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 TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION DESCRIPTION This category includes grants and foundations that support the side of librarianship that readily embraces technological advances and applies them to the profession. It pertains to investing in emerging technologies and maintaining existing equipment (such as printers and scanners); converting to RFID and redesigning a library's web site; subscribing to OCLC services or another MARC record provider and developing alternative classification. PURPOSE  Purchase of new technology and equipmentInnovative uses of technologyIntegration of technology into classroomsProduct donationsCOMMON TERMS & PHRASES The following keywords are often associated with this category and should give you a broader sense of its scope: innovation, technology, automation, cataloging, equipment, computers, emerging technologies, mobile technologies, maintenance; web platform, web-page hosting, Integrated Library System (ILS), MARC records, new tools, wireless communication equipment, micrographic equipment, software development, social networking, RFID, alternative classification, Internet access, telecommunications, library media centers, technology labs. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Deadline: Ongoing Eligibility: ALL Amount: Varies Purpose: Purchase of new technology and equipment; innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines: NA Background Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has long partnered with public libraries to bring access to computers, the Internet, and digital information to low-income and disadvantaged communities around the world and the United States. The foundation funds programs that evaluate local technology needs, purchase equipment, train library staff to use, maintain, and introduce technology, and encourage public support for free access to computers and the Internet. Note: unsolicited proposals are not accepted. C2i: Challenge To Innovate Deadline: May 13, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: $1000 Purpose: Innovative uses of technology Register and post your idea here Background NEA Foundation, in partnership with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), awards those who come up with the most innovate ways in which mobile phone technology can be used to transform teaching and learning. The foundation awards up to five individuals $1000 for the best ideas posted on the C2i page on the U.S. Department of Education's Open Innovation Portal. The proposed solution must effectively incorporate smart phones or cell phones. Librarians are encouraged to apply. Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Grants Deadline: March 15, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: $25,000 (on average) Purpose: Purchase of new technology and equipment; facility improvement Application Guidelines Background This foundation focuses on improvement of education in the United States and provides grants for technology and software upgrades and other infrastructure in educational institutions. Although Frueauff Foundation rarely makes large grants, funds have been given to support building campaigns and major fund drives. In most instances, these grants are used to meet challenges from other foundations. Other Grant Category: Rebuilding & Remodeling Dr. Scholl Foundation Grants Deadline: March 1, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: $5000-$25,000 Purpose: Purchase of new technology and equipment Application Guidelines Background Dr. Scholl Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance in several areas of interest, including education. Over the past decade, approximately 35 percent of its grants have been related to education and supporting educational institutions in investing in technology. While nonprofits outside of Illinois are supported, close to 70 percent of the funding is in Illinois. The foundation only accepts requests for one year of funding. Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grants Deadline: TBA Eligibility: ARSL & PL Amount: Up to $350,000 Purpose: Collections care; innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines Background Funding from this NEH program strengthens efforts to extend the life of library materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Applications may be submitted for projects that address one or more of the following activities: arranging and describing archival and manuscript collections; cataloging collections of printed works, photographs, recorded sound, moving images, art, and material culture; providing conservation treatment (including de-acidification) for collections, leading to enhanced access; preserving and improving access to born-digital sources; developing databases, and more. The maximum award is $350,000 for up to three years. Other Grant Category: Preservation & Conservation Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Deadline: March, 2012 Eligibility: SL Amount: Varies Purpose: Purchase of books; purchase of library materials other than books; literacy; integration of technology into classrooms Application Guidelines Background This Department of Education's program aims to improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials, including books and well-equipped, technologically-advanced school library media centers, and professionally-certified school library media specialists. District funds may also be used for a range of activities promoting literacy. Local education agencies (LEAs), located where at least 20 percent of students served are from families with incomes below the poverty line, may apply. Other Grant Categories: Acquisitions & Collection Development; Programming & Events Intel Foundation Deadline: Ongoing Eligibility: ARSL & SL Amount: Unknown Purpose: K-12 programming; programming in higher education; integration of technology into classrooms Application Guidelines Background Intel's primary giving focus is education, with an emphasis on K-12 and higher education. The foundation supports schools and community programs that deliver the kind of educational opportunities that students need to prepare for success in the 21st century. Intel vigorously supports education through donations and grants for programs that advance science, math, and technology education, particularly for women and underserved populations. Other Grant Category: Programming & Events Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums Deadline: Spring, 2012 Eligibility: SL & PL Amount: up to $100,000 Purpose: Integration of technology into classrooms Application Guidelines Background Funded by the McArthur Foundation, these IMLS grants (up to $100,000) support the planning and designing of up to 30 learning labs in libraries and museums throughout the country. The labs are intended to engage middle- and high-school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media. Grantees will be required to participate-in-person and online-in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Projects are expected to provide prototypes for the field and be based on current research about digital media and youth learning. There are two project deadlines for this grant program, the first one was August 15, 2011 the second deadline is planned for Spring, 2012. National Leadership Grants Deadline: February 1, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: $50,000-$1,000,000 Purpose: Staff training and development; innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines