Deadline: November 14, 2025*
Application:  The FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity is not yet available. The FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (PDF, 922KB) is available for reference.
Grant Amount: $50,000–$750,000
Grant Period: One to three years
Cost Share Requirement: You must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of the request, unless otherwise indicated in the FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Program Overview:
National Leadership Grants for Museums support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the American public.

Interested in learning more about this grant program? Here are a few resources to look at next:

  1. View selected examples from recently funded projects posted on the Sample Applications webpage.
  2. Search awarded grants to find similar projects, you can search by location or keyword.
  3. Watch the informational video (below) for specific details about this grant program and the process of preparing an application.
  4. 4. Schedule a counseling call with a program officer. Find an available time on the calendar using the links (below).

Program Contact:
Helen Wechsler
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
hwechsler@imls.gov
202-653-4779

To schedule a time to talk to Helen Wechsler, click here.

Webinars:
The FY 2025 webinars are available for reference.

Getting Started with IMLS Museum Grants for FY 2025 is a general presentation on IMLS museum grant programs. We recommend that you view this presentation for an overview before considering a specific grant program. Click here to access the recording or to read the transcript.

FY 2025 National Leadership Grants for Museums provides detailed information about the goals of this specific grant program and how to apply. Click here to access the recording or to read the transcript.

To view all archived webinars, please click here.

*All grant programs are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. Deadlines are tentative.