Stephanie Gerding

Stephanie Gerding is a nationally recognized library grants educator, consultant, and author with more than twenty years of experience working with libraries, cultural institutions, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Through her consulting practice, 4Libraries, she helps libraries design fundable projects, strengthen community needs assessments, and implement outcome-based evaluation and strategic planning.

She is the author of Winning Grants: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (ALA Editions, 2024; previous editions 2017 and 2010), along with several additional professional publications on grant development, technology training, and fundraising in libraries. Her writing has appeared in numerous professional journals, and her Library Grants Blog has reached more than one million readers since its launch.

Stephanie has designed and facilitated over 100 national and regional training programs on grant strategy, evaluation, leadership, and responsible AI use. She has worked with organizations including the American Library Association (ALA), Public Library Association (PLA), Association for Small & Rural Libraries (ARSL), multiple state libraries and regional systems, TechSoup, the Gates Foundation, University of Washington iSchool, and San José State University School of Information.

Her professional background includes leadership roles with the Arizona State Library, New Mexico State Library, and the Gates Foundation U.S. Library Program. She has served as an IMLS grant evaluator and project manager and has led national and state-level needs assessments and continuing education initiatives for state library agencies and consortiums.

Stephanie holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee. She is widely known for translating complex grant processes into practical, ethical, and achievable strategies that empower library staff to secure funding and demonstrate impact.

Stephanie
Owner Consultant, 4Libraries

Expert Trainer
Professional Evaluator
Skilled Project Manager
Library and Nonprofit Advisor
Advocacy Specialist
Library Grants Expert 
Strategic Planner
Skilled Communicator
Published Author and Editor

How to Find Me

Stephanie Gerding

Gig Harbor, WA, United States

E-mail: stephaniegerding
​                    @gmail.com

South africa In 2000, I was granted the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as a volunteer school librarian with WORLD LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP, South Africa. 

Contact me

My Biography

Library Grant Conference Workshops

Stephanie lives in gorgeous Gig Harbore, WA with her amazing husband, their UW daughter, and Paxton, the flying cat.