The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has several grant programs currently available to libraries, classrooms, and programs serving low-income, at-risk, and rural kids (ages 12 and under) in New Hampshire and Vermont. Please help spread the word to educators, librarians, and those whom you know who work with youth!

CLiF Program Manager Jana Brown says, “During this challenging year for our program partners, CLiF has been operating our literacy programs in new and innovative ways. We look forward to another busy summer this year that will be a blend of both virtual and outdoor, in-person programming across Vermont and New Hampshire. We hope to reach even more children and welcome new program partners to the CLiF network. Our goal is for CLiF’s free literacy programs and book giveaways to keep children engaged with reading throughout the summer! Literacy is a focal point for learning re-engagement as our partners move forward with their COVID recovery and learning re-engagement plans and we look forward to continuing to provide professional literacy programs and new, high-quality books.”

AVAILABLE GRANT PROGRAMS

Summer Readers – due June 1, 2021

CLiF’s Summer Readers grant program brings VT and NH authors, illustrators, and storytellers to camps, rec programs, meal sites, libraries, summer schools, and other spaces where low-income kids spend time in the summer. This year, outdoor and virtual programming will be available. Each program concludes with a book giveaway, where children get to choose 2 new books!

Learn more & apply. Contact Jana with any questions.

Rural Libraries – due June 15, 2021

CLiF’s Rural Libraries grant program is for public libraries in VT and NH towns of populations of 5,000 or less. The program supplements library’s children’s and young adult collections, provides new books for the local elementary school, provides two storytelling sessions and funding for special library programs, and provides new books for each child to choose. The grant also aims to strengthen libraries’ connections to their local schools and communities while providing new books and resources. The grant program will last the 2021-2022 schoolyear.

Learn more and apply. Contact Meredith with any questions.

Revive Your Literacy – due June 15, 2021

$500 in additional literacy support for past CLiF partners. Design your own program – author visits, new books, family events…get creative!

Learn more and apply. Contact Meredith with any questions.

At-Risk Children – due September 1, 2021

CLiF’s At-Risk Children grant program for Fall 2021 is open to childcare centers, afterschool programs, ELL classrooms (not whole schools – we support schoolwide programs through our Year of the Book grant program), affordable housing communities, refugee and migrant programs, homeless shelters and food shelves, and other organizations serving low-income, at-risk, and rural kids in NH and VT. The grant program includes a storytelling presentation, an optional parent literacy seminar, an onsite library, and 2 new books for each child to choose.

Learn more and apply. Contact Jana with any questions.

We look forward to partnering with you to bring books and stories to our region’s most vulnerable children!