Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2026)

The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This program is designed to enhance institutional capacity and foster the professional development of staff at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). By supporting projects that expand access to collections and strengthen operational infrastructure, the program plays a key role in elevating the presence and sustainability of African American cultural institutions across the United States. The program supports two core goals: building the capacity of African American museums and HBCUs to serve their communities, and promoting the professional growth of museum workers within these institutions. Eligible projects may include the development or enhancement of public exhibitions and educational programs, the creation of internship and fellowship pipelines, the improvement of institutional strategic plans and management practices, or initiatives to better conserve and provide access to collections. Applicants are expected to align their proposals with one of five objectives tied to these goals, covering public programming, institutional policy development, collections care, professional learning, or workforce development initiatives. Funding is available for both small and large projects, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. Small projects (up to $100,000) do not require cost share, while large projects ($100,001 to $500,000) must be matched at a 1:1 ratio with non-federal resources. The total program funding for FY 2026 is approximately $6,000,000, with about 35 awards anticipated. Projects may span one to three years in duration, beginning as early as September 1, 2026. To be eligible, applicants must be either a unit of state, local, or tribal government, or a private nonprofit organization. Eligible institutions must be located in the United States, U.S. territories, or freely associated states, and must be either a museum focused on African American life, art, history, or culture; a related museum service organization; or an HBCU. Additional eligibility is extended to museum service agencies, nonprofit organizations affiliated with qualifying museums, and certain nonprofit parent organizations provided they meet specific autonomy and budgetary criteria. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by March 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required components include the SF-424S form, narrative proposal, performance measurement plan, budget documentation, resumes of key staff, and various conditional documents such as proof of nonprofit status or a digital products plan. Pre-recorded webinars and consultation calls with program officers are available to assist applicants. Notification of awards is expected in August 2026, and projects may begin on September 1, 2026. The grant program does not require a pre-application phase such as a Letter of Intent. Evaluation of applications includes a peer review process, with criteria focused on project justification, work plan feasibility, and anticipated results. Applicants are encouraged to address program goals directly, clearly define their intended audiences, and present strategies for sustainability and dissemination of results. The grant also encourages alignment with broader agency objectives such as promoting community engagement and collections access, and welcomes projects that demonstrate relevance to national heritage or underserved communities.

Align with IMLS program goals and performance measures; include required travel line item in budget; show sustainability of project outcomes.