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NLG-LIBRARIES-FY21-P2: National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2021)

Closed Closed March 26, 2021 Opportunity NLG-LIBRARIES-FY21-P2

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2027) (NLG-LIBRARIES-FY27). Status: Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left). It is in our archive of Institute of Museum and Library Services notices from 2021.

Institute of Museum and Library Services offered grants of up to $1.0 million (at least $50,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 40 awards worth $9.0 million in total. Applications closed on March 26, 2021.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed February 3, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.

Other notices with this title

Institute of Museum and Library Services has posted this title under other numbers: earlier or later rounds, or the same competition for another area. Each has its own dates and may change its rules.

NoticePostedDeadlineStatus
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY27September 1, 2026Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left)Open
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY26January 13, 2026Closed March 13, 2026Closed
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY25July 18, 2024Closed March 10, 2025Closed
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY24July 13, 2023Closed March 20, 2024Closed
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY23July 7, 2022Closed March 17, 2023Closed
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY22-P2January 26, 2022Closed March 25, 2022Closed
NLG-LIBRARIES-FY22July 1, 2021Closed September 24, 2021Closed

Key dates

PostedFebruary 3, 2021
DeadlineMarch 26, 2021

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligibility requirements. Applicants to this opportunity must have been invited by the agency to submit a full proposal. New applications that were not invited from the first phase of this funding process will not be eligible for consideration.

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that enhance the quality of library and archival services nationwide by advancing theory and practice. Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or collaborative approaches that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment. * The application process for the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program consists of two phases. In Phase I, all applicants must submit two-page preliminary proposals. Grants.gov will accept preliminary proposal applications through 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on October 2, 2020. For Phase II, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals (Invited Full Proposals). Grants.gov will accept Invited Full Proposal applications through 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on March 26, 2021.

Category: Arts, Humanities.

Who has won National Leadership Grants grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, National Leadership Grants (45.312) awarded $137 million across 698 grant awards, an average of $196,184 per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
AMERICA250.ORG, Inc.District of Columbia1$14.0 million
Association of Tribal Archives Libraries & MuseumsOklahoma1$4.3 million
Foundation for Advancement in ConservationDistrict of Columbia4$3.6 million
Zoological Society of CincinnatiOhio5$3.3 million
The Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania2$3.2 million

Top states: District of Columbia ($23.6 million), New York ($12.6 million), California ($11.1 million), Virginia ($7.5 million), Pennsylvania ($7.3 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NLG-LIBRARIES-FY27, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is NLG-LIBRARIES-FY21-P2 still open?

No. It closed on March 26, 2021. A newer notice is open: NLG-LIBRARIES-FY27, closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left).

Who can apply for National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2021)?

Institute of Museum and Library Services accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2021)?

Closed March 26, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.0 million each. About $9.0 million in total across about 40 awards.

Who has won National Leadership Grants grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were AMERICA250.ORG, Inc., Association of Tribal Archives Libraries & Museums, Foundation for Advancement in Conservation. The program made 698 awards worth $137 million in that time.

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