Reading Everywhere Action Grants

See Last Year’s School Year Action Grants

It’s time for our next cycle of Reading Everywhere Action Grants! The Oakland Literacy Coalition’s (OLC) 2025 – 2026 School Year Action Grants support literacy and reading projects outside of school time for Oakland youth ages 0-18. If you’re planning a program or event that incorporates reading, we can support it with books, funding, and literacy resources. We welcome applications from individual literacy champions, community organizations, faith-based groups, and cultural collectives who weave reading into your work with children throughout Oakland.

See Action Grant Guidelines

What Are Action Grants?

The OLC promotes the joy of reading by providing grant funds and books to those working with Oakland youth outside of school time. Action Grants are part of our Reading Everywhere program, because we share the value of children reading not only at school, but all through their day – on the bus, at their after school program, at the park, at mosque, temple or church, and at home. Community programs play a critical role in fostering a culture of reading and providing access to books. Action Grants support community members and organizations to do creative and engaging literacy activities, ensuring that Oakland’s children have access to books and the chance to fall in love with reading. We provide new, high-interest books for your students, and grantees can receive funds up to $250 to cover project expenses, including food, author visits, and supplies.

More Information About Funding Priorities: 

This year, the Oakland Literacy Coalition is especially interested in projects that link literacy with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning. We believe books can spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, and are excited to partner with PG&E in support of projects that help students and families explore these connections in creative and engaging ways. 

We will also prioritize applications for projects that deepen engagement with families. 

Potential Projects Could Look Like:

• A reading + robotics event where each student gets a STEM-themed book
• Family “Math Story Night” with bilingual math-themed read-alouds
• Learning about BIPOC scientists, doing hands on science or nature exploration, and sending home related nonfiction picture books
• An engineering challenge tied to a story (e.g. build a bridge after reading about architecture)
• A visual or performing arts project to accompany a related read aloud book or literacy activity
• Incorporating book giveaways, read-alouds, or family reading time into home visits, clinic visits, or office visits

These projects are just examples of the diverse and creative ways that Oaklanders incorporate literacy into their community activities. We welcome your creative ideas!

Who Should Apply?

• Oakland-based community organizations and faith-based groups that work with children from preschool through high school (0-18 years old) are encouraged to apply. We also welcome applications from informal neighborhood or cultural groups, childcare providers and individual literacy champions.
• Remember, your organization does not need a literacy or education component to be eligible. We believe literacy happens everywhere and want to collaborate with various groups to reach kids where they are.
• We welcome projects that promote literacy in languages other than English.
• Projects must serve Oakland students.
• If you received a Summer 2025 grant, you’ll need to submit your grant report in order to apply for a 2025-2026 School Year Grant.

Please note that schools and school-based programs are not eligible for Action Grants.

Important Details and Dates

• Applications for the 2025-26 School Year grant cycle will be released on September 8, 2025 and can be submitted anytime until October 3 by 11:59 pm.
• Each participating student must receive at least one new book to keep. Grantees will need to come to the OLC office (2744 E 11th Street) to pick up books between October 20 – November 15. We will work with you to coordinate a time for pickup.
• Projects must be completed by May 8, 2026.
• Grantees will be asked to submit a short report by May 29, 2026.
• Orientation: All new grantees and those who haven’t received one in the last 2 grant cycles are required to attend an online orientation the week of October 20-24.
• Family Engagement: Projects should directly engage students’ families or provide information on supporting reading at home. The OLC will supply a toolkit of resources.
• Application Priority: Priority will be given to new and expanded projects serving students who aren’t served by another program; projects that link literacy with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning; projects that deepen engagement with families.
• Grant amounts will be awarded based on the estimated number of students served and the project’s scope. Funds can be used for various project activities, including food and supplies.

Apply Today!

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to engage students and families with books, reading and literacy activities.  Apply for an OLC Action Grant and help bring the power of a great book to your community. Visit www.bit.ly/OLCactiongrants to learn more and submit your application.

For any questions or additional information, feel free to reach out to us at julia@oaklandliteracycoalition.org. 

Thank you to PG&E for their generous support of Reading Everywhere Action Grants!