This post is by Judy Lee from the Library of Congress.
Submit a Literacy Awards application by February 18, 2025, for a chance to receive up to $150,000 toward your outstanding literacy program.
Why Apply?
Award recipients could receive cash awards and public recognition for their outstanding literacy initiative and have a chance to network with over 200 previous award recipients.
Four Top Prizes Will be Awarded in 2025
- The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded for an outstanding and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels to an organization based either inside or outside the United States that has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy. The organization will meet the highest standards of excellence in its operations and services.
- The Kislak Family Foundation Prize ($100,000) is awarded for an organization based either in the United States or abroad with an outsized impact on literacy relative to its size and/or years of operation.
- The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the United States or the national awareness of the importance of literacy to an organization that is based in the United States.
- The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the United States to an organization that is based either inside or outside the United States.
Up to 20 Additional Organizations Will Be Recognized in 2025
- Successful Practice Honorees ($10,000) are recognized for their successful implementation of a specific literacy promotion practice. Up to 15 organizations that apply in the major prize categories will receive $10,000 each.
- Emerging Strategies Honorees ($5,000) are recognized for a literacy initiative in its early stages of development (5 years or fewer) that demonstrate significant creativity and promise in their approach to literacy. Up to 5 organizations that apply for the Emerging Strategies Honorees recognition will receive $5,000.
How to Apply
Visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/library-of-congress-literacy-awards/apply/ for the application forms, instructions and Frequently Asked Questions.
An applicant information session will be available to the public on Wednesday, January 15 at 2:00PM ET. Attendees must register for the session in advance.
Who can Apply?
Any organization or program that does not operate on a for-profit basis is eligible to apply. Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, educational institutions (full-time, tax-supported or nonprofit schools, school systems, colleges, universities, museums and public libraries), Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and projects created or sponsored by local, regional or national governments are all eligible to apply.
Deadline
Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM ET, February 18, 2025.
About the Awards
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors nonprofit organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. The awards also encourage the continuing development of successful methods for promoting literacy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. They are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading.
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program has awarded more than $3 million in prizes to over 200 institutions in 40 countries, thanks to generosity of philanthropist David M. Rubenstein since 2013, and the Kislak Family Foundation since 2023. By recognizing current achievements, the awards seek to enable any organization or program that does not operate on a for-profit basis to strengthen its involvement in literacy and reading promotion and to encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations.
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