Grants for Museums

Last updated October 12, 2026

Grantable tracks 158 active grants for museums in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 2 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 90 list an award amount, with a median of $20K.

Grants tracked: 158; from 113 funders
Median award: $20K; middle half $5,000–$76K
Total listed funding: $16.4M; across 90 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 2; 7 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Traditional Fine Arts Organization Grant Traditional Fine Arts Organization Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Traditional Fine Arts Organization Grant aims to support art museums and cultural centers in promoting American representational art through co-sponsorship of exhibitions.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Towson University Center for the Arts Gallery Towson University · State Not published · Varies The Center for the Arts Gallery is the main venue for viewing some of the region and nation's finest artwork and is a premier exhibition space, rivaling many museum spaces. The schedule includes several exhibitions each year.	Not published	Varies
Children’s Museums Grant Minnesota Humanities Center · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Minnesota Humanities Center is providing $1.5 million in grants for Children's Museums to support arts and cultural exhibits and educational outreach programs from 2025 to 2027.	Not published	Up to $100K
Reinberger Foundation: Arts, Culture & Humanities Grants The Reinberger Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Reinberger Foundation, established in 1966, aims to empower individuals towards self-sufficiency while enriching communities in Ohio.	Not published	Varies
Edna Andrade Grants The Philadelphia Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Edna W. Andrade Fund, a donor advised fund of the Philadelphia Foundation, offers grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to support local and national museums or nonprofit art organizations that benefit visual fine artists from Greater…	Not published	$5K – $25K
Culture and the Arts – Implementation of the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnerships Management Plan Lake Champlain Basin Program · State Not published · $500K – $4M Supports projects and programs that highlight the Interpretive Themes and further the goals, actions, and tasks described in the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (“CVNHP”) Management Plan (pages 39-68).	Not published	$500K – $4M
Exhibit Proposal Opportunity Homer Society of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies On an annual basis, the Pratt Museum reviews exhibition proposals for the following calendar year.	Not published	Varies
Humanities Tennessee SHARP Grant East Tennessee Historical Society Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Pick-a-Pass Program Reschool · Foundation Not published · Up to $200 Pick-a-Pass provides year-long memberships to cultural institutions, giving families the autonomy to explore, grow, and engage with cultural and educational spaces on their own schedule.	Not published	Up to $200
Coby Foundation Grant The Coby Foundation Ltd · Foundation Not published · Varies The Coby Foundation Grant is dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions, focusing on innovative projects related to textiles and fashion.	Not published	Varies
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Grant Program Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Grant Program primarily supports education and arts initiatives in Georgia, with occasional grants to Virginia institutions linked to Mrs. Evans.	Not published	Varies
The Met: Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Culture: Theodore Rousseau Fellowships Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · $47K – $63K The Met's Theodore Rousseau Fellowships offer a unique opportunity for scholars to engage in independent research within the Museum's extensive collection.	Not published	$47K – $63K
Kala Curatorial Fellowship Grant Kala Art Institute · Foundation Not published · $3K Founded in 1974 by Archana Horsting and Yuzo Nakano as an international workshop rooted in the local community and forum for ideas, Kala Art Institute provides exceptional facilities to professional artists working in and across all forms…	Not published	$3K
Smith-Hobson Foundation Grant Ventura County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Smith-Hobson Foundation Grant provides vital support for arts and cultural initiatives in western Ventura County. This includes funding for museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education.	Not published	Varies
AHC Museum Collections and Resource Grant Arkansas Humanities Council · Foundation Not published · Varies HumanitiesAR, under the official name of Arkansas Humanities Council, is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In spring 2024, we rebranded with HumanitiesAR as our name.	Not published	Varies
NC Science Museums Grants - Tier One Funding North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences · Foundation Not published · Up to $75K The NC Science Museums Grants - Tier One Funding offers financial support to science museums in North Carolina, promoting education and economic development.	Not published	Up to $75K
Museums for America, Community Anchors and Catalysts Grant San Diego Museum of Man DBA Museum of US · Foundation Not published · $250K Grant funding decolonization initiatives and community-driven projects that address cultural colonialism, honor community priorities, and develop community-led exhibits and educational programming.	Not published	$250K
Statewide Grants Program Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation administers a Statewide Grants Program that supports historical societies, museums, public libraries, and cultural organizations across Nebraska.	Not published	Varies
Collections Management Fund Grant Museums Alaska Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Collections Management Fund Grant, offered by Museums Alaska, supports the enhancement of collections management across Alaska's museums and cultural centers.	Not published	Up to $20K
The Met: Research Scholarship in Photograph Conservation Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $63K The Met: Research Scholarship in Photograph Conservation offers a unique opportunity for scholars to engage deeply with art conservation.	Not published	Up to $63K
Building for the Arts Artsfund · Foundation Not published · $22K – $2M Building for the Arts is a capital grant program that awards grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations for acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation of capital facilities.	Not published	$22K – $2M
Andrew W. Mellon Connecting Communities to Collections Program - Early Career Fellowships Field Museum of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Andrew W. Mellon Connecting Communities to Collections Program - Knowledge Exchanges and Workshops Field Museum of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies 1. Knowledge Exchanges - Community Visits to Field Museum 2.	Not published	Varies
Collections-Related Grants Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation offers Collections-Related Grants for Nonprofits, aimed at enhancing public interest in art through innovative projects.	Not published	Varies

Showing 25–48 of 158

About grants for museums

Grants for museums support exhibitions, collections care, conservation, education programs, and digital initiatives. Major sources include the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), whose Museums for America and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums programs are the largest federal funding streams for the field, alongside the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and private funders like the Mellon Foundation. State humanities councils and regional foundations round out the landscape for institutions of every size.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for museums down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for museums award?

Of the 158 grants for museums Grantable lists as of October 12, 2026, 90 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $20K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $76K. The largest is $4M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for museums?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Metropolitan Museum Of Art (10), Costume Society of America (5), Ifpda Foundation Inc (4), Samuel H Kress Foundation (4), and Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc (4). In all, 113 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for museums due?

Of 158 grants listed, 2 accept applications on a rolling basis, 7 have a published upcoming deadline, 24 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 125 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for museums?

Museums can pursue funding for exhibitions, collections management and conservation, educational and interpretive programming, professional development, and digital access projects. Federal programs such as IMLS Museums for America are project-based and open to a wide range of museum types, while the NEH supports humanities-focused exhibitions and preservation. Many private foundations and state agencies also offer operating, capacity-building, and capital support.

Who funds museums in the United States?

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal museum funding, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) supports humanities exhibitions and collections work. Private funders like the Mellon Foundation back larger institutions, archives, and cultural preservation, while state humanities councils, community foundations, and corporate giving programs support local and mid-sized museums.

Can small museums compete for these grants?

Yes. IMLS runs Inspire! Grants for Small Museums specifically for institutions with smaller budgets, and many funders welcome first-time applicants. Small museums often succeed by proposing focused, well-scoped projects, demonstrating community impact, and partnering with state humanities councils or regional foundations that prioritize local cultural organizations.

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