The FOLIO project benefits from grants going to project members who use the funding to advance the FOLIO project more generally. In April 2021, the FOLIO Community Council identified developing a strategy around pursuing grants to be a priority.
The FOLIO Community Council (CC) maintains a standing committee to shepherd this Grants program. Its members are: Tom Cramer, Mike Gorrell, Ian Ibbotson, and Leander Seige.
FOLIO Position on Grants
- FOLIO CC encourages community members to apply for and leverage grants that advance the FOLIO community and project
- FOLIO CC will serve as a matchmaker & catalyst for grant proposals, as opportunities arise. (Suggest projects & partnerships broadly and/or to specific organizations)
- FOLIO CC will consider and endorse grant proposals that help advance the FOLIO community and project; it may endorse multiple proposals for the same program / funder.
- FOLIO CC welcomes invitations to being incorporated into grant proposals as a contributor / partner, for appropriate roles.
- FOLIO CC may initiate and take the lead on grants in some cases; in these cases, it will seek to publicly communicate this to the community in an appropriate way. (This may help find collaborators/contributors, and/or avoid undesirable overlap or competition.)
Grant Agencies and Programs of Potential Interest
A running list of potential grant programs and agencies is maintained here.
Supporting Activities
To support the grants program outlined above, the FOLIO CC recommends
- Conduct an environmental scan of funders & programs.
- Add Asian & Australian programs.
- Add private foundations?
- Consult with program officers on what they’re looking for.
- Make this a page in the wiki.
- Update regularly.
- The CC will broadcast messages to community that FOLIO seeks funding, grants to help advance cause, and here’s the FOLIO grant procedure.
- This would be periodic. Quarterly to start, moving to semi-annual.
- First communication should be timed around with IMLS NLG grants in mind.
- A grants subcommittee should be a standing CC committee
- Regular announcements (quarterly / semi-annual)
- Keep an eye out and update on funding programs
- Receive / field grant inquiries on behalf of CC
- Write endorsement letters (keeping consistent text)
- Maintain knowledge base / log of FOLIO grant activities
- Write up and maintain wiki page on FOLIO grants program, procedures
- Initiate grant conversations at CC to keep opportunities on the radar