Welcome to the online application portal for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Participation Grant Program. This grant program was created to encourage libraries, library systems, school districts, non-public schools, charter schools, BOCES and other non-profits to participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as Program Partners. The Imagination Library (here after referred to as DPIL) is a community-based program providing one high-quality, age-appropriate book per month to children from birth until their 5th birthday, free of charge regardless of their family’s income level. Local Program Partners enroll children within their selected coverage area and pay, on average, $2.20 per child/per month towards wholesale book and mailing costs.
Grants can be used to fund up to 50% of the monthly costs Local Program Partners incur.
It is the goal of this grant program to provide financial assistance to allow additional organizations to participate as new Local Program Partners and for established Program Partners to be able to increase their enrolled members in existing coverage areas and/or expand into new areas.
For detailed information about this grant program, please review the DPIL Grant Guidelines. More information is available on the NYSL website here, including Frequently Asked Questions. A sample application is available here. For assistance with the application or additional information, contact us at NYSLImaginationLibrary@nysed.gov.
Prequalification requirement for non-profit organizations
New York State has implemented a statewide prequalification requirement for not-for-profit organizations applying for grants. To become prequalified, a nonprofit must register with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete an online prequalification application. Find more information on the prequalification process here.
The SFS prequalification registration process requests information about an organization’s capacity, legal compliance, and integrity. This process may take up to a few weeks to complete. Begin the prequalification registration process immediately if you are considering applying for a DPIL Grant. Detailed information is available on the Grants Management website.
Proposals received from non-profit applicants that are not prequalified in SFS by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 1/17/2025 cannot be evaluated. Such proposals will be disqualified from further consideration.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Participation Grants
Welcome to the online application portal for the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Participation Grant Program. This grant program was created to encourage libraries, library systems, school districts, non-public schools, charter schools, BOCES and other non-profits to participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as Program Partners. The Imagination Library (here after referred to as DPIL) is a community-based program providing one high-quality, age-appropriate book per month to children from birth until their 5th birthday, free of charge regardless of their family’s income level. Local Program Partners enroll children within their selected coverage area and pay, on average, $2.20 per child/per month towards wholesale book and mailing costs.
Grants can be used to fund up to 50% of the monthly costs Local Program Partners incur.
It is the goal of this grant program to provide financial assistance to allow additional organizations to participate as new Local Program Partners and for established Program Partners to be able to increase their enrolled members in existing coverage areas and/or expand into new areas.
For detailed information about this grant program, please review the DPIL Grant Guidelines. More information is available on the NYSL website here, including Frequently Asked Questions. A sample application is available here. For assistance with the application or additional information, contact us at NYSLImaginationLibrary@nysed.gov.
Prequalification requirement for non-profit organizations
New York State has implemented a statewide prequalification requirement for not-for-profit organizations applying for grants. To become prequalified, a nonprofit must register with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete an online prequalification application. Find more information on the prequalification process here.
The SFS prequalification registration process requests information about an organization’s capacity, legal compliance, and integrity. This process may take up to a few weeks to complete. Begin the prequalification registration process immediately if you are considering applying for a DPIL Grant. Detailed information is available on the Grants Management website.
Proposals received from non-profit applicants that are not prequalified in SFS by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 1/17/2025 cannot be evaluated. Such proposals will be disqualified from further consideration.