2025 Grant winners accomplishments to date!

Friends of Trimble County Public Library

Founded in October 2024, the Friends of Trimble County quickly put their new chapter in motion. President Cindy Warrick and members applied for a $500 FOKL Grant to raise awareness, host a fun community event, and grow their membership.
Their “Mystery Message” event used the grant to provide a light meal, a bulk book order, prizes, and promotional materials. The effort paid off—helping the Friends of Trimble County boost membership and build momentum in their first year

Friends of Henry County Public Library

The Friends of Henry County Public Library, led by President Marcia Rieder and the Grant Committee, continued steady progress on all 2025 grant activities. Using grant funds, the committee designed and produced custom t‑shirts and personalized coffee cups for board members, strengthening their visibility and team identity. Their FHCPL Grant Working Schedule kept each project on track throughout 2025 and into 2026.
The two‑page FHCPL Year in Review features a photo of Friends members wearing their new shirts at the Kentucky Friends of Libraries Annual Meeting, along with a second photo showing their library’s tech specialist assisting with t‑shirt production. Both Ohio Valley United Charities and FOKL are credited for their support.
They also created a new Membership Form and a Membership Incentive Packet to support their upcoming Membership Drive. Planning is underway for their “Meet Friends with Friends” event in April, which will help introduce more community members to the Friends and highlight the work made possible through this grant.

Friends of Boyle County Public Library

With our Grant funds, we introduced a special Friends newsletter and placed printed copies in Lucite stands across the county — coffee shops, banks, and local stores — to help more people learn about who we are and how to get involved. The initiative brought in several new memberships, and we’ll continue using the newsletter at library programs for anyone interested in joining our work to support the library.

Friends of Livingston County Public Library

WoodmenLife Iuka, KY #674 Donates Over $75,000 to Local Organizations
Benton, KY (Oct. 21, 2025) – Members of WoodmenLife Iuka, KY #674 met at the Benton WoodmenLife building and voted to donate more than $75,000 to organizations serving Livingston County.
The chapter recently voted to sell its Iuka building and distribute the proceeds locally as they prepare to merge with Benton, KY #117. Donations were directed to groups that reflect WoodmenLife’s focus on Community, Family, Fighting Hunger, and Patriotism.
Chapter President Franklin Walker said, “We want to share this with Livingston County as best we can.” Members selected the recipients by submitting organizations they wished to support.
Beneficiaries include:

Livingston County Friends of the Library
Livingston County Historical and Genealogical Society
Two Livingston County elementary PTOs
FRYSC programs supporting Christmas projects, glasses/hearing aids, backpack food, and student needs
Iuka Church
Cody Cooper Memorial Scholarship for Livingston County graduates
Miracle League
Mary Hall Ruddiman Canine Shelter
Helping Hands, receiving a significant gift for family support and hunger relief
The chapter demonstrated how a small group can make a meaningful impact. To learn more about WoodmenLife membership, visit woodmenlife.org or contact a local office.
About WoodmenLife
Founded in 1890, WoodmenLife is a not-for-profit organization committed to family, community, and country. Members gain access to financial products and meaningful benefits that support their lives and communities.

Friends of Bullitt County Public Library

The Friends of the Bullitt County Public Library really nailed the sweet spot: a fun, low‑barrier activity that celebrates reading and quietly showcases the value of a Friends group. A “Great Literary Showdown” has that perfect mix of playfulness and community spirit that gets people talking, sharing, and—most importantly—joining.
When a Friends group turns an awarded Grant into something that energizes the community, builds visibility, and sparks new memberships, that’s exactly the kind of impact FOKL loves to see.

Reimbursement Grants to assist with Nonprofit Application Filing Fees – FOKL encourages all Friends chapter members to incorporate as nonprofit organizations and obtain federal tax-exempt status. We realize that the filing fees and other costs associated with applying for this status can be a burden. To that end, we award non-competitive grants of $275 to each chapter that has been awarded tax-exempt status.

Financial Aid App Download

Chapters, or their library’s board of trustees, must be members of FKL. (A membership form may be submitted along with the grant application.) Applications for Non-Profit Financial Assistance must be submitted no later than six months after the chapter receives official notification from the IRS.