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LSTA Grants

Competitive Grants

FY2025 Cycle

New This Year

This cycle, we are only accepting projects that facilitate access to library services for communities that are historically and/or currently underserved and under-resourced. This focus aims to support the State Library of Oregon’s LSTA Five-Year Plan priority to help “Oregon libraries break down systemic barriers.”

Communities that are historically and/or currently underserved and under-resourced could be communities identified in the State of Oregon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan (page 7), distressed areas in Oregon as identified by Business Oregon, other communities that you identify as being historically and/or currently underserved and under-resourced, or communities having intersectional identities falling within these groups.

Projects must directly benefit communities that are historically and/or currently underserved and under-resourced. Projects that provide general benefits but do not specifically focus on underserved communities do not qualify.

Examples of past funded projects include:

  • Engaging cultural experts to help develop a collection for children of color in state care and their caregivers that supports their unique foster-adopt journey, solidifies racial and cultural identity, and bolsters child wellbeing.
  • Providing opportunities for Indigenous, Latinx, Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Immigrant/Refugee, and Migrant communities to become connected and comfortable with the digital world through pop-up computer labs and tech support events held at local community centers and spaces.
  • Establishing a central hub for authoritative, comprehensive, and current legal information for renters with limited access to resources and for whom age and life experience, socioeconomic status, disability, and language barriers are factors that impact their ability to fully understand their legal rights and remedies.
  • Partnering with a local family resource center to hold a series of prenatal, birth, and infant and self-care conversations for Spanish and Mayan language speakers.

Applicants will begin the process by submitting a project proposal. State Library staff will review each proposal to ensure that the project aligns with this new focus. Applicants with projects that align will be invited to submit a full application to be considered for funding.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your project idea, please contact us at lsta.grants@slo.oregon.gov.

Timeline

Project proposals open November 4, 2024
Project proposals due December 2, 2024
Selected proposals invited to submit a full application December 16, 2024
Full applications due February 28, 2025
Applications evaluated March / April 2025
Official notification of funding May 15, 2025
Successfully funded projects may begin July 1, 2025
Successfully funded projects end June 30, 2026

How to Apply

Step 1: Prepare

Review the grant information packet, which includes:

  • Who may apply
  • What you may apply for
  • How much you may apply for
  • What you can spend grant funds on
  • What you will be required to do if awarded a grant
  • Evaluation & approval process

Also review tips for applicants.

If you are new to the process or have questions, consider attending an informational sessions. (If you are unable to attend, recordings will be posted here after the sessions.)

Step 2: Submit your project proposal

You can preview the form in PDF format.

To start your proposal:

  • Log in to our online grants portal
    • If you are new to the system, you will need to create an account. You may want to first check if someone else from your organization has created an account for this site. If so, please email lsta.grants@slo.oregon.gov. We can create an account for you that will be connected to your organization in the site.
  • Once logged in, select Apply in the top menu.
  • Locate the FY25 LSTA Competitive Grant box, and select the blue Apply button on that box.
  • You may save your work, log out, and come back to your application at any time before submitting.

See the applicant tutorial (video and written instructions) for more details.

Project proposals must be submitted by the deadline listed in the timeline above. Forms that are left incomplete in the system or not submitted by the deadline will be considered abandoned and will not be considered.

Step 3: If invited, submit a full application

Applicants with projects that align will be invited to submit a full application. You can preview the form in PDF format. 

If you wish to have State Library staff review a draft of your application, please reach out at least two weeks before the deadline to lsta.grants@slo.oregon.gov.

Full applications must be submitted by the deadline listed in the timeline above. Applications that are left incomplete in the system or not submitted by the deadline will be considered abandoned requests and will not be considered for funding.