Deadline: November 14, 2025*
Application: The FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity is not yet available. The FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (PDF, 902KB) is available for reference.
Grant Amount: $5,000–$500,000
Grant Period: One to three years
Cost Share Requirement: If your request for federal funding is between $5,000 and $100,000, then no cost share is required. If your request for federal funding is between $100,001 and $500,000, you must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to the amount of your federal funding request.
Program Overview:
The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program is designed to build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums.
The AAHC program supports projects that nurture museum professionals, build institutional capacity, and increase access to museum and archival collections at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Interested in learning more about this grant program? Here are a few resources to look at next:
- View selected examples from recently funded projects posted on the Sample Applications webpage.
- Search awarded grants to find similar projects, you can search by location or keyword.
- Watch the informational video (below) for specific 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 using this link.
Program Contacts:
Jessica Ottley
Senior Program Officer
jottley@imls.gov
202-653-4666
To schedule a time to talk to Jessica Ottley, click here.
Webinars:
The FY 2025 webinars are available for reference.
Getting Started with IMLS Museum Grants for FY 2025 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.
FY 2025 Museum Grants for African American History and Culture provides detailed information about the goals of this specific grant program and how to apply. Click here to access the recording or to read the transcript.
To view all archived webinars, please click here.
*All grant programs are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. Deadlines are tentative.