Community Impact Grants, offered by the California State Library, provide funding to support community impact projects that help California libraries effectively respond to local needs and align their services with community aspirations. These grants encourage innovation, experimentation, and research and development within California libraries. The funding period for this opportunity spans from July 2025 to June 2026. The grants align with Goal 1 of the California Library Services and Technology Act Investment Plan for 2023-2027, with a preference given to projects delivering programs and services directly to Californians. Projects must be guided by the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The application window for this opportunity opens on January 8, 2025, and closes at 12:00 noon on March 12, 2025. An information session will be held on January 14, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Applications will be reviewed in April 2025, and applicants will be notified of their status and selection in May 2025. Awarded projects will begin on July 1, 2025, and end on June 30, 2026. Awards are contingent on the confirmation of federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding and passage of the California state budget for the same period. Successful applicants can expect to receive funds approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the State Library receives the payment claim form. Eligible applicants include California libraries, library consortia, and library-focused non-profits. Local Community Impact Projects are eligible for libraries within a single jurisdiction, with up to one application for libraries with up to 14 outlets, two applications for libraries with 15 to 30 outlets, and three applications for libraries with 31 or more outlets. Collaborative Community Impact Projects, requiring the participation of at least three library jurisdictions, are also eligible. Minimum funding requests for local projects start at $10,000 and for collaborative projects at $50,000, with maximum funding caps of $100,000 and $250,000, respectively. Applicants requesting $75,000 or more must have at least one project partner, in addition to a community connection. All applicants must adhere to LSTA general guidelines, the current California LSTA Five-Year Plan, and federal funding restrictions as outlined in the LSTA Application Guide. Projects must also follow the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) and comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) if purchasing internet-connected devices. Applicants must participate in the annual Public Library Survey and must have completed the California Cultural Collections Protection Survey within the past three years. A valid and active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registered with SAM.gov is required, and applicants must not be suspended, debarred, or excluded from receiving federal funds. The online application process takes place through the California State Library’s grant application portal. Applicants are required to review the Federal LSTA Application Guide thoroughly before applying. Funding decisions will prioritize projects that deliver innovative programs directly to Californians, benefit libraries and communities that have not received LSTA funding in the past five years, serve communities with higher poverty rates (based on the California Poverty Measure), or support libraries with low Local Income Per Capita. Projects focused solely on collection development, space planning, or library capacity building are not eligible for this opportunity, nor are projects that could be funded under other California State Library programs such as Lunch at the Library. Applicants seeking assistance with proposal development can request meetings with State Library staff. For equitable grant design, applicants may also request a meeting with a trained Equity Advisor. Additional questions can be directed to the program contact at LSTAgrants@library.ca.gov.