Library of Congress (LOC)

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V. Kamath (COM-P)

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Each organization may only submit one application in any given year. Applicants must decide whether they are eligible for the Top Prize Awards (Rubenstein, Kislak, American or International), or the Emerging Strategies Honorees category and choose the correct application form accordingly.

Prize Category Descriptions

• The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded to an organization, based either inside or outside the United States, which has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy. The organization meets the highest standards of excellence in its operations and services. Applicants should complete the Top Prize Application Question Form for consideration for this prize.
• The Kislak Family Foundation Prize ($100,000) is awarded to an organization, based either inside or outside the United States, with an outsized impact on literacy relative to its size and/or years of operation. Applicants should complete the Top Prize Application Question Form for consideration for this prize.
• The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded to an organization based inside the United States for making a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the U.S. or the national awareness of the importance of literacy. Applicants should complete the Top Prize Application Question Form for consideration for this prize.
• The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded to an organization that is based either inside or outside the United States for their significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the U.S. Applicants should complete the Top Prize Application Question Form for consideration for this prize.
• Successful Practices Honorees ($10,000/organization; up to 15 organizations) are recognized for their successful implementation of a specific literacy practice. NOTE: all applicants are automatically considered for the Successful Practices Honoree recognition. Applicants who complete the Top Prize Application Question Form will automatically be considered for this prize.
• Emerging Strategies Honorees ($5,000/organization; up to 5 organizations) are recognized for a literacy initiative in its early stages of development (5 years or fewer) that demonstrate significant creativity and promise in their approach to promoting literacy. For the 2026 application cycle, Emerging Strategies Honorees should have been established in 2021 or later. Organizations that are piloting or exploring emerging ideas are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should complete the Emerging Strategies Application Question Form for consideration for this prize.

No applicants // Limit: 1* // Tickets Available: 1 

*UArizona may apply in only one category each year.

Through the generosity of philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors nonprofit organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. The awards also encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for promoting literacy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. They are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading.

The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded for an outstanding and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels to an organization based either inside or outside the United States that has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy. The organization will meet the highest standards of excellence in its operations and services.

The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the United States or the national awareness of the importance of literacy to an organization that is based in the United States.

The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in a country other than the United States to an organization that is based either inside or outside the United States.

Successful Practices Honorees ($5,000): Each year up to 15 organizations that apply in the three major prize categories are recognized for their successful implementation of a specific literacy practice.