Who is eligible to receive a grant?
- The TPS Regional Program awards grants to non-federal educational organizations such as school districts, state boards of education, universities, foundations, library systems, cultural institutions and others. The Library of Congress makes these funds available to help grantees incorporate TPS materials and methods into existing programs for educators and learners.
Who is the target audience?
- The Library of Congress Regional program awards grants to a wide variety of organizations, including K-12 schools, universities, literacy organizations, centers, clubs, historical societies, museums, libraries, associations of home-schooling parents and caregivers, honor societies, and other community, civic, professional, state, regional, and national groups that expand the body of innovative strategies, tools, and materials for meaningful teaching and learning with Library of Congress materials.
How much in grant money can I apply for?
- The TPS Regional Program makes grants of up to $25,000.
How long is the funding period? When is the deadline to submit?
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The deadline for proposals for 6–9-month projects is July 31, 2025. These projects must start no earlier than Sept 1, 2025, and be completed by May 31, 2026.
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The deadline for proposals for 6-month projects is Oct.31, 2025. These projects must start no earlier than Dec. 1, 2025, and be completed by May 31, 2026.
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We are no longer accepting proposals for 6–12-month projects occurring between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.
What activities and expenses are allowed under the grant?
- Grants can be used to cover the expenses associated with delivering TPS programming. Examples include, but are not limited to, payment to a faculty member for revising a course syllabus to include TPS content; offering stipends so that teachers can attend a TPS workshop; paying a lecturer to conduct an online course that uses materials and pedagogical approaches from the TPS program, etc. Regional coordinators can answer specific questions about allowable project expenses.
What matching funds are required?
- Cost sharing is not required for this award. If including cost share or in-kind costs, please follow the guidance and requirements as outlined in 2 CFR 200.306 Cost sharing: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.306.
- Note that you may not include other Federal funding as part of the cost shared total.
Do TPS Regional grants cover in-direct costs?
- Indirect costs are allowed, but are capped at 15%. They must also abide by the requirement to calculate costs using a Modified Total Direct Costs base per 2 CFR 200.414(f).
Is it possible to receive multiple TPS Regional grants?
- Typically, a grantee is eligible for only one TPS grant. Requests for additional grants are considered on a case-by-case basis, and awarded only when the project will support significantly greater impact.
What is the process when applying for a grant?
- First, fill out the online Notice of Intent form found on the site for your region. The coordinator of your region will contact you to discuss your project idea. If the regional coordinator determines that your project idea fits within the funding guidelines of the TPS Regional program, he or she will ask you to submit a proposal.
What information do you require to make granting decisions?
- We will ask for information about your organization and its activities, the educational programming that you intend to offer, the educational audiences you will target, a list of institutional partners and their role in the project, the expected outcomes, a timeline, and a budget narrative.
What criteria are used for granting decisions?
- Regional Coordinators evaluate proposals based on:
- Access: The proposed project reaches geographic areas and populations underserved by the TPS program.
- Quality: The proposed workshop or course will help educators and learners achieve TPS program goals and objectives.
- Professional development program and partnerships: The proposing organization leverages partnerships to provide programs for educators and learners.
- Sustainability: The grantee’s use of Library of Congress and TPS content will be integrated into their educational programming for educators and learners.
- Project plan: The plan thoroughly describes the intended project, its audience and content, supported by a timeline of activities and an appropriate budget narrative.
How long do funding decisions take?
- Regional coordinators typically make funding decisions within six weeks from the submission of a full application.
What reporting requirements exist once I receive a grant?
- The TPS Regional program requires that grantees submit a quarterly report updating their project’s progress. We also request an end of project report at the end of the project. Grantees who receive at least $500,000 from the federal government must submit single audits.