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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sharing on Behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m excited to share that the Freedom to Read Foundation Programming Grants for Banned Books Week are now open! <b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The link to the webpage is <a href="https://www.ftrf.org/page/Krug_BBW">
here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Applications are Open for Freedom to Read Foundation Programming Grants<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Applications are now OPEN for Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants!<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 4-10,
2026). Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded for $1,000 and applications are accepted now through April 6, 2026.<br>
<br>
<b><span style="color:black">Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:</span></b><br>
<br>
<b>• WHY NOW?</b>: Please share why this grant is important for your organization in this time.<br>
<b>• IMAGINATION</b>: What makes your plan unique? <span style="color:black">We encourage proposals that celebrate books covering all topics, genres, and formats and every reader’s right to access them.<br>
</span><b>• SCHEDULE/ACTION PLAN</b>: Include key dates, responsibilities, and collaboration with other groups to carry out a creative project.<br>
<b>• PR PLAN</b>: What are the ways you will promote your event and who is your intended audience? Do you have a media and social media plan? How will your promotion be creative, unique and eye-catching?<br>
<b>• BUDGET</b>: Please detail your proposed budget. Institutions, and other groups you are working with should contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. Do not designate all of these grant funds for the purchase
of books, or as an honorarium for one speaker.<br>
<b>• EVALUATION</b>: Detail how you will evaluate the success of your program.<br>
<br>
To be eligible for a grant, organizations must not have been a recipient of an FTRF grant within the past five years. FTRF Founder Judith F. Krug was a fierce proponent of education and intellectual freedom. During Krug’s lengthy career she worked non-stop
to prevent censorship and protect First Amendment rights. <br>
<br>
<b>Apply <a href="https://airtable.com/app3mKtZ2b0w0g2UK/shrYCWwwNNi0E3IpS">HERE</a></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Joyce McIntosh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Assistant Program Director, Freedom to Read Foundation<span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Program Officer, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><img border="0" width="346" height="64" style="width:3.6in;height:.6666in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DCB06D.E8CA2D00"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><img border="0" width="288" height="72" style="width:3.0in;height:.75in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01DCB06D.E8CA2D00"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><a href="ftrf.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">Freedom to Read Foundation</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><a href="http://www.ala.org/offices/oif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#0563C1">Office for Intellectual Freedom</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><a href="ala.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">American Library Association</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">225 N. Michigan Ave, Ste. 1300, Chicago, IL 60601<u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">312-280-4223 (office)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">800-545-2433 x 4223 (office)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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