# National Leadership Grants (45.312)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/45-312-national-leadership-grants/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

National Leadership Grants is run by Institute of Museum and Library Services. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $137 million in 698 grants, about $196,184 per award.

## Objectives

NLG supports projects that address critical needs of the museum and library fields and that have the potential to advance practice in these professions so that museums and libraries can strengthen services for the American public. NLG-Museums has three program goals with three associated objectives each.
GOAL 1:Advance museum-based learning and engagement practices in the museum field. Obj. 1.1: Support the development, implementation, and dissemination of model programs that facilitate adoption across the field. Obj. 1.2: Support research focusing on the role of museums in engaging learners of all types. Obj. 1.3: Support forums that convene experts and stakeholders, including those from adjacent fields as appropriate, to explore current and emerging issues and inform the field. GOAL 2: Advance the museum field’s ability to respond to community needs. Obj. 2.1: Support the development of new and innovative methods for addressing community challenges through partnerships, services, processes, or practices for use across the museum field. Obj. 2.2: Support research focusing on museums' roles in responding to community needs. Obj. 2.3: Support forums that convene experts and stakeholders, including those from adjacent fields as appropriate, to explore current and emerging issues and inform the field. GOAL 3: Identify new solutions that address high priority and widespread collections care or conservation issues. Obj. 3.1: Support the development, implementation, and dissemination of new tools or services that facilitate access, management, preservation, sharing, and use of museum collections. Obj. 3.2: Support research focusing on any broadly relevant aspect of the management, conservation, and preservation of collections. Obj. 3.3: Support forums that convene experts and stakeholders, including those from adjacent fields as appropriate, to explore current and emerging issues and inform the field.
NLG-Libraries has one program goal with four associated objectives. GOAL 1: Develop, enhance, or disseminate replicable practices, programs, models, or tools to strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Obj. 1.1: Serve the learning needs of the public through libraries and archives. Obj. 1.2: Improve community well-being through libraries and archives. Obj. 1.3: Provide broad access to and preservation of information and collections through libraries and archives. Obj. 1.4: Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $26.9 million | 89 |
| 2022 | $34.5 million | 437 |
| 2023 | $24.5 million | 72 |
| 2024 | $24.7 million | 90 |
| 2025 | $26.2 million | 27 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICA250.ORG, Inc. | District of Columbia | $14.0 million |
| Association of Tribal Archives Libraries & Museums | Oklahoma | $4.3 million |
| Foundation for Advancement in Conservation | District of Columbia | $3.6 million |
| Zoological Society of Cincinnati | Ohio | $3.3 million |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | $3.2 million |
| Association of Science-Technology Centers, Inc | District of Columbia | $3.2 million |
| University of Washington | Washington | $2.5 million |
| American Association of Museums | Virginia | $2.3 million |
| Museum of Science | Massachusetts | $2.2 million |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Michigan | $2.1 million |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | New York | $1.6 million |
| The Exploratorium | California | $1.5 million |
| American Library Association | Illinois | $1.4 million |
| Association of Children's Museums, Inc. | Virginia | $1.4 million |
| Trustees of Indiana University | Indiana | $1.4 million |
| The State Historical Society of Colorado | Colorado | $1.2 million |
| Florida State University | Florida | $1.2 million |
| George Mason University | Virginia | $1.1 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | $1.1 million |
| The Research Foundation for the State University of New York | New York | $1.1 million |

## Open opportunities

- [National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2027)](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/nlg-libraries-fy27-national-leadership-grants-for-libraries-2027/), closes November 13, 2026
- [National Leadership Grants for Museums (2027)](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/nlg-m-fy27-national-leadership-grants-for-museums-2027/), closes November 13, 2026