Museums Empowered (2025)

Background
Museums Empowered (ME) is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The program aims to support projects that leverage professional development and training to foster systemic change within museums of all types and sizes. Recognizing the challenges faced by individual museums, IMLS emphasizes the importance of investing in staff development and enhancing museum operations.

Grant Details
The Museums Empowered grant program focuses on four key areas for professional development:

1) Digital Technology: Projects that enhance audience engagement, collections access, or general operations through digital tools.

2) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Initiatives aimed at increasing cultural competency among staff and improving relevance to diverse communities.

3) Evaluation: Enhancing staff understanding of evaluation methods to improve program design and delivery.

4) Organizational Management: Developing effective practices in management, human resources, and strategic planning in response to emerging priorities.

Successful projects are expected to demonstrate a solid understanding of professional development theory, engage staff in training activities tied to key needs, and generate systemic change or organizational growth.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include units of State, local, or Tribal government; private nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status; and museums that employ a professional staff and regularly exhibit objects to the public. Organizations must be located in one of the U.S. states or territories listed in the eligibility criteria. Partnerships are encouraged but one organization must serve as the lead applicant.

Period of Performance
The anticipated period of performance for awarded projects is from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028. Projects may last from one to three years.

Grant Value
IMLS expects to award a total of $4,299,000 through this announcement. Individual awards will range from $5,000 to $250,000 with an average funding amount of approximately $214,950 per award.

Place of Performance
The grant activities can be performed in any of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or Republic of Palau.