ME-FY26: Museums Empowered (2026)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Museums Empowered (2027) (ME-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 $300,000 (at least $5,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 20 awards worth $4.3 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$300,000
- Award floor$5,000
- Total funding$4.3 million
- Expected awards20
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME-FY27 | September 1, 2026 | Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) | Open |
| ME-FY25 | August 15, 2024 | Closed November 15, 2024 | Closed |
| ME-FY24 | August 15, 2023 | Closed November 15, 2023 | Closed |
| ME-FY23 | August 15, 2022 | Closed November 15, 2022 | Closed |
| ME-FY22 | August 16, 2021 | Closed November 15, 2021 | Closed |
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 Museums for America awards averaged $143,269; this notice allows up to $300,000 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
Museums Empowered (ME) is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program that supports projects that use professional development and training to generate change and growth within museums of all types and sizes.
Who has won Museums for America grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Museums for America (45.301) awarded $132 million across 922 grant awards, an average of $143,269 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Art Museum | Oregon | 4 | $1.0 million |
| George Eastman Museum | New York | 4 | $999,544 |
| Discovery Children's Museum | Nevada | 4 | $990,595 |
| Childrens Museum of Indianapolis Inc | Indiana | 4 | $920,532 |
| Denver Art Museum | Colorado | 4 | $910,784 |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, ME-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 ME-FY26 still open?
No. It closed on March 13, 2026. A newer notice is open: ME-FY27, closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left).
Who can apply for Museums Empowered (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 Museums Empowered (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 $300,000 each. About $4.3 million in total across about 20 awards.
Who has won Museums for America grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Portland Art Museum, George Eastman Museum, Discovery Children's Museum. The program made 922 awards worth $132 million in that time.