21MP-FY26: 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2026)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2027) (21MP-FY27). Status: Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left). It is in our archive of Institute of Museum and Library Services notices from 2026.
Institute of Museum and Library Services offered grants of up to $500,000 (at least $100,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 8 awards worth $2.0 million in total. Applications closed on March 13, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 28, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$500,000
- Award floor$100,000
- Total funding$2.0 million
- Expected awards8
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
Key dates
| Posted | January 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 13, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for program eligibility criteria.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past 21st Century Museum Professional Program awards averaged $281,228; this notice allows up to $500,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (100% over five years) went to state and local governments.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The 21st Century Museum Professional (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.
Who has won 21st Century Museum Professional Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, 21st Century Museum Professional Program (45.032) awarded $4.5 million across 16 grant awards, an average of $281,228 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sciencenter Discovery Museum | New York | 1 | $499,655 |
| The High Desert Museum | Oregon | 1 | $482,943 |
| Children's Museum of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 1 | $369,159 |
| Coalition of State Museum Associations | Florida | 1 | $347,662 |
| The Science Museum of Minnesota | Minnesota | 1 | $344,157 |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, 21MP-FY27, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is 21MP-FY26 still open?
No. It closed on March 13, 2026. A newer notice is open: 21MP-FY27, closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left).
Who can apply for 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2026)?
Institute of Museum and Library Services accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2026)?
Closed March 13, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $500,000 each. About $2.0 million in total across about 8 awards.
Who has won 21st Century Museum Professional Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Sciencenter Discovery Museum, The High Desert Museum, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. The program made 16 awards worth $4.5 million in that time.