Mini Grants for Libraries is sponsored by Oregon Humanities. Enables Oregon libraries to create and host their own humanities events based on an annual theme announced by Oregon Humanities.

Mini Grants for Libraries — Oregon Humanities Mini Grants for Libraries A grant for Oregon libraries to create and host events in their communities Applications for this grant are currently closed. This grant typically opens for applications in early November, and applications typically close mid-January.

2026 Mini Grants for Libraries In 2026, Oregon Humanities awarded $24,690 in funding to enable 11 Oregon libraries to create and host events in their own communities around our 2026 theme: Beyond 250. Applicants were welcome to interpret this theme and develop topics relevant to their own communities. For a full list of this year’s grant recipients, visit our Grant Recipients page.

Our Mini Grants for Libraries enable Oregon libraries to create and host events in their own communities around an annual theme that corresponds to our Consider This conversations . Public, volunteer, community college, or tribal libraries and library branches that are located within the state of Oregon are eligible. Please see the eligibility section below for all eligibility requirements.

The maximum award per organization in 2026 was $3,000, and grant awards could fund one event or multiple events. As the Oregon affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Oregon Humanities regrants federal funds along with private dollars. Please note that the funding and scope of our grantmaking is affected by the federal administration's directives and budget.

Within these parameters, Oregon Humanities staff and board members review the grants process and funding levels on an annual basis, making any necessary adjustments for current or future grant cycles. This grant typically opens for applications in early November, and applications typically close mid-January.

Types of events this grant funds Some activities that are commonly funded by this grant include: Speaker events that include audience engagement Interactive author presentations Programming that connects exhibits to current experiences Community-engaged interpretation of history, art history and theory, cultural history, or philosophy If you’d like additional examples, check out the Mini Grants for Libraries Project Planning Worksheet .

This grant can support program-related expenses that may include, but aren’t limited to, the following: Honoraria for conversation facilitators, featured speakers, and conversation participants (excluding audience members) Program/event planning costs, including project planning and management salaries Labor and technical support for online events Cleaning supplies and services Documenting the program through production of video, audio, digital/print publication Costs to purchase associated publications that support your event, will be distributed to event attendees at no cost, or gifted for attendees to take home with them.

Snacks, non-alcoholic drinks for consumption during the event Costs to provide onsite childcare during the event ADA access. For example: live captioning (Note: capital expenditures and equipment purchases are not allowed) Language translation during the event, including ASL translation Equipment (maximum of 10% of grant award) purchased to specifically support the program being proposed for funding.

Notes about grant funded activities: Programs can be in multiple languages or be in a language other than English. Grant reporting must be in English. Programs can be hosted online or in-person.

Activities this grant does not fund This grant does not fund humanitarian work. Please read the following documents for more information about eligibility, activity restrictions, and compliance standards for organizations receiving this grant. Ineligibility, Restrictions and Compliance Standards for Grant Awards Frequently Asked Questions "We are grateful to [have] receive[d] this grant.

We have been able to build and strengthen relationships and partnerships with the organizations involved with this event. The stories the panelists and moderator shared were eye-opening to attendees."

—Newport Public Library, a 2023 grantee who hosted a panel discussion on unemployment, education, and the American Dream Eligibility requirements for applicants All current and past Oregon Humanities grant awardees must be in good standing with past awards in order to be eligible to apply for funding. Applicants who are (or are using) fiscal agents and/or fiscal sponsors are not eligible.

Applicants must have a current (active) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) registration at the time of grant application submission. You will need to provide proof of your UEI registration status in your application. Only one application per entity (based on individual UEI) is allowed per annual grant cycle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We require that our grantees have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued by SAM. gov. It can take anywhere from a few days to months to receive your UEI number. We recommend applying for your UEI when this grant opens for applications.

Website for UEI registration and further instructions: sam. gov/content/entity-registration . Please read the following documents for more information about eligibility, activity restrictions, and compliance standards for organizations receiving this grant.

Ineligibility, Restrictions and Compliance Standards for Grant Awards Frequently Asked Questions How to apply for this grant Applications are currently closed for this grant. We only accept applications submitted through our website. As part of the application, applicants will need to provide proof of the organization's active UEI as well as a W-9 that lists the organization's current address.

Organizations are limited to one application per annual grant cycle (based on UEI). We accept applications for multilingual programs, but the grant application and reporting are required to be in English. If you are in need of an accommodation or any assistance that would help you apply for this grant, we’ll do our best to help!

