Grants Archive
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Friends of the Hennepin County Library
February 18, 2026
Amount Requested$30,000.00
Address300 Nicollet Mall, Suite N-290
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Kristi Pearson
Executive Director & CEO
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
Website
- Broaden Perspectives Through Art, Culture, Literature or Extracurricular Experiences
Proposal Information
Funds are Being Requested for:Program Support
Mission StatementAs the library's nonprofit partner, Friends of the Hennepin County Library (FHCL) is a community of 10,000+ supporters whose mission is to raise awareness, appreciation, and financial resources for our nationally acclaimed Hennepin County library. FHCL:
• aspires to be an organization where everyone feels like they belong, and all perspectives are valued.
• is committed to creating a platform for individuals and communities to access and share stories that help them recognize and activate their power for the benefit of Hennepin County.
• strives to unlock the full diversity of human potential in Hennepin County, by partnering closely with the library to build equitable systems and ensure that every community's unique needs are met.
As a vital, democratic institution of humanity’s intellectual, cultural, and historical heritage, Hennepin County Library ensures the preservation of truth across generations.
Hennepin County Library’s mission is to inspire, facilitate, and celebrate lifelong learning. Shaped by the information needs and aspirations of residents, we envision the library as a shared space for enrichment and connection.
Library services are an important part of thriving and interconnected communities. We believe that every Hennepin County resident should have a library card and use it regularly.
Amount Requested$30,000.00
Program Budget$800,000.00
Organizational Budget$5,998,308.00
Relationship to the Olseth Family FoundationYes
Summarize Your RequestLiteracy is the cornerstone of learning. Students who cannot read by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Yet today in Hennepin County, fewer than half of 3rd graders meet reading standards. The library’s Student Success initiative combines the reach of HOMEWORK HELP after-school tutoring with the targeted intervention of LET’S READ personalized literacy coaching for struggling young readers.
In 2024, Hennepin County Library launched Let’s Read, a groundbreaking collaboration with Twin Cities Reading Partners offering in-depth, evidence-based literacy instruction to K-3 students at seven libraries, most of which were already hosting our popular Homework Help after-school tutoring. Based in the science of reading, Let’s Read identifies students reading below grade level and helps them make measurable gains in literacy through weekly sessions with trained tutors. Due to enthusiastic demand for this pilot program, Let’s Read expanded to four more libraries in 2025 for a total of 11 sites!
In its first school year, Let’s Read enrolled 220 students who completed 2,748 tutoring sessions: an average of 12 sessions per student. 81% of participants increased reading proficiency; 53 students reached grade level reading goals and graduated from the program.
Let’s Read is built on the foundation of our popular Homework Help tutoring. On any weekday, dozens of students can be found in 18 Homework Help libraries working 1:1 with volunteer tutors, studying independently in quiet spaces, using library technology for research and projects, and helping one another with English translation and reading comprehension. Last year, Homework Help tutors worked with more than 3,800 unique students who participated in nearly 8,400 sessions!
Let’s Read is successfully connecting with student populations experiencing the highest literacy inequalities. During the 2024-2025 school year, 53% of Let’s Read students were Black; 16% were Latino; 17% were White; 9% were Asian; 2% were American Indian; and 3% chose not to answer.
Homework Help continued to support a balanced mix of grade levels, with 34% of participants in grades K-3, 42% in 4-8, and 24% in high school. Immigrants and people of color remain the biggest users of the program by far. In our school year student survey, 90% identified as BIPOC and 87% said they came from a home where other languages were spoken.
Homework Help Lead tutors report that more parents are recognizing the value of tutoring to boost achievement in areas of need: 97% of students report that Homework Help has improved their performance in school, and 98% said Homework Help has given them more confidence in their schoolwork.
A Hosmer Library Lead Tutor recently shared, “I’ve noticed that some of our new Homework Help students are siblings of Let’s Read students being tutored,” reports the Hosmer Library Lead Tutor. “That’s a great sign of our program reciprocity.”
Overview of the Grant Request
Population Served80% of K-3 L.R. and 90% of K-12 H.H. students are BIPOC; 87% speak a language other than English.
