Covey Foundation: Literacy Program Grants

The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation offers Literacy Program Grants aimed at advancing literacy and fostering a love of reading among underserved children. Grants support innovative programs in regions including Baltimore, New York City, and San Francisco, with amounts ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) charities and schools. The foundation encourages new ideas and partnerships, prioritizing programs that engage children through regular interaction with skilled staff.

The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation
The purposes of The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation are to advance literacy and foster a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth.
Lois Lenski, celebrated author and illustrator of over one hundred children's books and the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, established the Foundation as a charitable institute 50 years ago. Since then the Foundation has assisted over 400 organizations in their efforts to nurture reading skills, gain access to books, and instill a love of reading.
Lois Lenski, children’s book author and 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, understood that childrens’ ability to read is imperative for their success and their ability to understand the world around them. Toward that end, the Foundation provides grants to innovative and effective literacy programs that serve children from disadvantaged populations in the following regions: greater Baltimore, New York City, Philadelphia and surrounding areas, and the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay areas.
The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children. New literacy programs are welcome to apply, as are those with a proven record of effectiveness.
Purpose and amount of the Grants
We are interested in literacy programs that engage children in activities that advance literacy and foster a lifelong love of reading. Programs may introduce or assist pre-school children in the enjoyment of books, or increase school-age children's reading skills. Literacy activities can take a variety of forms and can take place in a variety of environments, including but not limited to classrooms, after-school settings, community centers, libraries or other public spaces, or in the home. Programs that demonstrate innovative, positive, or unique approaches are desired.
We support programs that have repeated and regular interaction with youth by skilled staff or volunteers who provide stepped programming to advance literacy.
Grants from the Foundation may go to general program support. We will also consider funding for a specific purpose that might otherwise not receive attention from other funders. Literacy grants from the Foundation have ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. We are interested in partnering with grantees and thus applications for renewals will be considered.

Eligibility

Literacy programs operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries and schools, are eligible.Grants from the Foundation may go to general program support. We will also consider funding for a specific purpose that might otherwise not receive attention from other funders.We are interested in partnering with grantees and thus applications for renewals will be considered.

Ineligibility

The LLCF no longer provides grants to schools, public libraries, or other libraries for the purchase of children's books, with the exception of bookmobiles.We do not provide grants to programs consisting of once-only contact, or to book give-away programs.Please note that funding is not awarded outside of the United States.