Freedom to Learn Foundation Essential Library Services Grants. The Freedom to Learn Foundation (FTLF) provides applicant-facing financial-assistance grants to qualifying established public or community-based libraries in the United States and U.S. territories facing documented loss, reduction or credible threat to their public funding due to federal, state or regional policies enacted in 2024 or 2025. Priority goes to libraries serving rural, historically marginalized, under-resourced, Tribal, immigrant, refugee and low-income communities.
Individual applicant funding: up to $10,000. The current official program guidelines do not publish a mandatory cash-match percentage. Applicants must document the current/prior-year budget and funding disruption and establish a direct charitable, educational, nonpartisan use for the requested funds.
Eligible applicants: Existing U.S. public or community-based libraries organized as a unit of government/public subdivision, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or a fiscally sponsored charitable project. Libraries must have previously received—or been eligible for—government-funded library support and show budget evidence of the recent funding threat. Being a school alone is not sufficient; applicant must operate a qualifying library.
Allowable uses: retaining at-risk public-facing library employees, preserving public computing and internet access, Wi-Fi hotspots and digital literacy, educational/youth programming, facility and patron safety improvements, accessible community outreach, mobile/homebound library services, and other specified charitable public library services.
Excluded costs: buying books, digital content or other media; curriculum-aligned instruction; political activities, lobbying or advocacy campaigns; bonuses; indirect administration not directly tied to the funded services; and any noncharitable expenses. Project activities must begin within 60 days after award. Awardees must maintain receipts and submit a short final report within 90 days after project completion.
Application deadline: Rolling; the official funder page does not specify a fixed close date or submission cutoff. Funding decisions are generally expected within 3–4 weeks of receipt.
How to apply: Email the complete application as one PDF or Word document to the address stated in the funder’s current Essential Library Services Grant Application Criteria and Guidelines, using the prescribed subject line. Include a narrative of no more than two pages, explanation and budgets documenting funding loss, an itemized project budget not exceeding $10,000, project timeline, EIN/charitable or governmental status, organizational lead contact, governing leadership authorization, and signed assurances of charitable/nonpartisan use and final reporting. Applicants must follow the current official program page exactly. Source verified October 25, 2026.