# 21st Century Museum Professional Program (45.032)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/45-032-21st-century-museum-professional-program/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

21st Century Museum Professional Program is run by Institute of Museum and Library Services. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $4.5 million in 16 grants, about $281,228 per award.

## Objectives

21MP has two program goals and two objectives associated with each goal: GOAL 1, Support the professional development of the museum workforce. Obj 1.1: Develop new or enhanced professional development and training programs for the museum workforce. Obj 1.2: Support assessment and evaluation of training and professional development programs to identify and share effective practices. GOAL 2, Recruit and train future museum professionals. Obj 2.1: Expand pathways into the museum field by adapting higher education programs to be more responsive to the needs of the museum workforce. Obj 2.2: Support assessment and evaluation of recruitment, training, and higher education programs to identify and share effective practices.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $0 | 0 |
| 2022 | $0 | 0 |
| 2023 | $0 | 0 |
| 2024 | $2.0 million | 8 |
| 2025 | $2.5 million | 8 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sciencenter Discovery Museum | New York | $499,655 |
| The High Desert Museum | Oregon | $482,943 |
| Children's Museum of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $369,159 |
| Coalition of State Museum Associations | Florida | $347,662 |
| The Science Museum of Minnesota | Minnesota | $344,157 |
| American Public Gardens Association | Delaware | $343,476 |
| Five Colleges Inc | Massachusetts | $306,115 |
| Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc. | Florida | $295,322 |
| Wheeling Park Commission | West Virginia | $258,200 |
| Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, Inc. | Massachusetts | $249,595 |
| Foundation for Advancement in Conservation | District of Columbia | $229,923 |
| Franklin County Historical Society | Ohio | $200,092 |
| Georgia Okeeffe Museum | New Mexico | $180,975 |
| Vermont Historical Society, Inc. (Act 11) | Vermont | $175,029 |
| Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts | Pennsylvania | $116,770 |
| Oklahoma Museums Association | Oklahoma | $100,582 |

## Open opportunities

- [21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2027)](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/21mp-fy27-21st-century-museum-professionals-program-2027/), closes November 13, 2026