Rural libraries invited to apply for grants to support community engagement efforts

Thanks to funding from the Trust for Civic Life, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will make grants to libraries serving small towns in the seven-county region it serves.

Libraries are important hubs of activity for small-towns in Eastern Iowa, and new grants will help them enhance their efforts to build connections in their communities and increase participation in civic life.

Libraries serving communities in Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones counties are invited to apply for funding of $5,000 to $9,000 for community engagement projects and programs.

“Local libraries are places for books and so much more,” says Mary Jo Jean-Francois, the Community Foundation’s vice president of impact. “They are places that bring people together for arts and cultural events, educational discussions, and even wellness programs. We are proud to support their work to build connected, thriving communities.”

To be eligible for a grant, libraries must serve rural communities and small towns. Grants can support libraries doing work that:

• Increases civic opportunities, providing people with relevant, meaningful and fun ways to get engaged in their community.
• Increases civic participation, providing ways for more people to be involved in community life, with a focus on those who have not traditionally been involved.
• Solves problems, offering opportunities for people to collectively work to address a shared challenge, ideally within 12 months.

The strongest applications will show that a library is involving community members as co-designers or leaders, not just participants.

The Community Foundation will offer grant writing support to applicants, and a committee of Foundation staff and partners will use a rubric to score applications.

Applications must be submitted by September 25. Apply online at dbqfoundation.org/librarygrant

The library grant program is made possible by funding from the Trust for Civic Life, a grantmaking collaborative supporting the community-led efforts that help Americans connect, solve problems together, and feel confident in a shared future.

“We are grateful to the Trust for Civic Life for supporting rural communities across the country, including those right here in Eastern Iowa,” Jean-Francois says.

If you have questions about eligibility or applying, please contact Community Grant Writer Angela Ventris at angela@dbqfoundation.org or 563-588-2700.