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IMLS opens museum grant cycle with $55 million awarded last year; multiple programs and start dates outlined
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Summary
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has opened its Office of Museum Services grant cycle (opened Aug. 15) with applications due Nov. 15, 2024 (11:59 p.m. ET). The agency described eight grant programs — including Museums for America, INSPIRE, NLGM, AAHC, ALHC, and NANH — with funding ranges, cost-share rules, and project start dates.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) said its Office of Museum Services grant cycle opened Aug. 15 and that applications for the eight museum programs are due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 15, 2024. IMLS described a range of programs for museums and related organizations and summarized funding levels, cost-share requirements, and required project start dates.
"IMLS is an independent federal grant-making agency and the primary source of federal support for the nation's museums and libraries," the Unidentified Speaker stated, framing the agency's mission to advance museums and libraries through grantmaking, research and policy development. The speaker said IMLS awarded approximately $55,000,000 in the last annual grant cycle to a mix of museums, zoos, aquaria, universities, associations and Native American tribes.
The largest OMS program, Museums for America (MFA), supports exhibitions, education and interpretation, digital learning, professional development, community engagement, audience research, and collections stewardship. MFA requests may range from $5,000 to $250,000, require a 1-to-1 cost share, are available only to museums, and projects must begin Sept. 1, 2025 and may last one to three years.
Museums Empowered (ME), a professional-development initiative within MFA, has similar funding ($5,000 to $250,000), requires a 1-to-1 cost share, and also must begin Sept. 1, 2025. INSPIRE for small museums targets institutions that qualify as "small" by staff size, operating budget or relative size; it offers two funding tiers: $5,000–$25,000 (no cost share) and $25,001–$75,000 (1-to-1 cost share); INSPIRE projects also must begin Sept. 1, 2025.
National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLGM) support projects that produce field-advancing tools, resources and research. Nonresearch NLGM requests range from $50,000 to $750,000 and require a 1-to-1 cost share; research NLGM requests range from $50,000 to $750,000 with no cost share; NLGM projects must begin Sept. 1, 2025.
The 21st Century Museum Professionals program focuses on workforce development and partnership-building and has projects that begin July 1, 2025. The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program offers two funding levels: $5,000–$100,000 (no cost share) and $100,001–$500,000 (1-to-1 cost share); AAHC projects must begin July 1, 2025. The Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (ALHC) supports requests from $5,000 to $500,000 for projects that begin July 1, 2025. The Native American Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program (NANH) is open to federally recognized tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations; requests may range $5,000–$250,000, projects must begin July 1, 2025, and no cost share is required for NANH.
IMLS emphasized that applicants may submit multiple applications only if they are for separate, distinct projects and directed applicants to each program's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) at imls.gov/grants for complete eligibility and application requirements. The agency also noted that program-specific details, sample applications and prior awardees' project descriptions are available on its website.
The IMLS video concluded with a reminder to check program NOFOs for full requirements and to plan projects and cost-share budgets consistent with each program's rules.
