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
Local History Grants Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Richard Martin Exhibition Award Grant Costume Society of America · Foundation Not published · Up to $900 The Richard Martin Exhibition Award, established in 2002, honors exceptional costume exhibitions presented by various institutions and students.	Not published	Up to $900
Museum Grant Program CA Natural Resources Agency · Foundation Not published · $50K – $1M The Museum Grant Program, established under California Assembly Bill 716, aims to support museums through competitive grants for projects focused on exhibits, education, and outreach, particularly benefiting historically underserved…	Not published	$50K – $1M
Community Enhancement Program Grant San Diego County · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Enhancement Program, funded by San Diego County, supports local non-profit entities aiming to enhance tourism and economic development.	Not published	Varies
Support for Organizations Grant Houston Arts Alliance · Foundation Not published · Up to $1M The Support for Organizations Grant by Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) aims to empower 501(c)(3) nonprofit and fiscally sponsored arts and cultural organizations.	Not published	Up to $1M
Hannibal Cox, Jr. (HCJ) Cultural Grants Program Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Hannibal Cox, Jr. Cultural Grants Program offers funding and technical assistance to mid-sized arts, scientific, and historical organizations in Miami-Dade County.	Not published	Up to $40K
The Met: Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Culture: Slifka Foundation Interdisciplinary Fellowship Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · $47K – $63K The Met: Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Culture offers a unique opportunity for scholars to engage with the museum's vast collections.	Not published	$47K – $63K
Program Proposal Opportunity Homer Society of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies The Pratt Museum accepts proposals for educational and community programs on an annual basis. Programs should align with the Museum's mission to strengthen relationships between people and place through stories relevant to Kachemak Bay.	Not published	Varies
NYSCA/GHHN Grants - Site Assessment Greater Hudson Heritage Network · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The NYSCA/GHHN Grants for Site Assessment offer support for half-day museum site assessments in New York.	Not published	Up to $1K
North Carolina Science Museums Grant North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources · Foundation Not published · Up to $75K The North Carolina Science Museums Grant provides over $2.4 million annually to support science museums across the state.	Not published	Up to $75K
Minnesota State Arts Board - Grants for Organizations Arts Board - State · State Not published · Varies The Arts Board offers ongoing grant programs for arts producers, presenters, service organizations, and schools. Humanities, Arts, Culture, Humanities, Visual Arts, Arts Services, Performing Arts, Museums	Not published	Varies
Historic Alexandria Foundation Grants Historic Alexandria Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Historic Alexandria Foundation Grants aim to support the preservation of Alexandria's historical and cultural heritage.	Not published	Up to $5K
CultureSource: Digital Access for the Arts Funding CultureSource · Foundation Not published · Varies Our mission is to advance the work of organizations that cultivate creative and cultural expression in Southeast Michigan.	Not published	Varies
IMLS National Leadership Grant - Endangered Exceptional Plants Research Zoological Society of Cincinnati · Foundation Not published · $656K Three-year research study to address challenges of off-site conservation of endangered exceptional plants.	Not published	$656K
Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections Grant Foundation for Advancement in Conservation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections recognizes North American institutions demonstrating exceptional dedication to conservation.	Not published	Varies
Black Visual Arts Archives Grant Getty Foundation · Foundation Not published · $100K – $300K The Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, funded by the Getty Foundation, aims to enhance access to collections related to Black artists.	Not published	$100K – $300K
Open Call For Curator Grant The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · Varies About The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) Founded by visionary community leaders in 1962, The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is a pioneer in advancing cultural equity in The Bronx.	Not published	Varies
The Met: Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art: Predoctoral fellowships Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $56K The Met's Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art offers predoctoral fellowships for art history students focusing on modern art.	Not published	Up to $56K
IFPDA Foundation Curatorial Travel Grant Program Ifpda Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K Provides funding for institutionally-based print curators to attend the annual IFPDA Print Fair in New York City.	Not published	$2K
American Art Program- Exhibition Competition Grants The Henry Luce Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The American Art Program by the Henry Luce Foundation supports scholarly loan exhibitions that enhance the understanding of U.S. art, including Native American art.	Not published	Varies
Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation Grant Adelard & Valeda Roy Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation Grant focuses on supporting organizations in arts, education, health, and environmental sectors, especially in underserved communities in Massachusetts and Northern New England.	Not published	$3K – $10K
Thaxter Foundation Grant Rosamond Thaxter Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Rosamond Thaxter Foundation Grant supports charitable organizations in Kittery, Maine, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the Isles of Shoals.	Not published	Up to $3K
NYSCA/GHHN Preservation Supplies Grant Greater Hudson Heritage Network · Foundation Not published · Up to $650 The NYSCA/GHHN Preservation Supplies Grant, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, provides financial assistance for collection management supplies to museums and cultural organizations in…	Not published	Up to $650
Oregon Museum Grant Oregon Parks and Recreation Department · Foundation Not published · $1K – $8K The Oregon Museum Grant, offered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, supports museums across the state in their efforts to collect, preserve, interpret, and promote Oregon's rich history.	Not published	$1K – $8K

Showing 49–72 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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