21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2026)

The 21st Century Museum Professionals Program is a federal grant initiative administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), specifically through its Office of Museum Services. As part of the U.S. federal government's investment in cultural preservation and workforce development, this program seeks to build the professional capacity of the museum sector nationwide. It supports projects that cultivate career pathways, enhance networks, and establish or expand effective workforce education and training practices within the museum field. The overarching aim is to ensure that both current and emerging museum professionals are equipped with the skills, training, and infrastructure necessary to meet the evolving needs of cultural institutions and the communities they serve. The program is structured around two central goals: supporting the development of the current museum workforce and recruiting and training future museum professionals. For each goal, there are two corresponding objectives. Current workforce development projects may involve the creation or enhancement of training programs or the evaluation and sharing of best practices in professional development. Projects aimed at future professionals focus on adapting higher education curricula to the museum sector’s needs or assessing recruitment and training programs to inform the field. Applicants must clearly align their proposals with one of these program goals and one associated objective and articulate this alignment in the narrative portion of their application. Allowable uses of funds include salaries and fringe benefits, travel expenses, training materials, stipends for participants, adaptive technologies to increase accessibility, and costs associated with program evaluation, among others. However, the grant program prohibits use of funds for general operating support, endowment contributions, acquisition of collections, construction or renovation, or general promotional activities. A critical component of this program is its matching requirement: applicants must provide a 1:1 non-federal cost share. These funds can take the form of cash contributions or in-kind support such as volunteer time and donated services, but must be clearly accounted for in the proposal and maintained throughout the project duration. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad but specific. Eligible applicants include museums and organizations related to the museum field, nonprofit agencies operating museums, and institutions of higher education, all of which must be located within the United States or its territories. Museums must operate on a permanent basis, employ professional staff, and provide regular public exhibitions. Museums located within larger institutions, such as universities or municipal governments, may apply directly if they meet specific criteria regarding operational autonomy and budgetary segregation. Native American tribal organizations are explicitly encouraged to apply, and entities serving rural or remote communities are especially welcomed under this initiative, in line with federal commitments to equitable access to cultural resources. Applications are submitted electronically via Grants.gov and must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 13, 2026. There are no pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent or concept papers. The application package must include forms such as the SF-424S, a program-specific information form, a detailed narrative, budget forms, a performance measurement plan, and various organizational documents depending on the nature of the applicant. Projects must begin on September 1, 2026, and may last one to three years. Awards will be announced in August 2026, pending availability of funds. Evaluation of proposals is conducted through a peer review process. Reviewers assess the alignment of proposals with program goals, the clarity of the identified need, the feasibility of the work plan, the strength of the project team, and the potential impact and sustainability of the proposed activities. Each project must include a performance measurement plan that addresses effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and timeliness of implementation. Successful applicants are required to comply with post-award reporting and administrative requirements as outlined by IMLS, including the use of the eGMS Reach system for grants management and reporting.

Clearly align with a program goal and objective; ensure robust evaluation plan; incomplete applications will not be reviewed.