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
Small Museum Grants Program Foundation for Arkansas Heritage and History Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Small Museum Grants Program aims to support Arkansas's cultural heritage by providing up to $2,500 in funding to community-based museums.	Not published	Up to $3K
Towson University Asian Arts & Culture Center Towson University · State Not published · Varies The Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University engages the university and surrounding communities in cross-cultural dialogue through a broad range of Asian artistic and cultural experiences.	Not published	Varies
CARES Relief Grants Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $548K Emergency relief grants awarded to nonprofits in Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic.	Not published	Up to $548K
Andrew W. Mellon Connecting Communities to Collections Program - Collaborative Loans Field Museum of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies Originally focused on Midwest tribal institutions; now considering loan proposals from any tribal museum in the continental United States.	Not published	Varies
Biffa Award: Partnerships Grant Biffa Award · Foundation Not published · £250,000 - £1,000,000 The Biffa Award’s Partnership Grants Scheme provides funding between £250,000 and £1,000,000 for not-for-profit organizations aiming to enhance the built or natural environment in regions close to Biffa operations.	Not published	£250,000 - £1,000,000
The Met: Eugene V. Thaw Fellowship for Collections Cataloguing Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $49K The Met's Eugene V. Thaw Fellowship for Collections Cataloguing offers a unique opportunity for scholars to engage in the cataloguing of European paintings.	Not published	Up to $49K
The Guardhouse Program FOR-SITE Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Launched by FOR-SITE in 2023 marking 20 years dedicated to the presentation of art about place, The Guardhouse Program invites three artists each year to activate a former military guard station at the main entrance to Fort Mason Center…	Not published	Varies
Museum Grant Program (FL) Franklin County Tourist Development Council · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Museum Grant Program in Franklin County, managed by the Tourist Development Council, offers financial support to eligible 501c3 non-profit organizations and governmental entities.	Not published	Up to $20K
TFAA: Exhibition Grants Terra Foundation for American Art · Foundation Not published · $25K – $200K The Terra Foundation for American Art offers TFAA: Exhibition Grants to support institutions in presenting temporary exhibitions that address inequities in American art history.	Not published	$25K – $200K
CWAM Grants Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums (CWAM) · Foundation Not published · Up to $750 The CWAM Grants program, offered by the Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums, aims to enhance professionalism in the CWAM region.	Not published	Up to $750
History of Art Grants Samuel H Kress Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The History of Art Grant Program, supported by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, aims to enhance the appreciation and understanding of European art and architecture from antiquity to the early 19th century.	Not published	Varies
Arts & Museums Project Grants (UT) Utah Division of Arts & Museums · Foundation Not published · $2K – $10K The Arts & Museums Project Grants (UT) support public projects that celebrate community richness through arts and museums.	Not published	$2K – $10K
National NAGPRA Program - Consultation and Documentation Grant San Diego Museum of Man DBA Museum of US · Foundation Not published · Varies Grant funding consultation, documentation, travel, and research in support of the repatriation process of cultural resources affiliated with Native American communities.	Not published	Varies
Frankenthaler Climate Initiative: Scoping Grants Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative provides funding for energy efficiency projects in visual arts museums, addressing climate change through innovative cultural leadership.	Not published	Up to $25K
Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums Samuel H Kress Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Our mission at the Samuel H. Kress Foundation (est. 1929) is to sustain and carry out the original vision of our founder, Samuel H. Kress (1863-1955).	Not published	Varies
CFSNY: Arts and Culture Fund Grant The Community Foundation for South Central New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K The Arts and Culture Fund by The Community Foundation for South Central New York supports organizations dedicated to the arts, emphasizing access for underserved communities.	Not published	$5K – $20K
Michael Spring Major Cultural Institutions (MCI) Grants Program Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs · Foundation Not published · Varies The Michael Spring Major Cultural Institutions (MCI) Grants Program provides essential funding for fully professional cultural organizations in Miami-Dade County.	Not published	Varies
UMEZ Cultural Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) - Capacity Building Grants Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Curatorial Internships Ifpda Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The IFPDA Foundation provides funding for curatorial internships in museum print and drawing collections. Program recognizes the importance of early career exposure to prints and drawings.	Not published	Varies
Smithsonian Exhibition Starter Kit Florida Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Create a Smithsonian Exhibition for Your Town Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), is offering grant funding for communities to participate in their new Exhibition…	Not published	Varies
Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation Grant Program The Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $12K The Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation Grant Program aims to enhance the well-being of individuals and families in Central New Jersey.	Not published	Up to $12K
Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities & Public Policy Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Museum Assessment Grant Program American Association of Museums · Foundation Not published · Varies MAP offers five assessments.	Not published	Varies
CSA Angels Project Grant Costume Society of America · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The CSA Angels Project, initiated in 2006, provides critical conservation and curatorial support to small institutions with costume collections in proximity to the CSA National Symposium.	Not published	Up to $3K

Showing 73–96 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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