How to Apply: Using ALA Apply, ALA’s Grants Management System

ALA Apply is the grants management system for the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. You will use this platform to apply for and report on your ALA Public Programs Office grant or award

We recommend that you carefully read the instructions and reference materials found on this page before registering and starting your first application.

If you have already created an account and started an application, log in here: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=AMALA

How it works

If you wish to apply for a grant, create an account in ALA Apply and then log into that account. Upon logging in, you will see the list of current available grants and select one to start a new application.

Your application can be saved as a draft, and you can log in again to make edits and submit the application. Each account maintains a record of the application history that you can access at any time.

Watch a tutorial about accessing the site and how to create an account.

Once you’ve logged in to your account, select the blue Edit Application option beside your active application to continue (rather than the Apply icon at the top of the screen).

Watch a tutorial about completing an application.

Once a grant is awarded, you will use ALA Apply again to see the status of your grant, check due dates, and submit electronic grant reports.

Creating your online account

All applicants are required to create an account. We suggest creating your account well in advance of the grant deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.

At the time of registration, you are required to enter the following information:

  • A username that is an email address
  • Your contact information
  • Your organization’s information (if you are uncertain what to enter for your organization, please email the Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org)
  • Contact information for the organization’s Executive Officer

Managing your online account – for organizations

The first person to register enters the organization’s information; this creates the organization’s profile. It’s important to enter this information accurately at registration, because after this point the organization profile can only be edited by ALA staff.

We recommend consolidating all applications into one user account; this will enable you to view the full history of your organization’s applications and awards. If you are unsure whether your organization already has an account or if you need to be added to an existing account, please contact the Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org to discuss your options. (Additional users can be added by ALA staff.)

Managing your online account – for users

Once your account is set up, your account dashboard is displayed on screen every time you log in. From the dashboard, you can do the following:

  • Edit your contact information
  • Begin the application process
  • Access application drafts and submitted applications
  • View details and complete the report process for grant awards

A user account can only be connected to one organization at a time. If you are a grant writer for multiple organizations or if you are applying on behalf of multiple library branches, please contact the Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org to discuss your options.

Optimal browsers for accessing ALA Apply

For the best user experience, we suggest you access ALA Apply with one of the following browsers: Google Chrome 14 or higher, Firefox 9 or higher, or Safari 4 or higher. Internet Explorer also works, but you may encounter some minor technical issues.