Grant Program
The Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL) offers grants in amounts up to $250 for support of library Friends organizations in SC. The grants are intended to assist friends groups with an emphasis on the following purposes:
Expenses related to the formation/incorporation of a group Expenses related to obtaining 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status for a group Expenses related to the revitalization of a “dormant” group Expenses related to the initiation of new or innovative programs/technology designed to foster local library support which are principally sponsored by a library friends group.
Friends Groups submitting applications must be a member of FOSCL.
Grant recipients are expected to provide a report at the next Friends of South Carolina Library meeting.
Applications should include all of the following information and a one page narrative.
Name, mailing address, and phone number of Library/Friends Group
Name, mailing address, email address (if available), and phone number of person(s) submitting the application
Number of members of the Local Friends Group for previous year and years in existence
Budget and/or expenditures of Friends group for previous year
Proposed Budget (explain how funds will be used in the narrative):
Grant Funds Requested Other Funds Available Total
Signature of Friends Group President and Signature of Library System Director
The one page narrative should include: Goal of the Project, Need(s) to be addressed, Timeline, Proposed Activities, how funds will be used and any clarifying information you feel is needed.
Priority will be given to Friends Groups who have not previously received a grant.
Applications will be reviewed and approved by the FOSCL Board during their quarterly business meetings. Questions concerning the grant program may be emailed to: fosclpresident@gmail.com.
DEADLINE: May 31, 2024
Initial implementation of grant activities: Before December 31, 2024.
Applications should be mailed to Friends of South Carolina Libraries, PO Box 11121, Columbia, SC 29211 or sent to fosclpresident@gmail.com
Click here to download application
Click here to download instructions
2023 Grant Recipients
Friends of the Bluffton Library: “Continuing the Revitalization of the Bluffton Library by Connecting to Our Spanish-Speaking Community” [primarily concerned with providing a professionally-translated library brochure in Spanish]
Friends of the Green Sea Floyds Library: Purchase of six Otto Lites for providing additional lighting to facilitate reading by visually impaired and elderly members on a circulating basis
2022 Special Project Grant Recipient
Friends of York County Library: $250 to produce a video profiling five public libraries in the state that have been built or substantially reconstructed over the past 15 years and that exemplify best design and practices for 21st-Century libraries.
2022 Grant Recipients
Friends of the Gilbert-Summit Library: $250 for reinstatement of their IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and rebuilding of their Friends of the Library organization.
Friends of the Green Sea Floyds Library: $250 for reinstatement of their IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and rebuilding of their Friends of the Library organization.
Congratulations to the Friends of the Abbeville County Libraries, recipient of the 2021 Friends of South Carolina Libraries grant. Projects approved for funding are an outdoor storybook walk and building a free Little Library.