Play for All

At a glance

Play for All is a closed California state grant opportunity from CA State Library (State of California). The application deadline was March 12, 2025. Individual awards are listed as $10K – $75K, with $500K in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include public agency. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Estimate · calculated by GrantsJunction

Expected to open around January 2027

This program has posted at about the same time each year. If it follows its pattern, the next round should post between Dec 23, 2026 and Jan 20, 2027, with about 63 days to apply.

Based on 2 past postings: Jan 3, 2024, Jan 9, 2025. Confidence: low. Agencies can change or skip a year; only the agency's posted notice is official. Watch it and we'll email you when the next round posts.

Key facts

Jan 9, 2025Posted
Mar 12, 2025Application deadline

Opened: Jan 9, 2025
Close date: Mar 12, 2025
Award floor: $10,000
Award ceiling: $75,000
Est. total funding: $500,000
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: Federal — Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants are federally funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and are awarded by the State Library to eligible California libraries.
Matching funds: Not Required — Applicants are expected to contribute a local match to the grant funds in the form of a cash match and/or in-kind contributions. A match is expected, but no minimum amount is required.
Funding method: Advance(s) — For awards totaling less than $20,000, payment is made in full. For awards totaling more than $20,000, payments typically follow a 50%/40%/10% payment schedule. It can take up to eight weeks for a grantee to receive funds from the State Library after a signed, error-free claim form is received by the State Library’s Fiscal Office.
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: 07/1/25 to 06/30/26
Expected award announcement: 05/2025
Letter of intent: Not required
Geography: This opportunity is open to eligible organizations in the State of California
How to submit: Online: https://www.gotomygrants.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/4eca1e5b-b5ca-490c-885a-d68c92f32046
Latest change note: Updated date

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Public Agency

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

This opportunity is open to: California public libraries and nonprofit organizations supporting these libraries, such as Friends groups and library cooperative systems; California academic libraries, and nonprofit organizations supporting these libraries, such as Friends groups.

Also named in the notice's eligibility text

501(c)(3) nonprofits
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status

Matched from the wording above by GrantsJunction — confirm in the full announcement.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

The California State Library’s LSTA grant opportunities: Support improvement, innovation, and experimentation in library services; Build capacity among the California library community in grant-writing and grant management; and Help California’s local libraries develop services that effectively respond to community needs and align with community aspirations.

Description

The Play for All funding opportunity provides grants to help California libraries design and create welcoming family play spaces and offer meaningful programming around play for young children ages zero to eight. The purpose of these grants is to support libraries in addressing the barriers and inequitable access to quality play spaces and play-based programming young children may encounter in communities that are experiencing marginalization, are under-resourced, and are underserved.

Workshops and events ↗

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2024–2522 applications · 0 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Program contact (as published)

Wendy Amireh
LSTAGrants@library.ca.gov
1-916-603-7129

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “Play for All”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Public Agency. It adds: “This opportunity is open to: California public libraries and nonprofit organizations supporting these libraries, such as Friends groups and library cooperative systems; California academic libraries, and nonprofit organizations supporting these libraries, such as Friends groups.” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “Play for All”?

Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $10k – $75k and total estimated program funding is $500,000.

How do I apply for “Play for All”?

Applications go directly to CA State Library, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://www.gotomygrants.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/4eca1e5b-b5ca-490c-885a-d68c92f32046. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

OpenState of California