Finding Money When There Isn’t Any Part 2

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Identify and review grant opportunities that match your library’s needs.
• Construct a narrative for a grant application that demonstrates need, impact, and innovation.
• Outline a project plan and associated costs for a grant application.
• Understand post-award grant responsibilities, including documentation and evaluation.
• Effectively communicate the impact of the award to the funder and the school community.
• Explain strategies for sustaining relationships and projects after grant funding ends.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 3 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Finding the Right Grant

In this module, you’ll be introduced to grant funding available to school libraries. You’ll learn what kinds of grants exist, where to look for them, and how to recognize opportunities that match your goals. You'll dig into funder expectations and basic eligibility requirements, so you can identify grants that are worth your time and effort.

Module 2: Writing a Competitive Grant Application

A successful grant application starts with a clear need and a well-structured idea. This module guides you through the core elements of a proposal: defining the need, framing your story, identifying partners, and outlining project plans and costs. You’ll learn how to tailor your ideas to fit funder priorities and use generative AI tools to refine your ideas, turning it into a competitive application.

Module 3: Managing a Funded Project

Receiving a grant is just the beginning. This module focuses on what comes next: implementing your project, tracking progress, and documenting outcomes. You’ll learn strategies to communicate the impact of your project with funders and the school community. You’ll finish with a better understanding of how to manage a grant, and sustain funded projects and relationships.

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Katy Black, MLIS, Librarian, Sheldon ISD

Katy Black is the School Librarian at Michael R. Null Middle School in Sheldon ISD. In her sixth year as a school librarian, she has secured more than $5,000 in grant funding to expand her library’s impact through initiatives such as a student language lab, a campus-wide Comic-Con, and the addition of a library pet. A frequent presenter at professional conferences on innovative programming, Katy is committed to helping others bridge budget gaps through creative, student-centered resource development.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is for K-12 school librarians and educators.

THIS WILL BE A SELF-PACED, ASYNCHRONOUS COURSE.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course includes 3 modules, each designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete. You can move through the content at your own pace and on your own schedule. You'll earn 12 hours of PD credit and a School Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You'll have access to all course materials for six months.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete the course and earn 12 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

SUPPORT

For support with online courses, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com .