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23-24 LSTA Inspiration Grants

Grantor:
CA State Library
Portal ID:
45617
Status:
Closed
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The Inspiration Grants opportunity provides Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding for California libraries that are inspired to implement projects outside of the State Library’s other funding opportunities. Inspiration Grants provide funding for projects that may not fit within the bounds of the other grants offered by the State Library and/or for ideas that are generated outside of other funding opportunity application timeframes.  

Description:

The Inspiration Grants opportunity provides Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding for California libraries that are inspired to implement projects outside of the State Library’s other funding opportunities. Inspiration Grants provide funding for projects that may not fit within the bounds of the other grants offered by the State Library and/or for ideas that are generated outside of other funding opportunity application timeframes.  

Proposed projects must support Goal 1 of the California Library Services and Technology Act Investment Plan 2023-2027. The Application Instructions and Guidelines on the listed site include full information about how to apply, including the rubric reviewers will use. Selection decisions will be made by the California State Librarian. 

The opportunity opens September 2023 and closes November 30, 2023, or once all available funds have been awarded.  Two rounds of reviews will be conducted. Applications received by October 31 will be reviewed and decisions will be made in November. Pending funding availability, applications received by November 30 will be reviewed and decisions will be made in December. 

Project period start dates will begin in either December 2023 or January 2024, and all project end dates will be June 30, 2024.

Minimum funding request $5,000 Maximum funding request $100,000 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.  

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency

The Inspiration Grants opportunity is open to California libraries. Libraries with up to 14 outlets may apply for one grant; libraries with between 15 and 30 outlets may apply for two grants; libraries with 31 or more outlets may apply for three grants.

Eligible Geographies:

This grant is open to public libraries in the state of California

Matching Funding Requirement:

Applicants are expected to contribute a local match to the grant funds in the form of a cash match and/or in-kind contributions. A match is expected, but no minimum amount is required.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
12/2023 or 01/2024
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
End Date 6/30/2024

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$750,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$5,000 – $100,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • Federal

Funding Source Notes:

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants are federally funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and are awarded by the State Library to eligible California libraries.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advance(s)

Funding Method Notes:

For awards totaling less than $20,000, payment is made in full.

For awards totaling more than $20,000, payments typically follow a 45%/45%/10% payment schedule.

It can take up to eight weeks for a grantee to receive funds from the State Library after a signed, error-free claim form is received by the State Library’s Fiscal Office.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Michelle Killian, 1-916-603-6706, LSTAGrants@library.ca.gov

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