21st Century Museum Professional Program (45.032)
21st Century Museum Professional Program (Assistance Listing 45.032) is run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It awarded $4.5 million in 16 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $281,228 per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $276,761. Half of the 16 awards fell between $195,313 and $345,033, and they ranged from $100,582 to $499,655.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$4.5 million
- Grant awards16
- Typical award$276,761
- Awarded in FY 2025$2.5 million
- Size rank1,641 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceGrant
Key findings
- It is the 1641st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 16 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 13 states and territories.
What the program funds
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.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Museums, museum consortia and associations, institutions of higher education (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 9165(b)), and other entities that the IMLS Director determines appropriate.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Grant funds must be used for the purposes outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and in accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services General Terms and Conditions. Examples of allowable costs include personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for project staff; travel expenses for key project staff and consultants; materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities; adaptive and/or assistive technologies and other resources and services to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; third-party costs; publication design and printing; program evaluation; staff and volunteer training; student tuition and fees; paid internships/fellowships; and indirect or overhead costs. Examples of unallowable costs include general fundraising costs; contributions to endowments; general operating support; acquisition of collections; general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those related to the specific project; construction or renovation of facilities; and social activities, receptions, or entertainment.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. One-to-one cost share from non-federal sources is required for all requests. Cost share requirements are mandatory.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Jan 13, 2026 to Mar 15, 2026
Award range and average, in the agency's words
In FY24, awards ranged from $116,770 to $369,159. Average = $250,000. In FY2025, requests may range from $100,000 to $500,000.
Funding history and past recipients
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 |
| American Public Gardens Association | Delaware | 1 | $343,476 |
| Five Colleges Inc | Massachusetts | 1 | $306,115 |
| Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc. | Florida | 1 | $295,322 |
| Wheeling Park Commission | West Virginia | 1 | $258,200 |
| Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, Inc. | Massachusetts | 1 | $249,595 |
| Foundation for Advancement in Conservation | District of Columbia | 1 | $229,923 |
| Franklin County Historical Society | Ohio | 1 | $200,092 |
| Georgia Okeeffe Museum | New Mexico | 1 | $180,975 |
| Vermont Historical Society, Inc. (Act 11) | Vermont | 1 | $175,029 |
| Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts | Pennsylvania | 1 | $116,770 |
| Oklahoma Museums Association | Oklahoma | 1 | $100,582 |
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 16 | $4.5 million | 100% |
By state
No state received $1 million or 10 awards from this program, so it has no state pages.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2 | $642,984 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $555,710 |
| New York | 1 | $499,655 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $485,929 |
| Oregon | 1 | $482,943 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $344,157 |
| Delaware | 1 | $343,476 |
| West Virginia | 1 | $258,200 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $229,923 |
| Ohio | 1 | $200,092 |
| New Mexico | 1 | $180,975 |
| Vermont | 1 | $175,029 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $100,582 |