Opportunity Information: Apply for ME FY23
Museums Empowered (2023) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offered as a special initiative within the broader Museums for America program. Its core purpose is to fund projects that center on professional development and staff training as a way to create lasting, systemic improvements inside museums. The emphasis is not just on one-off workshops or isolated skill building, but on strengthening the people and practices that shape how museums operate, serve the public, and adapt over time. The opportunity is open to a range of eligible applicants (listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details provided in the full notice), and it supports museums of different types and sizes.
The program is organized around four project categories, each aimed at a different area where staff capacity can drive institutional change. The Digital Technology category supports training that helps museum staff effectively integrate digital tools into day-to-day operations. This can include building practical skills and workflows related to digital content, online engagement, collections-related technologies, or other operational uses of technology that improve how the museum functions and reaches its audiences. The focus is on equipping staff to use technology strategically and sustainably, rather than treating digital tools as add-ons.
The Diversity and Inclusion category funds professional development that strengthens staff ability to provide inclusive services and experiences. This includes better serving people across diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic communities, as well as improving access and engagement for individuals with disabilities. Projects in this area generally aim to embed inclusive practices into museum programming and service delivery, helping staff develop the knowledge, competencies, and organizational habits needed to make inclusion consistent and meaningful rather than occasional or symbolic.
The Evaluation category is designed to build staff capability in using evaluation as an ongoing tool for learning and improvement. Rather than viewing evaluation as a compliance step or an afterthought, this category supports training that helps staff collect and use evidence to shape programs, assess outcomes, and make better-informed decisions. The underlying goal is to strengthen a culture where museums routinely test assumptions, learn from visitors and communities, and adjust programs based on what works.
The Organizational Management category supports professional development that reinforces staff as the foundation of a resilient organizational culture. This can include strengthening internal management practices, leadership capacity, and the systems that help a museum remain stable and effective during change. The intent is to support healthier, more durable organizations by investing in the management and operational capabilities that allow staff to thrive and the institution to sustain its mission.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number ME FY23, with a CFDA number of 45.301, and it falls under arts and humanities-related cultural affairs. The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $250,000. The opportunity was created on August 15, 2022, with an original closing date of November 15, 2022, and IMLS anticipated making around 22 awards. Overall, Museums Empowered (2023) is structured as a targeted investment in museum staff development, with the larger goal of producing measurable, organization-wide benefits that improve services, strengthen operations, and increase the museum's ability to meet community needs over the long term.Apply for ME FY23
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Museums Empowered (2023)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.301.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 15, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ME FY23) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums (2023) Apply for IGSM FY23 Funding Number: IGSM FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums (2023) Apply for NLG M FY23 Funding Number: NLG M FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Museums for America (2023) Apply for MFA FY23 Funding Number: MFA FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant (2023) Apply for NAG BASIC FY23 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2023) Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY23 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants (2023) Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY23 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship Initiative Apply for ALIF FY23 Funding Number: ALIF FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2024) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY24 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2024) Apply for LB21 FY24 Funding Number: LB21 FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2024) Apply for AAHC FY24 Funding Number: AAHC FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums (2024) Apply for IGSM FY24 Funding Number: IGSM FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Museums for America (2024) Apply for MFA FY24 Funding Number: MFA FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Museums Empowered (2024) Apply for ME FY24 Funding Number: ME FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums (2024) Apply for NLG M FY24 Funding Number: NLG M FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2024) Apply for NANH FY24 Funding Number: NANH FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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