Opportunity Information: Apply for ME FY19
Museums Empowered is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offered under the Museums for America (MFA) program. Its central purpose is to help an individual museum strengthen its capacity to serve the public. What makes this particular initiative distinct within MFA is its focus on staff professional development as the primary strategy for improvement, with an emphasis on learning experiences that cut across multiple departments rather than benefiting only a single role or team.
The opportunity, formally listed as "Museums Empowered Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff," is designed to support professional development activities that are intended to create systemic change inside a museum. In practice, that means projects are expected to go beyond isolated trainings and instead build shared skills, common practices, and organization-wide approaches that improve how the museum operates and delivers public value. The program sits within arts and humanities-related federal activity categories and is associated with CFDA number 45.301.
This is a grant (not a contract) with an award ceiling of $250,000. IMLS anticipated making about 28 awards under this specific funding round. The funding opportunity number is ME FY19, and the original application deadline for the round described was December 14, 2018, with the opportunity record created on August 16, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility guidance, which typically signals that applicants need to consult the official notice for the specific organizational requirements and definitions used by IMLS.
Overall, the program is best understood as an investment in a museum's people and internal systems: funding is aimed at professional development efforts that involve multiple parts of the organization and are likely to produce lasting, museum-wide improvements in how the institution serves its audiences and communities.Apply for ME FY19
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Museums Empowered" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.301.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 14, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 28 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Museums Empowered (IMLS)
What is the Museums Empowered grant opportunity?
Museums Empowered is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It is offered under the Museums for America (MFA) program and is formally listed as "Museums Empowered Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff."
Which agency offers this funding?
The funding is offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Which program is Museums Empowered part of?
This opportunity is offered under the Museums for America (MFA) program.
What is the central purpose of Museums Empowered?
The central purpose is to help an individual museum strengthen its capacity to serve the public.
What makes Museums Empowered distinct within Museums for America (MFA)?
Its defining feature is a focus on staff professional development as the primary strategy for improvement, with an emphasis on learning experiences that cut across multiple departments rather than benefiting only a single role or team.
What types of activities does the grant support?
The opportunity supports professional development activities for museum staff. The funded learning experiences are expected to be structured in a way that supports organization-wide improvement rather than isolated or role-specific training.
What does "systemic change" mean in the context of this grant?
In this opportunity, "systemic change" refers to changes that affect how the museum functions across the organization. Projects are expected to build shared skills, common practices, and museum-wide approaches that strengthen operations and increase public value.
Does the opportunity fund one-off trainings?
The emphasis is on going beyond isolated trainings. The project concept is expected to focus on professional development that leads to lasting, museum-wide improvements, rather than a single training that benefits only one department or role.
Is the focus on a single department or multiple departments?
The opportunity emphasizes learning experiences that cut across multiple departments. The intent is to strengthen the museum as a whole, not just one team.
Is this funding a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant, not a contract.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling for this opportunity is $250,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
IMLS anticipated making about 28 awards under this specific funding round.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is ME FY19.
What was the application deadline for the round described?
The original application deadline for the round described was December 14, 2018.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on August 16, 2018.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 45.301.
What federal activity category is this opportunity associated with?
The program sits within arts and humanities-related federal activity categories.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility guidance. This typically indicates applicants should consult the official notice for the specific organizational requirements and definitions used by IMLS.
Is this intended for a single museum or multi-organization partnerships?
The stated purpose is to help an individual museum strengthen its capacity to serve the public. The description emphasizes internal, museum-wide professional development designed to improve the institution's people and systems.
What is the overall goal of the program in practical terms?
Overall, Museums Empowered is best understood as an investment in a museum's people and internal systems. Funding is aimed at professional development that involves multiple parts of the organization and is likely to produce lasting, museum-wide improvements in how the museum serves its audiences and communities.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ME FY19) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Apply for NANH FY19 Funding Number: NANH FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History & Culture Apply for AAHC FY19 Funding Number: AAHC FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums Apply for IGSM FY19 Funding Number: IGSM FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums Apply for NLG M FY19 Funding Number: NLG M FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries Apply for APP FY19 Funding Number: APP FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Promoting Cross-Cultural Cooperation Apply for PD TLVJER 2019 01 Funding Number: PD TLVJER 2019 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Israel Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant Apply for NAG BASIC FY19 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY19 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY19 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY19 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY20 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Apply for LB21 FY20 Funding Number: LB21 FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Apply for AAHC FY20 Funding Number: AAHC FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Museums Empowered Apply for ME FY20 Funding Number: ME FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums Apply for NLG M FY20 Funding Number: NLG M FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Apply for NANH FY20 Funding Number: NANH FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums Apply for IGSM FY20 Funding Number: IGSM FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Museums for America Apply for MFA FY20 Funding Number: MFA FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries Apply for APP FY20 Funding Number: APP FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant (2020) Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY20 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant Apply for NAG BASIC FY20 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY20 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
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