Geographic Area ServedHennepin County
List Three Measurable Goals That This Funding Will Help You Achieve.1. In school year 2026-2027, 94% or more of Homework Help participants will report via survey that support from HCL staff and volunteer tutors resulted in academic improvement and increased confidence in the topics they studied together.
2. In the 2026-27 grant year, 75% of students reading below grade level will make measurable gains in literacy based on “STAR” reading assessments administered before and after their participation in weekly sessions with HCL Let’s Read tutors trained by Twin Cities Reading Partners.
3. Participation in Homework Help and Let’s Read will help more than 2,500 students improve their academic performance during the 2026-2027 school year, with 2,300 or more students participating in Homework Help and 400-500 students engaging with Let’s Read tutoring and assessments.
How Will You Accomplish These Goals?Homework Help and Let’s Read both employ highly trained Lead Tutors to directly serve students and supervise volunteer tutors. This approach leverages each dollar using an evidence-based model proven to be highly effective, particularly for literacy instruction. In the upcoming year, Let’s Read and Homework Help Lead Tutors will support thousands of students’ academic success.
“We helped several students who were behind in their assignments catch up. All of them needed one-on-one help that they couldn’t get in the classroom,” reports one Lead Tutor. “We sometimes see students who understand the lesson here after additional guidance who didn't ‘get it’ when in the classroom, particularly with math.”
The Let’s Read curriculum is anchored in the Science of Reading, a collection of research from various fields focused on five fundamentals of reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. Students meet 1-1 with one of our tutors each week to practice these skills and build confidence as they read aloud. While each session is rigorously planned to maximize learning, the impact is rooted in the relationships between students and tutors. “He is excited to come here for Let's Read,” one parent told us. “He’s excited to learn to read and trying harder because he sees progress if he tries.”
Students with more than 2.5 years behind grade level will be referred to a Hennepin County Education Support Specialist for long-term support, coordination with family, and intensive virtual tutoring.
Looking Forward, How Will You Measure These Goals?Let’s Read leaders will measure program impact using the following methods:
1. Pre-, mid- and post- assessments using Renaissance STAR Reading to measure student progress toward grade level reading.
2. Student surveys to gauge student engagement in the tutoring and identify areas for improvement.
3. Caregiver interviews and family nights to share information and collect feedback for program improvement.
4. Staff and volunteer tutor surveys and debriefs to build best practices and continuously increase HCL’s capacity to support student literacy.
Homework Help leaders measure program effectiveness using surveys of students, monthly Lead Tutor reports, and attendance data. We issue several hundred surveys annually to ensure we are meeting student needs and to measure impact in key metrics of achievement. We gather quantitative data by tracking unique student attendance across all locations. Each month, Lead tutors document stories of success and program learnings.
Implementation Plan
Start Date01/01/2026
End Date12/31/2026
Describe Most Significant Collaborations With Other Organizations And Efforts.MN Reading Partners provides an evidence-based Science of Reading curriculum to HCL Let’s Read program, as well as initial training and ongoing support for Let’s Read tutors.
Hennepin County Library is part of the Minnesota Literacy Coalition to work cooperatively with education leaders to share data, metrics, and outcomes. As coalition members, we can ensure our out-of-school time tutoring aligns with academic curricula and the latest science.
HCL partners with Hennepin County’s offices of Outreach and Community Supports and Education Support Services to connect Let’s Read families with more intensive educational resources and other county services as needed.
What Is The Projected Timeline For The Proposed Activities?During the school year, Homework Help is offered at 18 libraries, 2-3 afternoons/evenings per week. Students work 1:1 with tutors, study independently, use library technology for research, and help one another with English translation and comprehension. Many students attend sessions at multiple libraries. During the summer, Lead Tutors at six libraries support Let’s Read summer drop in, read 1:1 with youth or in groups, and engage with children and families in early learning and teen spaces.
Let’s Read is a year-round program at 11 sites. Students are referred by teachers, community members, caregivers, and county workers. After an initial reading skills assessment, each child is placed at an appropriate starting point in the curriculum sequence. Tutors can access 150+ research-validated lessons for every level of reading ability. Each session includes reading aloud, questions and discussions, and focused skill-building exercises. Students are evaluated regularly to measure progress.
