Dollar General Literacy Foundation marks another one-day grant milestone

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — The Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced Friday that it awarded nearly $16 million in literacy grants in a single day, marking the largest one-day grant announcement in the foundation’s history for the second consecutive year.

The funding will support adult, family and summer literacy programs at more than 1,400 schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations nationwide, with an estimated 1.5 million individuals expected to benefit. The milestone surpasses the foundation’s previous one-day record of more than $13.2 million awarded in May 2025.

A complete list of grant recipients is available online at www.dgliteracy.org.

“Since the Foundation’s inception in 1993, our focus has remained on making meaningful investments in students, teachers, and the organizations that support literacy and learning at every stage of life,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the foundation. “We are grateful for the impact teachers and educators make every day and are excited to have another record-setting year of helping expand literacy access for learners of all ages. These funds will help educators enhance their instruction and create opportunities that help empower students to reach their full potential.”

The foundation annually provides grants to public schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations located within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center.

Since its founding in 1993 by former Dollar General CEO Cal Turner Jr., the foundation has awarded more than $292 million to literacy initiatives nationwide.

The foundation also said it plans to launch its seventh annual Yellow Glasses Project campaign on July 20, with customers able to purchase yellow sunglasses for $2 at Dollar General stores to support literacy efforts. Youth literacy grant recipients for 2026 are expected to be announced in September, while applications for the 2027 grant cycle are scheduled to open in January.