Federal grant programs / Institute of Museum and Library Services

Grants to States (45.310)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.0 billion
• Grant awards353
• Typical award$2.4 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$179 million
• Size rank251 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $345 million in fiscal 2021 to $179 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 251st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 63% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 59 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Grants to States program supports efforts across the nation to provide access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages. Supported initiatives and services address individuals’ needs for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, economic and business development, health information, critical thinking skills, and digital, financial, and other types of literacies.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

The 59 established State Library Administrative Agencies may apply for Grants to States funds. A State Library Administrative Agency is the official agency of a State charged by law with the extension and development of public library services throughout the State.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Grants may be used for: (1) expanding services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages in order to support such individuals’ needs for education, lifelong learning, workforce development, and digital literacy skills; (2) establishing or enhancing electronic and other linkages and improved coordination among and between libraries and entities, for the purpose of improving the quality of and access to library and information services; (3) (A) providing training and professional development, including continuing education, to enhance the skills of the current library workforce and leadership, and advance the delivery of library and information services and; (B) enhancing efforts to recruit future professionals to the field of library and information services; (4) developing public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations; (5) targeting library services to individuals of differing geographic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; (6) targeting library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with low incomes; (7) developing library services that provide all users access to information through local, State,...

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 20 USC Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, Part 9131(b) (for matching) 9133(c)(1)(A)(i) and 9133(c) (2) for MOE, Subpart § 9141 (Grants to States),Public Law 115-410.2 CFR Part 200. 20 USC Chapter 72 Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, § 9101-9176; in particular § 9121 (Purpose), § 9141 (Grants to States). More information is available online at https://www.imls.gov/grants/grant-programs/grants-states or upon request from IMLS, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Suite N-3627, Washington, DC 20210. See the IMLS website at www.imls.gov for the most current program information.Statutory Formula: Matching Requirements: The amount a State receives under this program consists of a minimum allotment set by Congress (20 USC 9131 (b)) plus an additional amount based on the most current published population estimates available the first day of the federal fiscal year from the Bureau of the Census. The federal share is 66 percent and the state matching requirement is 34 percent.This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. IMLS's authorizing legislation requires a State “maintenance of effort” (“MOE”). Under a maintenance of effort provision, a State is required, as a condition of eligibility for Federal funding, to maintain its financial contribution to a program at not less than the amount of its contribution for some prior time period.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Deadlines

Mar 22, 2027 to Jun 30, 2027

Award range and average, in the agency's words

FY2022 awards ranged from $68,125 to $15,642,120. Average = $2,861,068. FY2023 awards ranged from $108,317 to $15,905,100. Average = $3,050,847. FY2024 awards ranged from $108,252 to $15,705,702. Average = $3,050,847. In FY2025, the range and average are likely to be similar to those of FY2024.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.

By state

52 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.