How much funding does Believe in Reading Grant provide?

Believe in Reading Grant provides Up to US $10,000 in funding.

When is the deadline for Believe in Reading Grant?

The funder has not published a deadline for this grant.

Who is eligible for Believe in Reading Grant?

Required: In operation at least 2 years; 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Not funded: Individuals.

How often is Believe in Reading Grant offered?

Believe in Reading Grant runs on a monthly cycle.

Believe in Reading Grant

The Steve and Loree Potash Family Foundation

Foundation Literacy Grants Grants for Education

Funding Amount

Up to US $10,000

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Monthly
Tracked since: April 2026

From the program guidelines: “Applications are reviewed bi-monthly, and first-time applicants are limited to $3,000.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Required status

In operation at least 2 years
501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs.
A pending status does not fulfill this requirement.
Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy, English as second language projects, or Braille-related projects for the blind or visually impaired.

Not eligible / not funded

Not eligible: First time applicants will not be funded for more than $3,000.
Not eligible: Individuals
Not eligible: Organizations without tax-exempt status.
Not eligible: Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, national origin, race or color, marital status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
Not eligible: Organizations or programs outside of the United States.
Not eligible: Expenses that are not directly related to the project for which funding is sought.
Not eligible: An organization’s operating and administrative expenses.
Not eligible: Salaries of staff.
Not eligible: Capital costs for building and construction, or basic infrastructure costs, such as electricity, rent, telephone, transportation, etc.
Not eligible: Funding for needed equipment such as computers will be considered.
Not eligible: Core curriculum-based texts, lesson plan assigned reading, or textbooks.
Not eligible: Programs involving book vending machines.

Overview

The Believe in Reading Grant, offered by The Steve and Loree Potash Family Foundation, targets established literacy programs with a proven track record. The foundation aims to support initiatives that address literacy across various age groups, particularly in areas of high need. Grants can be up to $10,000, with a focus on projects that earmark funds specifically for literacy. Applications are reviewed bi-monthly, and first-time applicants are limited to $3,000.

NOTE: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed twice a month.
Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs. Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy or English as a second language projects.
Believe in Reading Funding Priorities:
Believe in Reading considers projects that support its mission and philanthropic objectives and considers only projects that specifically and substantially address its funding priorities.Believe in Reading targets successful literacy programs which serve populations that show out of the ordinary needs, such as geographic areas with low reading scores and high poverty levels.Believe in Reading will supply funds only if they are earmarked for literacy, not just a general campaign. Reading must be the prime activity.
Because addressing literacy is not a short-term process, Believe in Reading’s grants are renewable for up to a maximum of three years, but a first year award does not guarantee any subsequent awards. At this time, the maximum grant amount is $10,000, however the vast majority of our grants are for $3,000 or less. First time applicants will not be funded for more than $3,000.

Eligibility

Believe in Reading awards grants to existing and provably successful literacy programs. Programs should have been established for a minimum of 2 years.
Believe in Reading awards grants only to organizations that have been designated as having tax-exempt status according to the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3), or its equivalent for educational institutions, including public libraries.A pending status does not fulfill this requirement.Believe in Reading will consider funding programs that serve any age or aspect of supporting reading and literacy, including adult literacy, English as second language projects, or Braille-related projects for the blind or visually impaired.

Ineligibility

Believe in Reading will not award grants for:Individuals
Organizations without tax-exempt status.
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, national origin, race or color, marital status, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
Organizations or programs outside of the United States.
Expenses that are not directly related to the project for which funding is sought.
An organization’s operating and administrative expenses.
Salaries of staff.
Capital costs for building and construction, or basic infrastructure costs, such as electricity, rent, telephone, transportation, etc. Funding for needed equipment such as computers will be considered.
Core curriculum-based texts, lesson plan assigned reading, or textbooks.
Programs involving book vending machines.
Pass-through funding, such as using the funding to award scholarships, or to pass on to a consultant.
Funding to support large-scale or nationally recognized programs such as The Imagination Library or One School, One Book. Even though these are wonderful programs, we prefer to make direct funding to community projects through local libraries, schools, or non-profit organizations.
Budget deficits.
Projects which have a potential conflict of interest; for example, when a board member or employee might serve as a vendor for the project.
Projects containing commercial or for-profit elements.
Start-up funding for new programs that were established less than 2 years ago unless the applicant is a public or school library.
Political contributions, or any other activity designed to influence legislation or affect political campaigns.
Direct or matching payments to members of the public.