Background Distributed by IMLS, these grants (ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000) support projects that have the potential to advance museum, library, and archival practice. The Institute also encourages grant proposals that promote the skills necessary to develop 21st century communities, citizens, and workers. Proposals should address key needs and challenges that face libraries, museums, and archives. Leadership grants are divided into four categories: Advancing Digital Resources; Research; Demonstration; and Library-Museum Collaboration Grants. Other Grant Category: Professional Development & Research NEH Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants Deadline: September, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: $5000-$50,000 Purpose: Innovative uses of technology; original research Application Guidelines Background NEH gives out grants (from $5000 to $50,000) to non-profit organizations conducting research that brings new approaches or documents best practices in the study of the digital humanities, planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries' and museums' digital assets; and applying innovative uses of technology for public programming and education. Other Grant Category: Professional Development & Research Office Depot Product Donation Program Deadline: Ongoing Eligibility: SL & PL Amount: NA Purpose: Product donations Application Guidelines Background Managed by Gifts In Kind International charity, Office Depot makes a donation of products-including business machines, supplies, furniture, and more-to nonprofit organizations that help children. Each of Office Depot's retail stores, distribution centers, and warehouses is matched to a nonprofit organization whose mission directly impacts education and well-being of children. Note: product donations through Gifts In Kind International are ongoing and involve a membership fee. Office Depot is a founding member of the Business Education Network (BEN), which was created in 2005 by the Business Civic Leadership Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This coalition of businesses, chambers, educators and nonprofit organizations seeks to advance the global competitiveness of the U.S. education system and of America's future workforce. Praxair Foundation Library Links Grants Deadline: Ongoing Eligibility: PL Amount: Up to $25,000 Purpose: Purchase of new technology and equipment; educational programming at all levels Application Guidelines Background Through its "Library Links" program, Praxair assists libraries in upgrading their technology, acquiring new materials, or initiating innovative programs through use of technology. Special attention is given to programs that can be started and completed within one year of the award. Preference is given to supporting well-defined projects with emphasis on science, engineering, and environmental studies. Organizations receiving $25,000 or more are required to submit a report on the project being funded no later than one year after the grant is made. Other Grant Category: Programming & Events Preservation and Access Research and Development Grants Deadline: TBA Eligibility: ARSL & PL Amount: Up to $350,000 Purpose: Collections care; innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines Background These NEH grants support projects that address major challenges in preserving or providing access to humanities collections and resources. This includes the need to find better ways to preserve materials of critical importance to the nation's cultural heritage and to develop advanced modes of searching, discovering, and using such materials. Eligible projects include: development of technical standards, best practices, and tools for preserving and creating access to humanities collections; exploration of more effective scientific and technical methods of preserving humanities collections; and development of automated procedures and computational tools to integrate, analyze, and repurpose humanities data in disparate online resources. The maximum award is $350,000 for up to three years. Other Grant Category: Preservation & Conservation Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions Deadline: TBA Eligibility: ARSL & PL Amount: Up to $6000 Purpose: Collections care; innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines Background These NEH grants help small and mid-sized institutions-such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities-improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, etc. All grants are awarded for a period of 18 months, although a grantee may complete a project in a shorter period of time. Other Grant Category: Preservation & Conservation Samuel H. Kress Foundation Deadline: January 15, April 15, and October 15 Eligibility: ARSL Amount: $10,000-$100,000 Purpose: Integration of technology into classrooms; programming in higher education Application Guidelines for "History of Art" Program Application Guidelines for "Digital Resources" Program Background Kress Foundation's "History of Art" grant program supports scholarly projects that promote the appreciation, interpretation, preservation, study, and teaching of European art from antiquity to the early 19th century. Professional development fellowships are available for historians of art and architecture, art conservators, art educators, and art librarians. The "Digital Resources" program supports efforts to integrate new technologies into the practice of art history, including classroom applications and online publishing. This program further supports the creation of important online resources in art history, including both textual and visual resources. Other Grant Category: Programming & Events Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund [E-Rate] Deadline: Ongoing Eligibility: ALL Amount: 20 to 90 percent of the costs of eligible services Purpose: Integration of technology into classrooms Application Guidelines Background This program, commonly known as "E-Rate," is administered by the USAC under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission and provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. It is one of four support programs funded through a Universal Service fee charged to companies that provide interstate and/or international telecommunications services. Schools must provide elementary or secondary education as determined under state law. They must be public or private institutional day or residential schools, or public charter schools. Funding is requested under four categories of service: telecommunications services, Internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance of internal connections. Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums Deadline: February 1, 2012 Eligibility: ALL Amount: up to $20,000 Purpose: Innovative uses of technology Application Guidelines Background This funding opportunity was developed by IMLS to expand and test the boundaries of library, museum, and archival services and practices. It provides small, targeted investments in high-risk, innovative responses to the challenges and opportunities facing cultural heritage institutions in a rapidly changing information environment. These grants (up to $20,000) support the testing of specific innovations and foster broad sharing of information about what works and what does not. Because innovations can emerge in a variety of settings, the initiative is structured to encourage participation by organizations of all types and sizes. |
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