NLG-M-FY26: National Leadership Grants for Museums (2026)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027) (NLG-M-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 $750,000 (at least $50,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 15 awards worth $5.8 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$750,000
- Award floor$50,000
- Total funding$5.8 million
- Expected awards15
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLG-M-FY27 | September 1, 2026 | Closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left) | Open |
| NLG-M-FY25 | August 15, 2024 | Closed November 15, 2024 | Closed |
| NLG-M-FY24 | August 15, 2023 | Closed November 15, 2023 | Closed |
| NLG-M-FY23 | August 15, 2022 | Closed November 15, 2022 | Closed |
| NLG-M-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 National Leadership Grants awards averaged $196,184; this notice allows up to $750,000 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 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.
Who has won National Leadership Grants grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, National Leadership Grants (45.312) awarded $137 million across 698 grant awards, an average of $196,184 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICA250.ORG, Inc. | District of Columbia | 1 | $14.0 million |
| Association of Tribal Archives Libraries & Museums | Oklahoma | 1 | $4.3 million |
| Foundation for Advancement in Conservation | District of Columbia | 4 | $3.6 million |
| Zoological Society of Cincinnati | Ohio | 5 | $3.3 million |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 2 | $3.2 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NLG-M-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 NLG-M-FY26 still open?
No. It closed on March 13, 2026. A newer notice is open: NLG-M-FY27, closes November 13, 2026 (6 days left).
Who can apply for National Leadership Grants for Museums (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 National Leadership Grants for Museums (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 $750,000 each. About $5.8 million in total across about 15 awards.
Who has won National Leadership Grants grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were AMERICA250.ORG, Inc., Association of Tribal Archives Libraries & Museums, Foundation for Advancement in Conservation. The program made 698 awards worth $137 million in that time.