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
4Culture: Equipment for Organizations Grant 4Culture · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K The 4Culture Equipment for Organizations grant provides funding of up to $15,000 to support the purchase and installation of essential equipment for arts, heritage, historic preservation, and science organizations in King County.	Not published	Up to $15K
Ohio History Fund Grants Ohio History Connection Foundation · Foundation Not published · $4K – $19K A competitive matching grants program funded through Ohio taxpayers' voluntary contributions via a "tax check-off" option on Ohio's income-tax return forms.	Not published	$4K – $19K
Nicor Gas: Pillar Grants - Community Enrichment Nicor Gas · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Nicor Gas offers Pillar Grants for Community Enrichment, focusing on enhancing the vitality and livability of neighborhoods within its service area.	Not published	Up to $5K
Kronkosky Charitable Foundation Grant: Arts & Culture Albert & Bessie Mae Kronkosky Charitable · Foundation Not published · Varies The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation Grant for Arts & Culture supports innovative and creative projects that enhance community vibrancy and provide access to essential cultural resources.	Not published	Varies
Ohio History Fund Grants: Programs & Collections Grant Ohio History Connection · Foundation Not published · $2K – $20K The Ohio History Fund Grants support history-related projects through a competitive matching grant program. Non-profit organizations and local government entities in Ohio can apply for funding ranging from $2,000 to $20,000.	Not published	$2K – $20K
Groundwork Grants II - Major Projects Myriad Consulting & Training · Foundation Not published · Up to $150K Groundwork Grants II - Major Projects aims to enhance disaster preparedness for California's cultural heritage collections, which face increasing threats from natural disasters.	Not published	Up to $150K
IMLS Museums for America Grant - Accessibility and Inclusion Initiative Zoological Society of Cincinnati · Foundation Not published · $416K The Cincinnati Zoo aims to become the nation's most welcoming, accessible, and inclusive zoo for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.	Not published	$416K
Delaware Humanities: Opportunity Grants Delaware Humanities · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K Delaware Humanities offers Opportunity Grants to support smaller projects or the planning of larger initiatives. With applications accepted year-round, these grants aim to foster community engagement and enhance cultural experiences.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Mary K. Bowman Fine Arts Fund Grant The Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Mary K. Bowman Fine Arts Fund Grant, established by the Community Foundation of Washington County, provides essential financial support for initiatives aimed at preserving historical and cultural properties in Washington County, MD.	Not published	Varies
Headley Trust: Archaeological Acquisition Fund Grants The Headley Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to £10,000 The Headley Trust offers grants to assist regional and local museums in acquiring archaeological artefacts.	Not published	Up to £10,000
Cultural Heritage Grant State Historical Society of North Dakota · Foundation Not published · Up to $400K The Cultural Heritage Grant Program, funded by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, supports local museums and nonprofits with grants for projects like capital improvements, collections, and education.	Not published	Up to $400K
Ohio History Fund Grants Ohio History Connection · Foundation Not published · $1K – $20K	Not published	$1K – $20K
Fellowships in Museum Practice (FMP) Smithsonian Institution · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: Applications for the program are considered throughout the year; however, solicitations for the FMP program are reviewed beginning May 1 for the following academic year.	Not published	Varies
Wells Fargo Cultural Grants in Maryland Program Wells Fargo · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Neely Foundation Grant Otto & Edna Neely Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Neely Foundation Grant supports various programs in the Phoenix East Valley, focusing on cultural arts, education, health services, and community welfare.	Not published	Varies
CSA College and University Collection Care Grant Costume Society of America · Foundation Not published · $2K The CSA College and University Collection Care Grant supports colleges and universities with costume and textile collections that lack financial backing.	Not published	$2K
Carpenter Foundation - Asian Art Grant E Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, established in 1975, supports public charities with a focus on Asian art, performing arts in Richmond, VA, and graduate theological education.	Not published	Varies
4Culture: Collections Care Grants 4Culture · Foundation Not published · $1K – $8K The 4Culture Collections Care Grants support King County non-profit heritage organizations in preserving historic artifacts and cultural materials.	Not published	$1K – $8K
Immersive Exhibition Grants for Cultural Institutions and Venues Albertine Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Recently announced at the 2024 Cannes Festival and managed by Villa Albertine and Albertine Foundation, with the support of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and in partnership with the Institut Français, this new grant…	Not published	Varies
Kress Conservation Fellowships Grant Samuel H Kress Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Kress Conservation Fellowships, offered by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, support post-graduate training for emerging conservators in various specialty areas like paintings and textiles.	Not published	Varies
MCDARF: Mini-Grants Mary Chilton DAR Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The MCDARF Mini-Grants provide funding of less than $1,000 for small projects that promote historical interest, education, and genealogy.	Not published	Up to $1K
The Met: Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art: Mid-Career Fellowship Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $76K The Met's Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art offers a unique opportunity for mid-career scholars to engage in focused research on modern art.	Not published	Up to $76K
Exhibition Grant Artis Contemporary Israeli Art Fundinc · Foundation Not published · Varies Artis supports contemporary artists from Israel whose work addresses aesthetic, social, and political questions that inspire reflection and debate. Artis is a nonprofit organization based in New York.	Not published	Varies
Art Bridges Cohort Program Grant Art Bridges Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Art Bridges Cohort Program aims to enhance access to American art by fostering multi-year partnerships among museums across the U.S. This initiative creates sustainable art-sharing ecosystems that promote collaboration and community…	Not published	Varies

Showing 97–120 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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