Hi, libraries!

If you are applying for the $10K - $50K in APP funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in the school library category, then you already know that applying for a federal grant is a little more complicated than you may be used to. Federal grants are their own "genre," and it can really help novice applicants to get some feedback prior to submission. Some of us from the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Library of Michigan, and U-M School of Information want to help!

Feel free to use this checklist to help you organize your thinking and cross-check your application.
A team of folks who have not only written but also reviewed federal grants are offering an hour of their time to review your proposal if received no later than Friday night, February 15, at 11:59pm. They will schedule a call with you to review your proposal with you. We all want you to be successful! You can send it to me at font@umich.edu and I'll partner you with a reviewer.
Trust us: You CAN and SHOULD contact the IMLS program officer in charge of the category you are applying to (Community Memory: Sarah Fuller, sfuller@imls.gov, 202.653.4783; digital inclusion James Neal jneal@imls.gov, 202.653.4740. Both have a keen eye and an understanding of the kinds of projects that reviewers tend to warm through. They can't tell you if something will be funded (they bring in review panels who make those recommendations), they have given me and others a lot of great advice about how to massage the proposal so your ideas shine.

I hope we can help you with your proposal. And if you haven't started ... you still have time ... if you hurry!

Kristin

Kristin Fontichiaro
University of Michigan School of Information
4427 North Quad
105 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285

734.647.3593
Blog | Book an Appointment (school year only)

Projects:

Michigan Makers | Making in Michigan Libraries

Data Literacy in High School | Public Library Management MOOC