The FY 2013 deadline for this program has passed. The FY 2014 guidelines will be made available approximately 90 days before the deadline. Until then, last year's guidelines will remain available for your reference.

Access FY 2013 Grant Program Guidelines Online

National Leadership Grants (NLG) for Museums support projects that address current and future needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums can improve services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment.

Distinguishing features of all National Leadership Grants for Museums projects are:

• Broad Impact: Your proposal should address key needs and challenges that face museums. Your project should show the potential for far-reaching impact, influence practice throughout the museum profession; and reflect awareness and support of current strategic initiatives and agendas in the field.
• Innovation: Your proposal should demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the subject matter, and show how the project has the potential to strengthen and improve museum services to benefit the audiences and communities being served.
• Collaboration: While partners are not required in all NLG for Museums projects, partnerships can help demonstrate a broad need, field-wide buy-in and input, access to appropriate expertise, and sharing of resources.

Your application should align with one of the following three funding categories:

Learning Experiences

IMLS places the learner at the center and supports engaging experiences in museums that prepare people to be full participants in their local communities and our global society. Projects should deliver high quality, inclusive, accessible and audience-focused programs, exhibitions, and services for lifelong learning in formal or informal settings.

Community Anchors

IMLS promotes museums as strong community anchors that enhance civic engagement, cultural opportunities, and economic vitality. Projects should address common community challenges and demonstrate how your museum improves the quality of life and enriches community members’ knowledge and understanding of critical local and global issues, provides forums for community dialogue, and/or connects individuals to resources in the broader community service infrastructure through its programs and services. Projects may include capacity-building activities that position your museum to be more effective in fulfilling its role as a community anchor institution.

Collections Stewardship

IMLS supports exemplary stewardship of museum collections and promotes the use of technology to facilitate discovery of knowledge and cultural heritage. Projects should support the care and management of collections to expand and sustain access for current and future generations. Projects should reflect systematic, holistic, logical approaches to the documentation, preservation, and conservation of tangible and digital collections to sustain and improve public access.

Note to applicants: The FY 2013 National Leadership Grant program now incorporates proposals previously solicited through the 21st Century Museum Professionals program.

Museums that fulfill the general criteria for museums may apply. Public or private nonprofit agencies, organizations, or associations that engage in activities designed to advance museums and the museum profession may also apply. In addition, institutions of higher education, including public and non-profit universities, are eligible.
 

Program Contacts:
If you have questions, please contact any of the staff listed under the category that best fits your project.