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National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M) is sponsored by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The NLG-M program invests in 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 public.
This could potentially include museum projects that develop educational media or exhibits related to digital citizenship, screen time, or youth online safety.
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National Leadership Grants for Museums | Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grants for Museums Deadline: November 13, 2026* Application Instructions: The FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity is not yet available. The FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (PDF, 913KB) 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 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity. The National Leadership Grants for Museums program (NLG-M) invests in projects that address critical needs of the museum field.
NLG-M projects have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the public through the development and replication of model practices, tools, research findings, and collaborations.
The goals of the program are to advance the museum field’s ability to Advance museum-based learning and engagement practices in the museum field; Advance the museum field’s ability to respond to community needs; and Identify new solutions that address high priority and widespread collections care or conservation issues.
The primary audiences for this program are museums, museum service organizations and affiliated nonprofits, and museum professionals. Secondary audiences include museum visitors and future museum professionals. Interested in learning more about this grant program?
Watch the informational video (below) for details about this grant program and the process of preparing an application. Schedule a counseling call with a program officer. Find an available time on the calendar by using the link below.
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist To schedule a time to talk to Helen Wechsler, click here . The FY 2026 pre-recorded webinars are available for reference: Getting Started with IMLS Museum Grants for FY 2026 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. Preparing a Budget and Budget Justification provides information to help you prepare these two required parts of the grant application – the IMLS Budget Form and the Budget Justification. The information in this video supports the instructions in the Notices of Funding Opportunity for each grant program.
Click here to access the recording or to read the transcript. *All grant programs are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. Deadlines are tentative.
In 2024, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded $266. 7 million through grantmaking, research and policy development, to advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations. National Leadership Grants for Museums Advance | Support | Empower
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for program eligibility criteria. Generally, a broad range of entities are eligible, including nonprofits. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $50,000–$750,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M) are due November 13, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M) is funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
On August 26, 2026, the NEA, NEH and IMLS jointly rescinded the disparate-impact provisions of 45 CFR Part 1110. No comment period, no delayed effective date, and an admission buried in the preamble: across FY2020 through FY2024 the agencies ran zero disparate-impact-only investigations. Here is what actually changes for grantees — and what does not.
Read articleIMLS was targeted for elimination by executive order in March 2025, had its entire staff placed on leave, and survived through litigation that settled on April 9, 2026. FY26 award notifications land this month, the FY27 National Leadership Grants deadline is tentatively November 13, 2026, and the President's FY27 budget proposes zero funding. Here is how the agency actually works, which of its channels is most durable, and how cultural institutions should plan against genuine institutional uncertainty.
Read article