Opportunity Information: Apply for NLG M FY27
National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that supports museum-focused projects aimed at tackling major, field-wide challenges. The program is designed for work that can move the profession forward, not just benefit a single institution. In practice, that means proposals should produce knowledge, methods, or resources that other museums can adopt, adapt, and build on, ultimately strengthening museum services for the public.
The heart of the opportunity is leadership and broad impact. IMLS is looking for projects that develop and test model practices, create tools and frameworks, generate research findings, or build collaborations that can be replicated across different museum contexts. A strong emphasis is placed on outcomes that can scale, including projects that demonstrate creative and effective use of new and emerging technologies when those technologies meaningfully improve museum work or visitor and community outcomes. The expectation is that the results will be shared in a way that helps the wider field, whether through open resources, guidance, training materials, evaluation results, or other forms of dissemination.
The opportunity is listed under the Arts and Humanities funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 45.312. The funding instrument is a grant, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $750,000. IMLS anticipates making about 17 awards under this competition, which suggests a competitive national program with a limited number of funded projects relative to likely demand.
The application window culminates in an original closing date of November 13, 2026. The funding opportunity number is listed as "NLG M FY27." Eligibility is summarized as "Others" in the source data, which typically indicates that eligibility is defined in detail in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity rather than being limited to a single standard applicant type in the listing. Applicants should rely on the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the authoritative eligibility criteria and any specific requirements related to museum status, partnerships, cost share, project length, allowable costs, and expected deliverables.
Overall, this grant is best understood as support for ambitious, sector-facing projects that produce reusable solutions or evidence for museums nationwide. Competitive proposals will generally be those that clearly define a critical need, propose a practical and well-evaluated approach, demonstrate how results will be shared and adopted beyond the applicant, and show how any technology components are purposeful tools for impact rather than add-ons.Apply for NLG M FY27
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts, humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.312.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-13. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027)
What is the National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027) program?
National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It supports museum-focused projects that address major, field-wide challenges and are designed to move the museum profession forward.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
What kinds of projects is IMLS trying to fund through this program?
IMLS is looking for ambitious, sector-facing projects that create broadly useful outcomes for museums. The most competitive concepts tend to produce knowledge, methods, tools, resources, or evidence that other museums can adopt, adapt, and build on.
Is this grant meant to benefit a single museum, or the wider field?
The emphasis is on leadership and broad impact. Projects are expected to strengthen museum services for the public by producing results that extend beyond one institution and can be replicated in different museum contexts.
What does IMLS mean by "leadership" and "broad impact" in this program?
In this competition, leadership and broad impact generally mean developing and testing model practices, creating frameworks or tools, producing research findings, or building collaborations that others in the museum field can reuse. The goal is scalable outcomes that can spread across the sector.
What are examples of the types of outcomes IMLS wants projects to produce?
Based on the program description, desired outcomes may include model practices, tools, frameworks, research findings, collaborations that can be replicated, and other reusable resources that help museums improve services and outcomes for visitors and communities.
Does this program support projects involving technology?
Yes, there is a strong emphasis on outcomes that can scale, including projects that demonstrate creative and effective use of new and emerging technologies, as long as the technology meaningfully improves museum work or visitor and community outcomes.
How should technology be positioned in a competitive proposal?
Technology components are expected to be purposeful tools for impact rather than add-ons. In other words, technology should be clearly tied to improved museum work or better outcomes for visitors and communities, and to results that can be adopted beyond the applicant.
How are project results expected to be shared with the museum field?
The program description indicates that results should be shared in ways that help the wider field, such as open resources, guidance, training materials, evaluation results, or other dissemination approaches that enable adoption and reuse.
What funding category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is listed under the Arts and Humanities funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 45.312.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $750,000.
How many awards does IMLS expect to make?
IMLS anticipates making about 17 awards under this competition.
How competitive is this grant opportunity likely to be?
The listing suggests a competitive national program, with a limited number of awards (about 17) relative to likely demand.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is listed as NLG M FY27.
When is the application closing date?
The application window culminates in an original closing date of November 13, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others" in the source data. That typically indicates eligibility is defined in detail in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), rather than being limited to a single standard applicant type in the listing. Applicants should rely on the NOFO for the authoritative eligibility criteria.
Where can applicants find the official eligibility requirements and rules?
The official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is described as the authoritative source for eligibility criteria and other specific requirements.
What details should applicants confirm in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?
Applicants are advised to rely on the NOFO for requirements related to museum status, partnerships, cost share, project length, allowable costs, and expected deliverables.
What characteristics are commonly associated with competitive proposals for this program?
Competitive proposals will generally be those that clearly define a critical need, propose a practical and well-evaluated approach, demonstrate how results will be shared and adopted beyond the applicant, and show that any technology components are used purposefully to achieve impact.
What is the main purpose of this program in plain terms?
In plain terms, this program supports museum projects that produce reusable solutions or credible evidence that can help museums nationwide, not just the applicant organization.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (NLG M FY27) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (2027) Apply for ALHC FY27 Funding Number: ALHC FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2027) Apply for NANH FY27 Funding Number: NANH FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2027) Apply for 21MP FY27 Funding Number: 21MP FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Museums for America (2027) Apply for MFA FY27 Funding Number: MFA FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Inspire Grants for Small Museums (2027) Apply for IGSM FY27 Funding Number: IGSM FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2027) Apply for AAHC FY27 Funding Number: AAHC FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Museums Empowered (2027) Apply for ME FY27 Funding Number: ME FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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