Supplemental Information
Board Members
Current Year Organizational Budget
Program Budget For Proposed Funding Period
Audited Financials (if applicable)
Other EntriesApproval StatusUnapproved
Friends of the Hennepin County Library
February 18, 2026
Amount Requested$30,000.00
300 Nicollet Mall, Suite N-290
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Kristi Pearson
Executive Director & CEO
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
- Broaden Perspectives Through Art, Culture, Literature or Extracurricular Experiences
Program Support
As the library's nonprofit partner, Friends of the Hennepin County Library (FHCL) is a community of 10,000+ supporters whose mission is to raise awareness, appreciation, and financial resources for our nationally acclaimed Hennepin County library. FHCL:
• aspires to be an organization where everyone feels like they belong, and all perspectives are valued.
• is committed to creating a platform for individuals and communities to access and share stories that help them recognize and activate their power for the benefit of Hennepin County.
• strives to unlock the full diversity of human potential in Hennepin County, by partnering closely with the library to build equitable systems and ensure that every community's unique needs are met.
As a vital, democratic institution of humanity’s intellectual, cultural, and historical heritage, Hennepin County Library ensures the preservation of truth across generations.
Hennepin County Library’s mission is to inspire, facilitate, and celebrate lifelong learning. Shaped by the information needs and aspirations of residents, we envision the library as a shared space for enrichment and connection.
Library services are an important part of thriving and interconnected communities. We believe that every Hennepin County resident should have a library card and use it regularly.
$30,000.00
$800,000.00
$5,998,308.00
Yes
Literacy is the cornerstone of learning. Students who cannot read by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Yet today in Hennepin County, fewer than half of 3rd graders meet reading standards. The library’s Student Success initiative combines the reach of HOMEWORK HELP after-school tutoring with the targeted intervention of LET’S READ personalized literacy coaching for struggling young readers.
In 2024, Hennepin County Library launched Let’s Read, a groundbreaking collaboration with Twin Cities Reading Partners offering in-depth, evidence-based literacy instruction to K-3 students at seven libraries, most of which were already hosting our popular Homework Help after-school tutoring. Based in the science of reading, Let’s Read identifies students reading below grade level and helps them make measurable gains in literacy through weekly sessions with trained tutors. Due to enthusiastic demand for this pilot program, Let’s Read expanded to four more libraries in 2025 for a total of 11 sites!
In its first school year, Let’s Read enrolled 220 students who completed 2,748 tutoring sessions: an average of 12 sessions per student. 81% of participants increased reading proficiency; 53 students reached grade level reading goals and graduated from the program.
Let’s Read is built on the foundation of our popular Homework Help tutoring. On any weekday, dozens of students can be found in 18 Homework Help libraries working 1:1 with volunteer tutors, studying independently in quiet spaces, using library technology for research and projects, and helping one another with English translation and reading comprehension. Last year, Homework Help tutors worked with more than 3,800 unique students who participated in nearly 8,400 sessions!
Let’s Read is successfully connecting with student populations experiencing the highest literacy inequalities. During the 2024-2025 school year, 53% of Let’s Read students were Black; 16% were Latino; 17% were White; 9% were Asian; 2% were American Indian; and 3% chose not to answer.
Homework Help continued to support a balanced mix of grade levels, with 34% of participants in grades K-3, 42% in 4-8, and 24% in high school. Immigrants and people of color remain the biggest users of the program by far. In our school year student survey, 90% identified as BIPOC and 87% said they came from a home where other languages were spoken.
Homework Help Lead tutors report that more parents are recognizing the value of tutoring to boost achievement in areas of need: 97% of students report that Homework Help has improved their performance in school, and 98% said Homework Help has given them more confidence in their schoolwork.
A Hosmer Library Lead Tutor recently shared, “I’ve noticed that some of our new Homework Help students are siblings of Let’s Read students being tutored,” reports the Hosmer Library Lead Tutor. “That’s a great sign of our program reciprocity.”
