Grants

The Maine Family Literacy Initiative (MEFLI) is designed to support the development of family literacy throughout the state of Maine. The applicant must demonstrate that it intends to provide family literacy programming in Maine that includes: adult education, early childhood education, and interactive intergenerational literacy services to families.

Grants are available to local educational agencies; correctional agencies; community-based organizations; non-profit 501© 3 organizations; public institutions; or a consortium of these agencies in Maine only.

Applicants must submit a proposal for a Planning Grant of up to $5,000 for the exploration and planning of future family literacy programs for year one. Family literacy grants of up to $25,000 are available for the implementation or expansion of comprehensive family literacy programs in year two and three of the grant cycle. These will be awarded based on design, performance, and approval of a panel of Maine experts on literacy.

Lighthouse grants of up to $25,000 to family literacy programs that have been in existence for four or more years have been awarded and are not open at this time.

Family literacy programs must provide adult literacy, early childhood, and intergenerational literacy services to families with at least one adult reading at less than a 12th grade level and at least one child between the ages of birth and eight who is at risk at being unprepared for starting school. A distinctive feature of each recipient program is the collaboration among the various groups that provide services to adults, children and families.

MEFLI 2012 Grantees - To learn about the current MEFLI grantees, view or download this PDF file - (30kb, PDF)

For more information about the grants offered by the Maine Family Literacy Initiative, please contact Becky Dyer, MEFLI Director, at becky@mainefamilyliteracy.com

For information about the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy's National Grant program and State Initiatives in Florida, Texas and Maryland, please visit the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy website.