Open Grant Program
Develop a project that does not fit into current grant offerings.
Grant Amount:
up to $50,000
Time Range:
1 or 2 years
Eligibility:
Any (including networks or consortia)
Staff Contact:
Program Description
The Open Program is a general grant opportunity to foster improved library services for specified target audiences. Libraries may apply under the Open category when other MBLC grant offerings are not a good match.
The Open Program allows applicants to apply new methods to solve problems, build programs, and best carry out their library’s mission and plan. It encourages creative program development and rewards those librarians willing to engage in a higher level of effort and to take those risks. The federal LSTA program encourages such innovation and risk-taking.
Applicants may also use the Open Program to develop a grant proposal based on “great grants from the past” — grants such as “Reader’s Advisory”, “Community Languages”, or “Mother Goose on the Loose” — grants that aren’t specifically offered in the current round that libraries would like to pursue.
The project should contain a strong program component, where a well-defined target population will be directly served.