Mini-Grants for OPL Staff
Funding Amount
$1,500 - $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
From the program guidelines: “Timeline: Applications reviewed and approved in February each year”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Other requirements
- Any Oakland Public Library employee at any location
- All staff levels welcome to apply
- Implement new library programs or services
- Improve existing programs
Overview
Geographic Scope: Oakland, CA - all Oakland Public Library locations
Program Focus: Grassroots innovation, creative programming, user-centered library services
Eligibility:
- Any Oakland Public Library employee at any location
- All staff levels welcome to apply
Award Details:
- Amount: Up to $1,500-$2,000 per grant
- Maximum increased from $1,500 to $2,000 in 2019
- Budget increased based on application quality and program results
Eligible Use:
- Implement new library programs or services
- Improve existing programs
- Foster creativity and innovation
- User-centered service improvements
Past Examples of Funded Programs:
- Digital literacy and technology classes
- Social justice programming
- Gardening workshops
- Cooking classes
- Gaming programs
- Ukulele mastery classes
- Grandparents Day (West Oakland Branch)
- Junior Carpenters Club (Eastmont Branch)
- Community Kiosk (Main Library)
- Podcast launch: "Check Your Shelf"
- Community, Cooking & Culture program (Asian Branch Library)
- Refugee and immigrant chef programs
Background: Program started in 2017 with Board President Ellen Moyer's suggestion to encourage OPL staff innovation. First year (February 2017) awarded 9 grants from 17 applications. By 2019, received 29% more applications than previous year.
Contact Information:
- Friends of the Oakland Public Library
- Phone: (510) 444-0473
- Website: fopl.org
How to Apply
Application Process
Timeline: Applications reviewed and approved in February each year
Submission:
- OPL staff submit applications for review
- Board reviews applications in February
- Decisions made and grants awarded
Selection Criteria:
- Quality of proposed program/service
- Innovation and creativity
- Potential impact on library users
- Feasibility of implementation
- Alignment with library mission
For specific application procedures and forms, contact Oakland Public Library administration.
What The Friends of the Oakland Public Library actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 1
- Total given
- $433K
- Median grant
- $433K
- By dollars: California 100%. Top recipient cities: Oakland, CA.
Example grants
Oakland Public Library · Oakland, CA
Literacy support
$433K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Capacity building
Categories
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