LSTA Grants

All projects will submit performance and budget reports. Explore grants will submit one performance and one budget report. These reports will be due on October 15. Impact and Inspire grants will submit two performance and two budget reports for each funding year. The first budget and performance reports will be due April 15. The second budget and performance reports will be due October 15.

All project activities must be completed by September 30. All grant funds must be spent by September 30 of each funding year.

The links below are from specific sections of the recipient training video from Amplifund. They include instructions on how to report performance activities and submit performance reports.

• Entering performance activities
• Submitting performance report

Your report may ask for a description for an activity such as a program you hosted or content you created or purchased. Often a program description from a flyer or information included in your grant proposal is a good source to use for providing the level of detail needed. 

Programming description examples

Introduction to Sewing showed participants how to use the sewing machines. Participants were given demonstrations of each step required for using a sewing machine, and then they were able to try the task on their own machine. These tasks included creating a bobbin, threading the machine, changing settings, and trying different stitches.

Social Media Marketing was an interactive workshop that covered essential social media marketing strategies tailored to the unique needs of small businesses. Topics covered included how to craft compelling social media posts, utilize different social media platforms for business growth, build and maintain a strong online presence, engage with an audience and foster community, and measure and analyze the success of one’s social media campaigns.

An Open Can of Worms: Insect Invasion discussed what people needed to know about invasive pests. The presenter was the Plymouth County entomologist who shared current information on local invasive insects, how introduced insects impacted nature, and the most effective ways to manage these insects.

Content description examples

The library created a series of STEM kits inspired by the work of local scientists and organizations. These included CoDrone mini kits, Sphero kits, 3D pen kits, telescope kit, lunar lander kit, bug bot kit, microscope kit, virtual reality kit, and makey makey STEM kits. These kits often included a challenge or related activity that individuals could use to reinforce the STEM concept.

The library offered sensory kits for toddlers over an eight-week series. The 5 Alive Sensory kits were developed by library staff. The kits contained materials for sensory/fine motor skill activities, an instruction sheet with photos and directions for each activity, and early childhood development information. A different kit was offered each week of the series.

List items acquired for the makerspace: 8 Toybox 3D printers, 2 Robo E3 printers with filament bundles, 1 Glowforge laser cutter including accessory kit, 6 sets of casters for cabinets, 3 4-packs of peg board, 6 cabinets, 2 workbenches, 2 8 ft. workbenches, 1 iPad, 4 Cricuts, 12 cricut accessory bundles, 27 spools of PLA filament for 3D printers, 4 metal stools, workbench tool chest, 1 6 ft workbench

The links below are from specific sections of the recipient training video from Amplifund. They include instructions on how to create expenses and submit budget reports.

• Entering expenses
• Submitting budget report

The training video from Amplifund will walk you through how to create expenses and submit your budget reporting. Below are some points to keep in mind.

• Always give the exact amount of the expense. Do not round off expenses to the nearest dollar in your reports, as we need an exact accounting of how the federal money has been spent.
• Two year grants will report each year separately. Funds do not roll over from the first year to the second year.
• Budget reports must have all the required information. Reports will be rejected if required information is not included

When entering expenses in Amplifund, there will be a window with multiple tabs. The outline below walks through the sections of each tab.

Under the General Tab

• Direct Cost is the total expense of an item: Grants Funds + Match.
• Budget reports are pulled from two data points: the expense date and the expense status. Expenses must be in a reviewed status to populate the budget report that is submitted to MBLC via Amplifund.
• You must include a payee and a description. The description should give enough information that it is clear what was purchased with the funding. Please check with your consultant if you have questions about how detailed you need to be.

Under the Financials Tab

• This tab allows you to allocate the Direct Cost towards Match Funding if applicable. Match Funding includes Cash Match or In-Kind.

Under the Attachments Tab

• We do not require any receipts or other similar documentation. You can include it if you like for your own documentation but be aware that we are not checking against it. It is your responsibility to accurately report how the grant funds were spent.

Under the Custom Tab

• If an expense uses grant funds, you must include a proof of payment number, such as a check number or purchase order number. You do not need to include this if an expense only uses match funds