80% of K-3 L.R. and 90% of K-12 H.H. students are BIPOC; 87% speak a language other than English.
Hennepin County
1. In school year 2026-2027, 94% or more of Homework Help participants will report via survey that support from HCL staff and volunteer tutors resulted in academic improvement and increased confidence in the topics they studied together.
2. In the 2026-27 grant year, 75% of students reading below grade level will make measurable gains in literacy based on “STAR” reading assessments administered before and after their participation in weekly sessions with HCL Let’s Read tutors trained by Twin Cities Reading Partners.
3. Participation in Homework Help and Let’s Read will help more than 2,500 students improve their academic performance during the 2026-2027 school year, with 2,300 or more students participating in Homework Help and 400-500 students engaging with Let’s Read tutoring and assessments.
Homework Help and Let’s Read both employ highly trained Lead Tutors to directly serve students and supervise volunteer tutors. This approach leverages each dollar using an evidence-based model proven to be highly effective, particularly for literacy instruction. In the upcoming year, Let’s Read and Homework Help Lead Tutors will support thousands of students’ academic success.
“We helped several students who were behind in their assignments catch up. All of them needed one-on-one help that they couldn’t get in the classroom,” reports one Lead Tutor. “We sometimes see students who understand the lesson here after additional guidance who didn't ‘get it’ when in the classroom, particularly with math.”
The Let’s Read curriculum is anchored in the Science of Reading, a collection of research from various fields focused on five fundamentals of reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. Students meet 1-1 with one of our tutors each week to practice these skills and build confidence as they read aloud. While each session is rigorously planned to maximize learning, the impact is rooted in the relationships between students and tutors. “He is excited to come here for Let's Read,” one parent told us. “He’s excited to learn to read and trying harder because he sees progress if he tries.”
Students with more than 2.5 years behind grade level will be referred to a Hennepin County Education Support Specialist for long-term support, coordination with family, and intensive virtual tutoring.
Let’s Read leaders will measure program impact using the following methods:
1. Pre-, mid- and post- assessments using Renaissance STAR Reading to measure student progress toward grade level reading.
2. Student surveys to gauge student engagement in the tutoring and identify areas for improvement.
3. Caregiver interviews and family nights to share information and collect feedback for program improvement.
4. Staff and volunteer tutor surveys and debriefs to build best practices and continuously increase HCL’s capacity to support student literacy.
Homework Help leaders measure program effectiveness using surveys of students, monthly Lead Tutor reports, and attendance data. We issue several hundred surveys annually to ensure we are meeting student needs and to measure impact in key metrics of achievement. We gather quantitative data by tracking unique student attendance across all locations. Each month, Lead tutors document stories of success and program learnings.
01/01/2026
12/31/2026
MN Reading Partners provides an evidence-based Science of Reading curriculum to HCL Let’s Read program, as well as initial training and ongoing support for Let’s Read tutors.
Hennepin County Library is part of the Minnesota Literacy Coalition to work cooperatively with education leaders to share data, metrics, and outcomes. As coalition members, we can ensure our out-of-school time tutoring aligns with academic curricula and the latest science.
HCL partners with Hennepin County’s offices of Outreach and Community Supports and Education Support Services to connect Let’s Read families with more intensive educational resources and other county services as needed.
During the school year, Homework Help is offered at 18 libraries, 2-3 afternoons/evenings per week. Students work 1:1 with tutors, study independently, use library technology for research, and help one another with English translation and comprehension. Many students attend sessions at multiple libraries. During the summer, Lead Tutors at six libraries support Let’s Read summer drop in, read 1:1 with youth or in groups, and engage with children and families in early learning and teen spaces.
Let’s Read is a year-round program at 11 sites. Students are referred by teachers, community members, caregivers, and county workers. After an initial reading skills assessment, each child is placed at an appropriate starting point in the curriculum sequence. Tutors can access 150+ research-validated lessons for every level of reading ability. Each session includes reading aloud, questions and discussions, and focused skill-building exercises. Students are evaluated regularly to measure progress.
Unapproved