Please reach out to Alex Stoehr, program manager, at a. stoehr@oregonhumanities. org or (971) 361-9892.

Support for grant applicants This grant’s application is fairly quick and easy to do. Even so, we know that questions can still come up! Oregon Humanities offers many types of support to help grant applicants write their strongest application.

Online information sessions We host online information sessions with grants program staff members to help applicants with questions and to discuss eligibility, program and grant alignment, and all aspects of applying for our grants. We offer two date/time options for the same information session.

These hour-long sessions will cover general information about the grant: how to apply, what kinds of programs this grant funds, etc. They are informal and provide several opportunities for attendees to ask questions. (If you have a specific question you’d like covered during the session but would prefer not to ask it during the session, please send it in advance to grants@oregonhumanities. org .)

Attendance at a session is recommended, not required. Registration for information sessions is available when the grant application opens. If you would like a phone consultation to get feedback on your program’s alignment with this grant, have your questions answered, or receive technical assistance, please email grants@oregonhumanities.

org to schedule a phone or Zoom meeting with our grants manager. Please note that individual meetings are not available during the week preceding the grant application deadline.

Grant application review process The Mini Grants for Libraries Review Committee is composed of members of Oregon Humanities staff and board of directors as well as community reviewers (people outside of Oregon Humanities who are affiliated with the organization in some way). Our Review Committee members individually score each application based on the merits of each proposal.

After numerical scoring is completed, the applications are ranked according to the scoring. The Review Committee meets to discuss proposals and rankings and determines which applications to fund. A scoring rubric will be used by the review committee.

Each section is weighted based on its importance and is scored on a 1-5 scale.

How well the proposed events are in alignment with the annual theme (1–5 point scale, 25% of total score) The quality of the proposed events (1–5 point scale, 40% of the total score) Feasibility, potential efficacy, and impact The proposed use of funding (1–5 point scale, 10% of total score) Clear articulation of how funding would be used Costs are reasonable and allowable Alignment with Oregon Humanities’ mission and goal for this grant (1-5 point scale, 25% of total score) Goal: To fund events hosted by libraries throughout the state.

We’re particularly interested in programs that explore complex topics, helping people to connect, reflect, and cultivate a stronger sense of agency in their communities. Review grant ineligibility, restrictions, and compliance standards Review answers to frequently asked questions Support for grant recipients Organizations that receive grant awards will receive a notice of the award amount and a legal Grant Agreement via email.

This email will be sent to the contacts named in your grant application as your Project Lead and Authorizing Official. Please fully read your Grant Agreement, reach out to us if you have questions about it, and have your Project Lead and Authorizing Official sign it promptly. After OH receives the signed agreement, we will release the awarded funding to your organization.

The email will also include the links to your grant reporting forms. You’re required to file the report listed below. Please refer to your Grant Agreement for the reporting due dates.

Oregon Humanities offers the following support to assist you in managing your grant-funded program or event: Post-award grantee online meeting (recommended) We recommend that all Mini Grant for Libraries awardees attend a post-award grant management online session. Information and zoom links for the online session will be emailed to grantees.

If you are unable to attend either of the scheduled session options but would like to have the benefit of this session, please email grants@oregonhumanities. org to schedule an individual session. In this session, we’ll discuss the items that grant recipients need to understand, plan for and track, as they apply the grant funding to their programs, including aspects such as documenting your events and your volunteer labor.

We’ll also cover the Final Report forms that grantees are required to submit to OH. Sessions will include time for questions and discussion. Grant management materials for grant recipients Grant management materials for 2026 Mini Grant for Libraries recipients Check out the Oregon Humanities Accessibility Guide for tips to make your programs and events accessible and welcoming.

"It was wonderful to bring students, faculty, and community together to talk about critical issues. Our attendees were so appreciative, and it opened the door for a lot of future collaboration. Oregon Humanities made it incredibly easy to implement.

” —Tori Stanek, Director of Library and Learning Commons at Columbia Gorge Community College, a 2023 grantee who hosted public forum events to deepen their engagement with Hispanic and transgender communities Questions? Please reach out! Questions about applying or eligibility?

Want to share feedback or ideas about this grant? Please send an email to grants@oregonhumanities. org .

Please note that Oregon Humanities staff are available to answer questions Monday through Friday, during normal Pacific Time Zone business hours. Mini Grants for Libraries