1 of 13

Write it to Win it

Grant Writing Tips

for School Librarians

OASL 2026

Keely S. Nudo, EdD

Director - Endorsement in K-12 Library Media

Antioch University

2 of 13

Welcome

Learn how important relationships and allies are to securing grants
Learn about the different types of grants & fundraising and where to find them
Learn how to develop compelling grant applications through storytelling
Learn how to bring grants full circle and the importance of reporting

Today we will...

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

Standard 5: Leadership, Advocacy and Professional Responsibilities

https://canva.link/xc8j6alztu5vyci

3 of 13

Keely S. Nudo, EdD

District Librarian (PK-12)/Teacher-Librarian (PK-6) Scappoose SD

Region 1 Representative - OASL

2025 Oregon Elementary Teacher-Librarian

Grant Writing for over 25 years!

Director

Endorsement in K-12 Library Media

Antioch University

Digital Business card

4 of 13

Facebook Shocker

Read Article

Library budgets reveal what schools value and who is in control.

Hallie Rich

May 2026 - ta-da while scrolling

"Last year, a district librarian in Oregon raised $44,000 for their libraries by cobbling together grants, book fair revenue, and crowdfunded donations. They used best practice calculations to estimate that the library budget should have been around $23,000. They were allocated $2,800. (by the way that was frozen in November due to budget issues - I spent $0 district money) So, they hustled. And then, exhausted, said what any reasonable person would: “Raising that much money is not sustainable.”

On the surface, this story sounds like the kind of funding problem we’re all too familiar with in school libraries. But I would argue that it isn’t about the money—or at least, not exclusively. It’s about power and respect."

Hallie's lead into the article: Library budgets reveal what schools value and who is in control. Dagger to the heart!

Even though I had FULLY been on the advocacy mission (and fundraising mission) for years, this hit HARD!

You mean I DON'T have the power? I raised a ton of money!

They DON'T respect my work? Why do they tell me how awesome the libraries are now versus before I took over?

I have never been so passionate in my State of the Libraries report in front of the board this year - I knew I was leaving, more than ever they needed to know how important the libraries are to overall student success!

"When professional expertise isn’t valued or respected, the consequences reach further than the budget line. Compliance reviews, approval paperwork, and personal fundraising campaigns consume the scarcest resources school libraries actually have—which isn’t money, but time. Every hour a librarian spends justifying a purchase or chasing a grant is an hour not spent on collection development, student programming, or instruction."

"The Oregon librarian was resourceful, determined, and good at their job. They also shouldn’t have had to do all that they did. School leaders know that struggling readers need support—they say so constantly. Until they decide that school librarians are the professionals to provide it, no amount of hustle will be sustainable."

5 of 13

Powerful

Partnerships

Relationships open doors and communication is the key that unlocks them...

Invite EVERYONE into your library
Leverage the experience of your volunteers
Connect and collaborate with classroom teachers - they make great grant partners
Principals are VERY powerful partners
PARENTS - together you are partners in their child’s literacy journey

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.2 Leadership and Collaboration

5.3 Advocacy

Earn the RESPECT and seek the POWER!

We are there FOR the students, but as stakeholders they have the LEAST amount of power to make a difference in funding (for both FTE or the bottom line) or policy changes.

EVERYONE = everyone,

Any guest your principal has in the building - make sure they stop by the library - show them the magic,

the superintendent - stop your class and have the students share what they learned today (give preschool example),

the school board (if they don't come to you [and don't be afraid to invite them], you go to them, COMMUNICATE and share your value, they own businesses in the community and they are civic minded, they serve on other boards, they know people, they open doors)

INVOLVE/ENGAGE your volunteers - if they are shelving books, include them in the discussion. If they feel welcome and appreciated, they tell others and will help you with the things you need

Every classroom teacher has a handful of parents who want to support the school - what are you doing to support them in the classroom, so they want to reciprocate by recruiting those parents to help you? They are also great partners for grants! (example BIg Book Project)

Partner with your principal - Does your principal see you as a leader? Can they come to you and ask you to help coach a teacher or lead a PD?

