Federal grant programs / Institute of Museum and Library Services

Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services (45.311)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$25.8 million
• Grant awards871
• Typical award$10,000
• Awarded in FY 2025$5.2 million
• Size rank1,232 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants, direct payments for specified use

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $4.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $5.2 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1232nd largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 31% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 30 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services programs (NANH-L) are designed to assist Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians in improving core library services for their communities. NANH-L Basic Grants assists eligible Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. NANH-L Basic Grants has one program goal and four objectives. Program Goal: Improve library and archival services for accessing, learning, and preserving information with the community. Objective 1: Support the acquisition of library-related materials. Objective 2: Support programming for identified community priorities. Objective 3: Support training for library staff. Objective 4: Support project activities that include aspects of two or more of the objectives listed above. NANH-L Enhancement Grants assists eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. NANH-L Enhancement Grants has one program goal with four associated objectives. Program Goal: Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training to strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes. Objective 1: Serve the learning needs and interests of the community. Objective 2: Improve community well-being. Objective 3: Provide access to and preservation of information and collections. Objective 4: Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster. The Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant (NH) is designed to assist Native Hawaiian serving organizations in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. NH has one goal with four associated objectives. Program Goal: Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or staff training to strengthen library and archival services with Native Hawaiian organizations. Objective 1: Serve the learning needs and interests of the community. Objective 2: Improve Native Hawaiian well-being. Objective 3: Provide access to and preservation of information and collections. Objective 4: Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

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

Open opportunities

• Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2027)
  Open · Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) · up to $150,000
• Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants (2027)
  Open · Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) · up to $150,000
• Native American Library Services Basic Grant (2027)
  Open · Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) · up to $10,000

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

An applicant to Native American Library Services Basic or Enhancement grant program must be an Indian tribe, meaning any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. An applicant to Native Hawaiian Library Services must be a nonprofit organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians. The term "Native Hawaiian" refers to an individual who is a citizen of the United States and a descendant of the aboriginal people who, before 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now comprises the State of Hawaii.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Grant funds must be used for the purposes outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and in accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services General Terms and Conditions. Examples of allowable costs for Native American Library Services Basic Grants include salaries, wages, and fringe benefits; travel expenses; training, workshop, and/or conference registration fees; supplies, materials, software, and equipment related directly to library services; adaptive/assistive technologies and other resources to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; contract services; after-school tutoring services; internet access; fees for participation in networks and consortia that provide the library with direct services. Examples of allowable costs for Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants include personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits; travel expenses for key project staff and consultants; materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities; adaptive and/or assistive technologies and other resources and services to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; equipment to improve collections storage and exhibit environments; third-party costs; publication design and printing; staff and volunteer training; paid internships/fellowships; and indirect or overhead costs.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Jan 13, 2026 to Mar 14, 2026 Jan 22, 2026 to Apr 10, 2026

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Native American Library Services Basic Grants: FY2022 awards ranged from $6,000 to $90,000. Average = $11,089. FY2023 awards ranged from $6,000 to $90,000. Average = $10,852. FY2024 awards ranged from $6,000 to $100,000. Average = $10,921. Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants FY2022 awards ranged from $38,000 to $150,000. Average = $134,633. FY2023 awards ranged from $59,860 to $150,000. Average = $129,942. FY2024 awards ranged from $36,685 - $150703.,000. Average = $129, Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants: FY2022 awards ranged from $118,058 to $150,000. Average = $143,173. FY2023 awards were $150,000 each. FY2024 awards ranged from $147,782 - $150,000. Average = $149,481.

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

14 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.