Apply for a Jan Stauber-Sherlock Holmes Literacy Grant
We are no longer accepting applications for 2026, as we have received sufficient applicants to cover the grant total. Thanks so much for your interest.
You may submit a grant application at any time during the year... We will consider each grant until we reach our funded ceiling for that year... Once we achieve our ceiling for the year, we will post a notice on our webpage. Once this occurs, please submit your application early next year.
The period of performance for each grant will be determined once the grant is approved and issued.
The period of performance for each grant will be determined once the grant is approved and issued.
About the Grants Program Mission
To provide needed financial assistance to persons and organizations developing literacy projects and other educational experiences that will introduce young people to Sherlock Holmes.
Goals
Target Audience
Deadline
Goals
- Encourage young people to read;
- Introduce young people to Sherlock Holmes and, in particular, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories;
- Provide monies in the form of grants to support projects introducing young people to Sherlock Holmes;
- Reach out to both current Holmes fans and non-Sherlockians, encouraging them through financial assistance to develop such projects; and
- Honor Jan Stauber’s work introducing young people to Sherlock Holmes.
Target Audience
- Elementary, Middle School, and Upper School Teachers (public and private) in the USA and Canada
- Librarians (school, public libraries, etc.) in the USA and Canada
- Children’s Museums and Theaters with educational programs
- Enthusiasts of detective/mystery fiction who are active in organizations involving young people such as scouting.
- Sherlock Holmes societies in the USA and Canada
Deadline
- Applications for funding may be sent at any time throughout the year. If the amount of funds allocated for a calendar year has been reached, we will post a notice on our website. Please submit your application early in the next year.
FUNDING GUIDELINES (mandatory for an award)
- The maximum amount per funding request is $1,000.00 (US or Canadian). Partial funding of an application may be offered.
- No funds may be used for paying wages, salaries, stipends, living or travel expenses, honoraria, catering or party refreshments. Costumes are seldom funded.
- Incomplete applications may be excluded from consideration, so submitted budgets, program descriptions, and supply lists should be accurate and complete.
- The Jan Stauber Grant Committee may allow an applicant the option to revise an application to address suggestions and/or to answer questions proposed by members of the Grant Committee after the Committee’s initial review of an application. A revised application may be in the form of a revised application in its entirety (preferred) or as a supplemental document to the original application. In either form, the revised application or supplement must clearly indicate what changes were made and be accompanied with a new Signature Section of the application, duly signed and dated. A revised application/supplement must be received by the GC Chair within eight (8) business days of the date the GC Chair sent the applicant the opportunity to revise the application. If an applicant opts not to submit a revised application or supplement, the committee will vote on the merit of the application as originally received.
- Jan Stauber Grants (JSG) are literary grants. Spelling and grammar are considered in evaluating applications.
- The Beacon Society recognized that a program with multiple funding sources is more likely to accomplish its goals successfully. We encourage applicants to seek additional funding to ensure the success of the program. Please indicate which expenses, such as those not allowed under JSG guidelines, will be covered by another funding source.
- The JSG should be a rewarding experience for the grantee, the participants, and the Beacon Society. In funding the development of a program to introduce Sherlock Holmes to students, we want the grantee to produce a project that we can publicize as an example of creative teaching. For others wishing to accomplish the same goals with their students, we may share elements of the program on our website BeaconSociety.com, where we will give credit to the grantee and the JSG. Examples of previous programs are on our website.
- We expect a detailed report of the final program within three weeks of the program’s completion. The report should include: A written summary of the project including: A description of the completed project, goals that were achieved, the project’s impact on the grantee, the school or organization, and the participants; copies of materials (pamphlets, handouts, etc.) and photos of displays, activities, etc., from the program; the report with all attachments may be submitted by email.
- All materials provided by JSG funds and all program events should acknowledge the support of the Beacon Society. (“Support for this program is provided by the Jan Stauber Grant Program of the Beacon Society.”) Bookplates are available on request for books funded by the grant.
- If requested, we will provide a mentor to communicate with the grantee throughout the process, thus helping ensure the program’s success.
- Since the Beacon Society recognizes that approval from the school or library system is essential for the program’s success, we require signed documentation of such support from the applicant’s institutional supervisor (principal, director, department chair, etc.)
- All unspent funds must be returned to the Beacon Society.
- Grants are not transferrable to other individuals or institutions except in special circumstances and with prior approval by the Grants Committee.