Inspire Grants for Small Museums (2027)
Inspire Grants for Small Museums fund projects that help small and rural museums improve educational programs, community partnerships, and collections care to better serve their communities.
Funder: Institute of Museum and Library Services
Due Dates: November 13, 2026: Full application submission deadline (submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$75,000 per award (project period: 1–3 years); total program funding approx. $3,000,000; ~75 awards expected
Summary: Supports project-based initiatives that build capacity in small museums through educational programs, community partnerships, and collections stewardship.
Key Information: Cost share required for requests over $25,000; no cost share for requests $25,000 or less.
Description
This funding opportunity, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is designed to strengthen the capacity of small museums across the U.S. and its territories. The program supports project-based efforts that serve the public through educational programming, exhibits, community partnerships, and activities related to collections stewardship. The primary goal is to help small museums—especially those in rural or remote areas, or those new to federal funding—develop experiential learning opportunities and improve the management and care of their collections.
