Not all programs require a grant or significant funding, and once a program has been tried and proven to be successful, you can shift some library funds into supporting it. Many times libraries will need grant funding (or seed funding) for a pilot project, though. It will likely be necessary to find permanent funding for any long-term projects – it should be ‘baked in’ to the budget.
There are many potential sources of funding for library programs. Below is a list of granting agencies that you might begin with. Remember that a fundamental rule of grant-writing is ti ensure that your program aligns with the grantee’s goals and the grant description, and that grant officers are your friends!
ALA (https://www.ala.org/grants/view-all-grants)
Library grants Blog (https://librarygrants.blogspot.com/)
Your state library agency (For example, Kansas https://library.ks.gov/librarians/grants-discounts)
IMLS (https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs)
EBSCO Connect (https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/Grants-Funding-Sources-for-Libraries?language=en_US)
Solutions that Deliver (https://tlcdelivers.com/library-grants/)[BL1]
Rural Information Hub (RHIhub). September 15, 2025. Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – Funding & Opportunities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/opioids/funding
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). September 8, 2025. Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG). Grants. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/block-grants/subg
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). September 8, 2025. State Opioid Response Grants. Grants. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-22-005
Resources
Alphabet soup [Audio podcast episode]. In All About Grants podcast. https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/podcasts?episode=1052
Dowlin, K. E. (2008). Getting the money: How to succeed in fundraising for public and nonprofit libraries. Libraries Unlimited.
Office of Extramural Research. (Host). (January 7, 2011). Deciphering funding opportunity
Opioid Response Network. (Sponsor). (2025). Innovation in action: building stronger communities [Audio podcast series]. In AMERSA Podcasts. https://amersa.org/amersa-podcast/?doing_wp_cron= 1757946448.8854870796203613281250 Provider’s Clinical Support System. (Sponsor). (2025). Stigma and substance use: rewriting the narrative [Audio podcast series]. In AMERSA Podcasts. https://amersa.org/amersa-podcast/?doing_wp_cron=1757946448.8854870796203613281250