Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2026)

The Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant program is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency dedicated to advancing, supporting, and empowering America's museums and libraries. This program aligns with IMLS’s overarching mission to promote lifelong learning, strengthen community engagement, and advance collections stewardship and access. Specifically, this funding opportunity targets the preservation of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian cultures, languages, and heritage by enabling eligible institutions to enhance their museum services. The purpose of this program is to build institutional capacity among Native communities and organizations serving Native Hawaiians through support for educational services, cultural programming, workforce development, collections care, and infrastructure improvements. Example projects may include educational programming for all ages, language preservation efforts, oral history documentation, collections management, digitization initiatives, environmental controls, and exhibition development. The program encourages proposals that address institutional planning, policy formation, professional training, and public engagement strategies that uphold Indigenous knowledge and promote cultural continuity. Eligible applicants are limited to federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and nonprofit organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians. Nonprofit applicants must submit documentation demonstrating both their nonprofit status and their eligibility to serve Native Hawaiians, including foundational documents and proof of community representation. Partnerships and collaborations are welcome, but one eligible entity must serve as the lead applicant and assume full legal and administrative responsibility. Applications for renewals or supplements of current IMLS awards are ineligible. The grant awards range from $5,000 to $250,000 with no cost-sharing requirement. Project durations may be one to three years, beginning on September 1, 2026, and ending no later than August 31, 2029. A total of approximately $3.77 million in funding is expected to be awarded across about 20 grants, contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of submissions. The average award size is historically around $150,000. IMLS requires that $3,000 per year of the project be allocated for travel to designated IMLS meetings. Applicants may also include indirect costs, either via a federally negotiated indirect cost rate or a de minimis rate of up to 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs. Applications are due through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 13, 2026. Required documents include a narrative (7 pages max), budget form and justification, schedule of completion, performance measurement plan, resumes of key staff, and an organizational profile. Additional documents may be required depending on applicant type and project scope. Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on project justification, work plan, and expected results, paying close attention to clarity, feasibility, and alignment with program goals. The anticipated notification of award decisions is August 2026. For assistance, applicants may schedule a consultation with Senior Museum Program Officer Sarah Glass via [email protected] or 202-653-4668. IMLS also offers pre-recorded webinars to help applicants prepare proposals and budgets. The grant program is expected to recur annually; the next anticipated application cycle will open in January 2027. This program offers vital support to Native communities striving to preserve, interpret, and share their unique cultural legacies through museum work.

Ensure clear alignment with program goals and objectives; Use data and community input to justify need; Detail sustainability beyond grant period; Show organizational capacity and planning rigor