Funding Opportunity Overview – Civic Experiment Library Grants
What is the Civic Experiment Library Small Grant Program?
WT Community Resilience Corps (CRC) and Amarillo Area Foundation (AAF) are excited to announce the launch of a new collaborative funding opportunity to benefit rural communities through local libraries: the Civic Experiment Library Small Grant program. Civic experiments are new programs that draw people together to spark connection, collaboration and problem solving. This grant supports small, local projects designed to strengthen civic participation, build community, and integrate the public library into the broader civic landscape in rural and under-resourced communities in the Texas Panhandle. This opportunity was made possible through the support of the Trust for Civic Life, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Grant Awards
No fewer than eight Civic Experiment Library grants will be awarded, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $10,000. Award amounts will be based on project scope, community participation, and alignment with goals such as strengthening public libraries as a hub of civic engagement in the community.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, government entities, K–12 schools, community colleges and universities, faith-based organizations (for community-benefit projects), and fiscally sponsored groups. Organizations working in partnership with a local public library can propose projects. Projects must benefit communities within the Texas Panhandle region.
Eligible Project Types
Projects that strengthen civic life and the local public library’s role in the community by increasing participation, volunteerism, leadership, collaboration, or local problem-solving. Projects could include civic engagement initiatives, leadership activities, scaling of existing efforts, cultural events, or volunteer-driven projects. Examples include:
- $500-$1,000:
- Grassroots efforts such as an intergenerational civic storytelling circle hosted at the library.
- A community movie & crafts night that that encourages community members of all ages to gather.
- A craft night in the existing Maker Space and with materials for a community co-generational event.
- $1,000-$5,000:
- A year-long series of engagement activities and sessions around a community-defined topic with hosted speakers
- A seed library with outreach and informational materials, sessions led by master gardeners and storage and distribution system for seeds at the library
- $5,000-$10,000:
- Teaching and collaboration in an existing maker space with stipends for senior adult teachers who lead co-generational learners in a craft.
- 2-3 sessions led by a facilitator at the library to explore the Commonwealth Assets of the community. Facilitated sessions lead to a community driven action plan and broad ongoing engagement to work on tangible solutions.
Timeline
September 15, 2026 – Applications open
October 9, 2026 – New Web User Portal Registration Deadline
October 16, 2026 – Applications due
December 11, 2026 – Selection & Grantee Notification
January 2027 – Grantee Onboarding
January –June 2027 – Project implementation
June & July 2027 – Final reporting
August 2027 – Civic Experiment Showcase
For project questions, contact Laura Seals at lseals@wtamu.edu