TRANSPARENCY - communicating with parents is the BEST way to build trust AND they are door openers!

6 of 13

Grant Types

BIG vs. small

Public vs. Private

Short Term vs. L-o-n-g Term

Grants

101

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.1 Professional Learning

I am a big fan of starting SMALL!

Easier, good practice, help you to develop your story and the small wins build confidence.

Big grants USUALLY have bigger competition, more restrictions and more deliverables - they can also be more complicated with your district because of who gets the money.

Public grants are funded from other grants their organization has gotten or taxpayer monies where Private grants are often funded by families, estates or privately owned businesses - both usually have restrictions.

Grants can be a one and done or short term funding, or they can be a grant that covers multiple steps or years.

Grant writer or policy in your district? That is a whole other thing to navigate - but make sure YOU are involved in the storytelling, we will talk about this more later!

7 of 13

Foundations

Parent/Booster Organizations

Union Affiliations - Local, Regional & NEA

State Library Organizations

Tribal Partners

Crowdfunding - DonorsChoose, etc...

Student Supported - ask/action

Community Outreach - ask!

Groups - Facebook/Instagram

Wanna go BIG? (QR Code)

Grants

101

And Where to Find Them

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.1 Professional Learning

8 of 13

Successful Grant Writing

Grants

101

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.1 Professional Learning

Start Small

Share your Passion

State the Facts

Say Thank You!

9 of 13

Choose Wisely

Grants

101

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.1 Professional Learning

Match an idea/project that you are passionate about with a funder with the same passion (Match Funder & Confidence Level)
How does your goal(s) align with the funder goals? (Measurable Goal)
Why should the funder support it? (Will your work inspire others? Will it help the funder promote their mission?)

Right Funder, Right Project

10 of 13

Go For It!

Grants

101

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.1 Professional Learning

Choose a Funder
Do Your Research
Make a Plan
Know Your Stuff
Tell YOUR Story

Choose a Funder

==============

Start small and local

(Parent organizations, DonorsChoose, Library Associations, unions, tribal, district foundations and state organizations)

Go BIG when you are ready

National organizations and associations like AASL/ALA, WNDB, etc...

Do Your Research

================

Do you have the research/evidence that backs up your ask? Why is this work important to your school/students? Can you show how it has worked before for you or elsewhere?

What are the hot topics for the school libraries/classrooms? What things are getting funded - diversity, support student achievement or curriculum, etc...?

Make a Plan

===========

Many grants have multiple steps in their process - make sure you have enough time to meet funder deadlines as well as meet your needs of when funds are needed/available

If you are working with others, make sure everyone is aware of the plan and their responsibilities

PRO TIP: One project at a time!

Know Your Stuff

===============

What is the funders mission/values? How are you going to measure success? Why should they choose you?

Tell YOUR Story

==============

Channel your passion for students into great storytelling - what is going to make your proposal stand out? (Scappoose wealth example) Remember, if you have a grant writer in your district make sure YOUR voice/YOUR story is being captured!

11 of 13

Now What?

GET ORGANIZED WITH A TIMELINE

Deadlines- Follow the Plan

Support from Others

DOCUMENT THE PROCESS

Your Documents

Funder Documents

COMMUNICATE

Your Communications/Celebrations

Funder Communication Requirements

Say THANK YOU!

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Success from Start to Finish...

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.2 Leadership and Collaboration

5.3 Advocacy

12 of 13

Final Thoughts

Bigger is NOT better!
Advocacy = Awareness, Who are your people?
YOU can be a changemaker!

AASL/CAEP School Librarian Prep Standards:

5.2 Leadership and Collaboration

5.3 Advocacy

What is sustainable?!

13 of 13

Thank You!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any help and please feel free to let me know when you get that first or bigger grant - I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

knudo1@antioch.edu

Phone: 206-268-4814

AU K-12 Endorsement

Region 1?