The Lyrasis Catalyst Fund was launched in 2016 by the Lyrasis Leaders Circle as a way to empower members to explore new ideas, test promising approaches, and share what is learned- successes, challenges, and missteps- so the entire community benefits. This session will provide an overview of the Catalyst Fund application process, guidelines, evaluation criteria, and key cycle dates. Participants will gain clarity on how to develop strong ideas, transform them into competitive proposals, and understand what to expect throughout the process.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, students will be able to:
- Explain the history and purpose of the Catalyst Fund as a member benefit
- Identify and describe core Catalyst Fund values and their significance
- Understand and apply the Catalyst Fund themes
- Distinguish between an Idea and a Proposal
- Demonstrate how to complete the application step by step
- Describe the application evaluation process
- Identify key deadlines and application cycle dates
Instructors
Tanya Diggs joined Lyrasis in 2021 as its Grants Specialist and currently serves as its Senior Grants Administrator and administers the Catalyst Fund. She has over 20 years of expertise as a grant proposal writer, program administrator, and director of grant programs at local government agencies throughout the state of Maryland. She has spent her career providing opportunities for and assistance to the communities that she has served.
Michelle Nielson joined Lyrasis in 2024. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations and serves as the volunteer Executive Director for Child Life Disaster Relief. Her expertise includes grant writing, fundraising, program management, curriculum design, teaching, and nonprofit leadership.
Intended Audience
- State library and/or archives agency
- Public library
- Academic library: 4 year and graduate
- Special Library
- Museum
- Academic library: 2 year
Lyrasis Learning events are delivered using the Zoom videoconferencing platform and will have AI-generated captions available. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request. If you need ASL or other accommodations to support your participation in the course, please contact us at es@lyrasis.org at least 2 weeks in advance of the event or as soon as possible.