Museums Empowered (2027)
🏛 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for museums seeking to support professional development and training for their staff. Museums of all types and sizes—including art, history, science, and cultural institutions—may apply. The grant prioritizes projects that use learning and training to generate organizational change and growth. Applicants must meet basic nonprofit and organizational requirements set by IMLS, though the full criteria appear in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program, designed to support projects that use learning and training to generate change and growth within museums of all types and sizes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Project narrative describing training focus and expected outcomes
- Budget and budget narrative with cost-sharing documentation
- Organizational information and capability statement
- Letters of support or commitment (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Institute of Museum and Library Services
- 📧 imls-museumgrants@imls.gov
- 📞 202-653-4634
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 45.301 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,191,000
-
$795,382
-
$750,000
-
$749,981
-
$747,881
-
$511,355
-
$511,275
-
$499,070
-
$440,783
-
$377,630
Top States by Funding
- NY 11 awards $3.1M
- MI 8 awards $2.9M
- NC 8 awards $2.8M
- IL 5 awards $2.3M
- FL 5 awards $2.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 45.301). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $29,889,568 | |
| 2025 | $15,295,932 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,730,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply?
Museums of all types and sizes can apply. This includes art, history, science, cultural, and other museum types.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes. Cost-sharing is required. Your institution must contribute matching funds or in-kind support.
What activities does this grant fund?
Projects focused on professional development, staff training, and learning initiatives that drive organizational change and growth.
What is the typical award range?
Awards range from $5,000 to $350,000, depending on project scope and demonstrated need.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is fixed on November 13, 2026. Check the Notice of Funding Opportunity for any additional submission details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity thoroughly. It contains the full eligibility criteria and evaluation framework that general descriptions don't cover.
- Design a training project that addresses a real organizational challenge. Reviewers favor proposals showing clear need and alignment with museum mission.
- Build a realistic budget with clear cost-sharing commitments. Detail what your institution will contribute beyond grant funds.
- Include measurable outcomes tied to staff growth and organizational change. Generic training outcomes weaken competitiveness.
- Demonstrate how staff will apply learning to museum operations. Connections between training and institutional impact matter most.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many proposals lack clear organizational need or situational analysis. Weak cost-sharing plans or vague institutional commitment reduce competitiveness. Training goals disconnected from museum strategic priorities rarely succeed.
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