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IMLS details MFA application components, narrative structure and review criteria
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Summary
IMLS guidance explains required, conditionally required, and supporting documents for MFA applications; the narrative has a 7-page limit and must address project justification, work plan, and intended results tied to review criteria.
IMLS staff outlined what must be included in a Museums for America application and how reviewers will evaluate it. The notice of funding opportunity lists required documents; standard workspace forms (SF-424 and the IMLS Museum Program Information Form) are completed online while most attachments must be uploaded as PDFs. IMLS warns that omission of required documents may lead to rejection.
The narrative is limited to seven pages and must cover three sections: project justification (why the project is needed, how the need was identified, and who is the target group), project work plan (who will do what, when and with what resources, and how progress will be tracked), and project results (what will improve and how that improvement will be measured). Reviewers will base scores on how well applicants address these criteria.
Conditionally required documents include IRS letters proving nonprofit status, final negotiated indirect cost rate agreements if used, digital products plans for digital outputs, and detailed condition reports for conservation treatments. Supporting documents—letters of support, pictures of collections, vendor quotes—should be used judiciously to strengthen feasibility and credibility without overburdening reviewers.
