National Leadership Grants for Museums (2026)

The National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M) program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is a highly competitive federal funding opportunity supporting projects that address critical needs in the museum field. Aimed at promoting innovation and excellence, the program invests in model practices, cutting-edge tools, impactful research, and collaborative initiatives to enhance museum services for the American public. The overarching goals are to strengthen museum-based learning, increase responsiveness to community needs, and develop new solutions for collections care and conservation. IMLS is an independent federal agency whose mission is to advance, support, and empower America’s museums and libraries through strategic grantmaking, research, and policy initiatives. The NLG-M program aligns with this mission by focusing on field-wide advancement through the development of broadly adaptable and replicable resources. Projects must contribute meaningfully to agency-level goals, such as championing lifelong learning, enhancing community engagement, and improving collections stewardship and access. The NLG-M program offers two project types: Research and Non-research. Non-research projects require a 1:1 cost share and typically involve the development and dissemination of tools, services, and practices that address urgent sector challenges. Research projects, which do not require cost sharing, aim to investigate key questions and generate findings to advance museum practice. Award amounts range from $50,000 to $750,000, with a project duration of one to three years. The program expects to issue approximately 15 awards in FY2026, drawing from a total pool of $5.8 million. Projects must begin on September 1, 2026. Eligible applicants include museums, museum service organizations and nonprofits, and institutions of higher education located in the United States and affiliated territories. All applicants must demonstrate eligibility as either a museum, a museum-related organization, or a qualifying educational institution. Special considerations apply for museums embedded in larger parent institutions and nonprofit affiliates. All applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov to apply. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by March 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required documents include a narrative (up to 10 pages), organizational profile, performance measurement plan, budget form and justification, and resumes of key project personnel. Depending on project characteristics, additional documentation such as a Digital Products Plan or Public Access Plan for Research Projects may be required. Applications will be reviewed through a peer evaluation process based on alignment with program goals, feasibility of the work plan, and potential for meaningful results. Contact for the program is Helen Wechsler, Supervisory Grants Management Specialist, who can be reached at hwechsler@imls.gov or 202-653-4779. Applicants are encouraged to schedule counseling calls and to watch recorded webinars for guidance. While deadlines are firm, IMLS may consider extensions for applicants affected by federal disaster declarations. Awards are expected to be announced in August 2026. The program is issued annually and subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.

Clearly align with one program goal and objective; ensure project activities are well-planned and scalable; demonstrate benefit to museum field and audience needs.