FOLIO Grants Program

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

1. FOLIO CC encourages community members to apply for and leverage grants that advance the FOLIO community and project
2. FOLIO CC will serve as a matchmaker & catalyst for grant proposals, as opportunities arise. (Suggest projects & partnerships broadly and/or to specific organizations)
3. 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. 
4. FOLIO CC welcomes invitations to being incorporated into grant proposals as a contributor / partner, for appropriate roles. 
5. 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.)

Potential Grant Agencies, Programs and Topics 

• A running list of potential grant programs and agencies is maintained here.
• The CC encourages FOLIO-related grants to address opportunities identified in the FOLIO vision, strategic objectives and initiatives statement: https://folio-org.atlassian.net/wiki/display/COMMUNITY/FOLIO+Vision%2C+Strategic+Objectives+and+Initiatives 

  See also https://folio-org.atlassian.net/wiki/display/PC/FOLIO+Roadmap+Process 

  
  

Supporting Activities

To support the grants program outlined above, the FOLIO CC recommends

1. Conduct an environmental scan of funders & programs. 
1. Add Asian & Australian programs. 
2. Add private foundations? 
3. Consult with program officers on what they’re looking for.
4. Make this a page in the wiki. 
5. Update regularly. 
2. The CC will broadcast messages to community that FOLIO seeks funding, grants to help advance cause, and here’s the FOLIO grant procedure.
1. This would be periodic. Quarterly to start, moving to semi-annual.
2. First communication should be timed around with IMLS NLG grants in mind.   
3. A grants subcommittee should be a standing CC committee
1. Regular announcements (quarterly / semi-annual)
2. Keep an eye out and update on funding programs
3. Receive / field grant inquiries on behalf of CC
4. Write endorsement letters (keeping consistent text)
5. Maintain knowledge base / log of FOLIO grant activities
6. Write up and maintain wiki page on FOLIO grants program, procedures
7. Initiate grant conversations at CC to keep opportunities on the radar