Institute of Museum and Library Services Grants

The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program (NAE) assists eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. As information needs change, Tribal libraries must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.

The Native Hawaiian Library Services (NH) program is designed to assist Native Hawaiian serving organizations in sustaining and improving library services with their communities. As information needs change, Native Hawaiian organizations must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The program supports organizations across the islands and country to address their individual information needs and priorities.

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) projects build a library and archival workforce that can meet the information needs of communities of all types and sizes and increase the institutional capacity of libraries, archives, and library and information science graduate programs across the country.

National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) projects enhance the quality of library services nationwide. The program supports projects that: promote adult reading, and health and financial literacies; focus on programming and archival practices related to our shared American history; manage and preserve the national information infrastructure; serve the public’s information and education needs; enhance library and information services through effective and efficient use of new and emerging technologies; improve community prosperity; provide emergency services to communities during disasters and emergencies; and build collaborative partnerships between libraries, archives, and museums that benefit the communities they serve.

The Native American Basic Grants (NAB) program assists eligible Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. As information needs change, Tribal libraries must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The NAB program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.

he Museums for America (MFA) program invests in museums of all sizes – from small to large – and disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities.

The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) grant program supports projects that build career pathways, strengthen professional networks, and identify and share effective workforce education and training practices in the museum field.

The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program builds the capacity of African American museums and supports the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums. The 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).

Inspire Grants for Small Museums (Inspire) is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program designed to support small museums of all disciplines, including small rural or small remote institutions and small museums that have not previously received federal funding. The program funds project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. The goal of the Inspire program is to build the capacity of small museums to provide museum services to their communities through supporting the development of experiential learning and discovery in small museums, and the management and care of collections in small museums.

The Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (ALHC) program supports projects that build the capacity of American Latino history and culture museums to serve their communities and advance the growth and development of a professional workforce in American Latino cultural institutions.

The National Leadership Grants for Museums program (NLG-M) invests in projects that address critical needs of the museum field. NLG-M projects have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museum services for the public through the development and replication of model practices, tools, research findings, and collaborations, including through the creative and effective use of new and emerging technologies.

The Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services program (NANH) supports Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians in sustaining heritage, culture, and knowledge. The program supports projects such as educational services and programs, workforce professional development, organizational capacity building, community engagement, and collections stewardship.

Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program, designed to support projects that use learning and training to generate change and growth within museums of all types and sizes.