Books for Babies Matching Grants
NEWSFLASH: The first 10 grant recipients have been selected (see below)!
In partnership with Nordstrom, FOLUSA will be granting 20 grants for $500 each to match $1,000 raised by selected Friends groups, women's groups, libraries, and other non-profit organizations for purchasing Books for Babies kits from FOLUSA. Grant recipients do not need to be members of FOLUSA. Grant recipients do not need to be members of FOLUSA. Click here for the application in PDF format.
Here's how it works. Applicants agree to order a minimum of $1,500 worth of Books for Babies kits, of which FOLUSA will pay $500. Therefore, the minimum commitment from applicants is $1,000. Grants will be awarded in two cycles:
- Cycle 1: Applications are due April 1, 2008. Recipients will be notified by April 15, and kits must be ordered by June 1, 2008.
- Cycle 2: Applications are due October 1, 2008. Recipients will be notified by October 15, and kits must be ordered by December 1, 2008.
Applicants not awarded grants in the first cycle may amend their applications and be reconsidered for the second grant cycle. Only one grant per organization.
Grants will be awarded to organizations that currently have a Books for Babies program in place as well as organizations starting a new Books for Babies program. Grant applications will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Effective kit distribution plan.
- Effective use of the kits to connect new parents with their local library.
- Involvement of the local library.
- Effective publicity plan for their Books for Babies program.
Congratulations to the following 10 organizations selected to receive $500 matching grants in cycle one. All together more than 2,500 Books for Babies kits will be distributed to newborns and their parents as a result of these grants.
- Friends of Somerville Public Library (Somerville, NJ)
- Scott County Public Library (Scottsburg, IN)
- Friends of the Platt Library (Woodland Hills, CA)
- Friends of Parmly Billings Library (Billings, MT)
- Read Aloud Loveland (Loveland, CO)
- Literacy Plus Program (Hayward, CA)
- Friends of the Merced Library (Merced, CA)
- Friends of the Richmond Public Library (Richmond, VA)
- Friends of Hamden Library (Hamden, CT)
- Shenandoah County Library (Edinburg, VA)