Museums for America (2026)

The Museums for America (MFA) program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is a nationally scoped federal grant initiative that supports museums of all types and sizes across the United States. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums, aiming to advance, support, and empower these institutions through strategic investments in learning, access, and collections stewardship. The MFA program specifically focuses on enhancing museum services through project-based funding aligned with public engagement, lifelong learning, and collections care. The MFA program prioritizes initiatives that align with one of three overarching goals: advancing lifelong learning, strengthening community engagement, and enhancing collections stewardship and access. Museums are encouraged to design projects that support public programs, community-centered exhibitions and partnerships, or improvements in collections care and documentation. Each project must clearly align with a selected goal and objective, and demonstrate its relevance to the museum’s strategic plan. The program seeks to build the capacity of museums to serve their communities in innovative and meaningful ways, with direct benefits to the audiences they serve. Applicants can request funding between $5,000 and $300,000 for projects lasting from one to three years. A one-to-one cost share is required, meaning applicants must provide non-federal funds equal to or greater than the amount requested from IMLS. Allowable costs include personnel, travel, equipment, conservation, evaluation, and digital resource development, among others. Unallowable costs include general fundraising, construction, acquisitions, and operating support. Detailed budgets and justifications are required, and all expenses must conform to federal cost principles. Eligibility for this program is restricted to museums located in the U.S. or its territories that qualify as either nonprofit entities or units of state, local, or tribal government. The museum must have a professional staff, own or use tangible objects, care for those objects, and regularly exhibit them to the general public for at least 120 days per year. Museums located within larger parent organizations may apply independently if they meet specified budget and authority criteria. Native American and Native Hawaiian organizations are encouraged to apply if they meet the eligibility guidelines. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 13, 2026. There is no pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent or concept paper. However, applicants are encouraged to schedule counseling calls with IMLS staff and to view the informational webinars provided. Required documents include narrative, budget form, budget justification, organizational profile, strategic plan summary, performance measurement plan, and resumes of key project staff. Proposals are evaluated through a peer review process based on how well they justify the project, describe the work plan, and articulate expected results. Award decisions are expected to be announced in August 2026, with projects beginning no earlier than September 1, 2026. The program anticipates distributing approximately $21.7 million across an estimated 122 awards, subject to the availability of funds. The average award in previous years has been around $177,860. While the program does not recur automatically, it has historically been offered annually. Projects are monitored based on measures of effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and timeliness. Contact information for program staff is provided for three goal areas: Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, and Collections Stewardship.

Align with one of three goals and objectives; support with strategic plan; show measurable results and timelines.