According to the ProLiteracy website, 63 million adults (over the age of 16) in the United States are unable to read and understand a newspaper story written at an eighth grade level. An additional 30 million read at a fifth grade level or lower.

People without literacy skills have trouble obtaining and keeping a job, struggle to keep themselves healthy, and are less likely to vote and take an active part in their communities. Studies show they may also be more susceptible to committing a crime. More than 65 percent of all prison inmates are classified as "functionally illiterate.”

If your organization is interested in promoting literacy in children and adults, you might be interested in the following grant opportunities:

• Verizon Foundation Literacy and Education Grants aim to "improve the literacy skills of children and adults."

• Target Early Childhood Reading Grants awards grants "to schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations to support programs such as after-school reading events and weekend book clubs.”

• The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries seeks "to provide books and reading materials to the school libraries and students that most need them."

• Build-a-Bear Literacy and Education Grants provide "support for children in literacy and education programs such as summer reading programs, early childhood education programs and literacy programs for children with special needs."

• National Center for Family Literacy/Better World Books Libraries and Families Award will be given to "three library literacy programs that serve families."

• Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers a variety of grants programs to promote literacy.

• Early-Grade Reading Improvement Interventions welcomes concepts “from local and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, public and private education institutions, partnerships, and consortia. “

If you are interested in applying for these or other grants, please visit our services page or contact us on how we can help.