A thriving generosity is infusing the art world. According to the Giving USA 2024 report, combined giving by individuals, foundations, and corporations to arts, culture, and humanities organizations grew to over $25 billion, setting a new record high. Likewise, government funding to the arts has jumped in recent years (Figure 1). This promising upswing in giving marks an ideal moment for museums to pursue government funding.
Source: Grantmakers in the Arts Annual Arts Funding Snapshot
Seizing New Opportunities
An immediate opportunity lies with the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS recently announced more than $52 million in government funding opportunities for museums, spanning from enhancing museum services across the board to specific grants focusing on professional development, cultural heritage, and more. (Learn more about select IMLS grant funding opportunities here.) With November 15th deadlines looming, now is the time to begin building your applications. Since our founding in 2007, Grants Plus has helped hundreds of nonprofits to secure over $150 million in government grant funding. Based on our experiences, we’ve outlined the essential tips to help your museum win more government grants.
Preparing for Success
As government grant opportunities, like those offered by IMLS, glitter on the horizon, positioning your museum to successfully compete begins with six key steps:
- Do your homework. Begin by reviewing the key highlights of the funding announcement to assess your organization’s eligibility, the competitiveness of the opportunity (how many awards will be made), award size, and any cost share requirements.
- Determine alignment. Carefully review the purpose of the funding and assess whether your organization has existing or planned programming that aligns with the funder’s focus.
- Confirm readiness. Ensure that your organization has the bandwidth to enter into the federal grant seeking process. This includes having the time, energy, and expertise to develop the program details and to prepare an application and—if funding is received—the ability to implement the required activities; track performance indicators; and complete required post-award financial and programmatic reporting.
- Start with your budget. Make sure you have a clear idea of the costs associated with your proposed project, what a government or IMLS grant would support, and other potential sources of support.
- Get submission-ready. Before applying for federal support, an organization must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number; a current and active System for Award Management (SAM) registration; and an active Grants.gov registration with an approved Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). If you’re not currently registered in SAM and Grants.gov, now is the time to start that process. If you’ve registered in the past, check to ensure your registration is active and accurate.
- Lean on the experts. Government grant and IMLS Program Officers are available to discuss your ideas and to answer questions about the application process. Furthermore, external government grant writing experts can be leveraged to boost capacity, experience, and efficiency to help position you to be as competitive as possible in securing a piece of the funding pie.
Grants Plus clients achieve an 80% award rate on applications to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Contact us to learn more about the requirements and how Grants Plus can support your organization’s application.
Whether you have experience with government grants or you’re exploring government funding for the first time, now is the time to consider whether IMLS funding is a fit for your museum.
Strengthening Foundations, Expanding Horizons
Museums are indispensable pillars of our society – educating, entertaining, and enlightening us. In an era of unprecedented giving to arts and cultural organizations, this is an opportune time for museums to strengthen their foundations through governmental support, such as that offered by IMLS grants, while expanding their horizons in service and outreach. As museums look towards the future, they must adopt a strategic approach to funding—one that embraces alignment, readiness, and expert insight. By doing so, they will not only bolster their financial stability, but will elevate their contributions to the fabric of our communities.
