Book and literacy grants

Small grants of $500 to $5,000 for books and reading programs, for tax-exempt groups. The board prefers the DC, Maryland and Virginia area.

Amount: $500 to $5,000 per grant
Can a for-profit school apply?: No: for-profit schools excluded
Deadline: Rolling
Who this fits: Private school · Microschool · Homeschool co‑opFor tax-exempt 501(c)(3) groups buying books or running reading programs. A school or co-op fits only with that status, and the board prefers the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area.
New schools: Not stated for new schools
Where: National: schools in any US state
Last checked: Oct 5, 2026on homelibraryfoundation.org

Apply on the funder’s site

Unconfirmed: check with the funder

We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.

Does a school with a faith-based admissions or hiring policy meet the “creed” rule?
Do they still fund groups outside DC, Maryland and Virginia?

How to apply

Step 1: Write a short letter: your legal name, what you do, your officers and who will manage the grant
Step 2: Say plainly what you need, why it matters and what results you expect
Step 3: Add a detailed budget, proof of tax-exempt status and last year's financial statement
Step 4: Email it as one file to grants@homelibraryfoundation.org

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Grants are made only to organizations that are tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code”

In the funder’s own words, from homelibraryfoundation.org, checked Oct 5, 2026.

Grantees must also be groups that “do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation or gender.” A school with a faith-based admissions or hiring policy should ask before applying. No grants for scholarships, construction, conferences or operating budgets. The board “gives preference to grant requests from the Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia area.”

IRS 501(c)(3) status
Financial statement for the past year
For books, reading materials or literacy programs
Nondiscrimination rule includes “creed”
Preference for DC, Maryland and Virginia

Timing

Requests are accepted on a rolling basis and considered once a year.

How to apply

Write a short letter: your legal name, what you do, your officers and who will manage the grant

Say plainly what you need, why it matters and what results you expect

Add a detailed budget, proof of tax-exempt status and last year's financial statement

Email it as one file to grants@homelibraryfoundation.org

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Grants are made only to organizations that are tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code”

In the funder’s own words, from homelibraryfoundation.org, checked Oct 5, 2026.

IRS 501(c)(3) status

Financial statement for the past year

For books, reading materials or literacy programs

Nondiscrimination rule includes “creed”

Preference for DC, Maryland and Virginia