Museums for America (2027)
🏛 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 21, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for museums of all sizes seeking funding for project-based work. Eligible applicants include museums across all disciplines—art, science, history, natural history, and more. Projects must serve the public through educational programs, exhibits, community partnerships, or collections stewardship. Organizations should check the Notice of Funding Opportunity for complete eligibility details, including tax status and operational requirements.
Museums can pursue activities like developing new exhibits, expanding educational offerings, strengthening community engagement, or improving collections care. The program supports institutions ranging from small local museums to large regional ones. Applicants must demonstrate public benefit and sustainable impact.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
he Museums for America (MFA) program invests in museums of all sizes – from small to large – and disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Project narrative/description
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from community partners
- Evidence of matching funds or cost-share commitment
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
What types of museums are eligible?
Museums of all sizes and disciplines can apply. This includes art, science, history, natural history, and specialty museums.
What project activities are funded?
Educational programs, exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship. Projects must serve the public and demonstrate clear outcomes.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, applicants must provide matching funds or in-kind contributions. Check the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the required percentage.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $5,000 to $350,000. Smaller museums can apply for lower amounts.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. Applications are competitive. Strong proposals clearly demonstrate community need, project feasibility, and institutional capacity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your project with one of the three core areas: education, community engagement, or collections care.
- Demonstrate strong community partnerships and letters of support from collaborating organizations.
- Be specific about measurable outcomes and how you'll evaluate project success.
- Show that your museum has capacity to manage the grant and sustain the project beyond funding.
- Budget realistic costs and explain how matching funds will be secured.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Projects lack clear measurable outcomes or fail to explain how success will be evaluated. Applications underestimate costs or provide vague budgets without sufficient detail. Weak community partnerships or insufficient documentation of matching funds.
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