Friends of the Nations' Libraries

Could Friends of the Nations' Libraries fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £200 – £20,000
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form
Decisions: Quarterly

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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fnl.org.uk

About Friends of the Nations' Libraries

Friends of the Nations' Libraries (FNL) is a UK charity dedicated exclusively to safeguarding written and printed heritage. Established in 1931, the Trust supports national, regional, and specialist libraries, archives, and museums in acquiring rare books, manuscripts, archives, and printed materials of historical, literary, artistic, musical, or cultural value. FNL channels investment income and public support to help institutions acquire items they could not otherwise afford, with a particular emphasis on stewardship and equitable public access. What makes FNL distinctive is its exclusive focus on acquiring written and printed heritage; it does not fund core costs, conservation, cataloguing, or revenue funding.

What Friends of the Nations' Libraries funds

FNL funds discrete acquisition grants for UK public collecting institutions. The Trust helps regional, national and specialist libraries, archives and museums acquire books, manuscripts and archives that they could not otherwise afford. FNL prioritises materials at risk of export or sale, including family estates, scientific manuscripts, photographic archives, and iconic artefacts. The Trust supports acquisitions across England, Scotland, and Wales, covering items of historical, literary, artistic, musical, or cultural value.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include UK-based libraries, archives, records offices, museums, and universities. FNL welcomes unsolicited applications from organisations of all sizes, from small local institutions to national bodies. There are no income, size, or religious restrictions on applicants. The Trust prioritises materials at risk of export or sale, including family estates, scientific manuscripts, photographic archives, and iconic artefacts.

What Friends of the Nations' Libraries doesn't fund

FNL does not fund core costs, conservation, cataloguing, or revenue funding. The Trust's exclusive focus is on acquiring written and printed heritage, so it does not support other types of heritage work or organisational running costs.

How they like to fund

FNL provides discrete acquisition grants, typically covering part or full costs of items. The Trust does not require match funding. FNL welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible institutions.

How much does Friends of the Nations' Libraries give?

Friends of the Nations' Libraries runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 14 sourced facts

Acquisition GrantsOpen to applications

£200 – £20,000

Online application form
3 rounds a year

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Friends of the Nations' Libraries funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

We help regional, national and specialist libraries, archives and museums acquire books, manuscripts and archives that they could not otherwise afford.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Arts & culture

How to apply to Friends of the Nations' Libraries

Friends of the Nations' Libraries takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Friends of the Nations' Libraries's application asks

We hold the 11 questions from Friends of the Nations' Libraries's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Summary of the proposed acquisition (title/name and date).”

Question 2

“Why is this acquisition significant to your collection?”

9 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Friends of the Nations' Libraries could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Friends of the Nations' Libraries provide?

Friends of the Nations' Libraries runs one grant programme — Acquisition Grants: £200 – £20,000.

Where does Friends of the Nations' Libraries fund charities?

Friends of the Nations' Libraries funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Friends of the Nations' Libraries accept unsolicited applications?

Friends of the Nations' Libraries accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

How do I apply for funding from Friends of the Nations' Libraries?

Friends of the Nations' Libraries takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online application form.