National Leadership Grants for Museums (2023)

Background
The National Leadership Grants for Museums Program is designed to support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the American public. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) aims to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. The program aligns with IMLS's agency-level goals of championing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and advancing collections stewardship and access.

Grant Details
The National Leadership Grants for Museums Program supports projects that generate results such as models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment. Projects are expected to reflect a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the subject matter and an awareness of current strategic priorities in the field.

The program has three project types: non-research (1 to 3 years period of performance), research (1 to 3 years period of performance), and rapid prototyping (1 year period of performance). The total amount of funding IMLS expects to award through this announcement is $5,800,000 with an anticipated number of 15 awards. The expected period of performance is September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for an award under this National Leadership Grants for Museums Notice of Funding Opportunity, the organization must be either a unit of State, local, or tribal government or a private nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.

The organization must be located in one of the specified regions within the United States. Eligible applicants include museums organized on a permanent basis for educational or cultural heritage purposes; organizations or associations that advance the well-being of museums; institutions of higher education; or public or private nonprofit agencies responsible for operating a museum meeting specific eligibility criteria.

Period of Performance
Projects must begin on September 1, 2023. Project activities may be carried out for one to three years.

Grant Value
$5,800,000 is expected to be awarded through this announcement with an average amount of funding per award experienced in previous years being $453,106.

Place of Performance
Projects funded under this grant opportunity must be performed within one of the specified regions within the United States.