Museums Empowered (2026)

The Museums Empowered initiative, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is a specialized component of the broader Museums for America grant program. This initiative supports the capacity-building needs of museums through staff-focused professional development and training. By investing in the development of human capital, Museums Empowered aims to strengthen museum operations, improve organizational resiliency, and help institutions adapt to changing technologies, evaluation practices, and workforce development needs. The program welcomes applications from museums of all types and sizes across the United States and its territories and encourages projects that align with national goals such as promoting historical appreciation, advancing AI literacy, and enhancing workforce skills. Eligible applicants must be either a unit of state, local, or tribal government or a private, nonprofit organization operating a qualifying museum. Museums must use professional staff and demonstrate regular public exhibition of objects or collections, with at least 120 days of exhibition annually. Museums located within larger parent entities (such as universities or cultural centers) may apply independently if they maintain a discrete budget and operational autonomy. Nonprofit organizations affiliated with museums may also apply under specific conditions. Native American tribal organizations are encouraged to apply. The program prioritizes inclusion and invites applications from institutions that serve rural or remote communities or have not traditionally received federal support. Funding for the FY 2026 cycle totals approximately $4,299,000, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $300,000. Projects may span one to three years. A 1:1 non-federal cost share is required for all applicants. Awards are expected to be announced by August 2026, and projects must begin on September 1, 2026. The performance period extends up to three years, ending no later than August 31, 2029. The program is recurring on an annual basis, allowing institutions to plan for future cycles if they miss the current deadline. Projects must align with one of three program goals: 1) supporting staff integration of digital technologies to improve operations and outreach; 2) enhancing staff capacity for program evaluation to improve service delivery and institutional learning; or 3) promoting a resilient organizational culture through comprehensive staff development. Each of these goals includes defined objectives, and applicants must clearly identify how their proposed work aligns with one goal and its corresponding objective. Funding may support staff salaries, training programs, evaluation efforts, materials, third-party services, digital infrastructure, and related costs. However, general fundraising, construction, and acquisition of collections are not allowable uses. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on March 13, 2026. Required components include the SF-424S form, a program information form, an organizational profile, a strategic plan summary, narrative responses, a schedule of completion, budget forms and justification, resumes of key personnel, and a performance measurement plan. Additional supporting documents such as letters of support, needs assessments, evaluation frameworks, and quotes may strengthen the submission. If applicable, applicants must also submit proof of nonprofit status, an indirect cost rate agreement, and a digital products plan. Applicants are evaluated on three criteria: Project Justification, Project Work Plan, and Project Results. Reviewers assess alignment with the program goal, the clarity and feasibility of the plan, the applicant’s capacity to execute the project, and the potential for long-term benefit and knowledge dissemination. Institutions are encouraged to contact the program officer for guidance. For the FY 2026 cycle, Mark Isaksen serves as the program contact and can be reached at [email protected] or 202-653-4667. Additional guidance is available via IMLS-hosted webinars and pre-recorded videos on budgeting and project design.

Align with a clear goal and objective; clearly define audience and results; use evaluation and metrics tied to stated goals; budget justification must match narrative scope and scale.