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
The Met: Conservation Fellowship and Scientific Research Fellowship: Junior Fellow Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $53K The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers the Conservation Fellowship and Scientific Research Fellowship for junior and senior fellows.	Not published	Up to $53K
Advancing Communities Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $250K The Advancing Communities grant program helps communities across Nebraska and southwest Iowa develop or enhance spaces that are inviting to all citizens, enabling connection through social, recreational, historical and civic engagement.	Rolling	Up to $250K
Banneker-Douglass Museum Governor's Office of Community Initiatives · State Not published · Varies The state's official museum to preserve African American heritage and culture under the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives operated in partnership with the Maryland Commission on African American Heritage and Culture.	Not published	Varies
Collections Assessment Grant Program Connecticut Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: This grant program is currently unfunded. The Collections Assessment Grant Program (CAG) provides small and mid-sized museums with a free assessment of their museum or archive collections.	Not published	Varies
Greenwood Fund Grant The Denver Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Greenwood Fund Grant, managed by The Denver Foundation, offers small grants for the conservation of museum artifacts and collections care in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.	Not published	$1K – $5K
State Historic Preservation Office Administration Department · State Not published · Varies Communities with Heritage Preservation Commissions that are Certified Local Governments (CLGs) may apply for matching grants for local historic preservation projects.	Not published	Varies
RF: Collection Management Fund Grant Rasmuson Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Rasmuson Foundation's RF: Collection Management Fund Grant aims to enhance collections management practices across Alaskan museums and cultural centers.	Not published	Up to $20K
Dibner Award for Excellence in Museum Exhibits Grant Society for the History of Technology · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Dibner Award for Excellence in Museum Exhibits, established in 1985 by Bern Dibner, recognizes outstanding museum exhibits that effectively interpret the history of technology and engineering.	Not published	Up to $1K
Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - Mahina Exhibit Project Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture · Foundation Not published · $99K The project addresses low science and math proficiency achievement rates for Native Hawaiian students by designing more relevant STEM learning activities that connect to indigenous Hawaiian knowledge and culture.	Not published	$99K
Competitive Community Grant- Arts & Culture ( Fall cycle) Santa Fe Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K Result: Arts and Culture is celebrated and reflected in the community.	Not published	$5K – $20K
Museum on Main Street Minigrants Kentucky Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K Since 1994, Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service have been designed specifically for use in small museum settings and in rural communities.	Not published	Up to $3K
Collections Grants Terra Foundation for American Art · Foundation Not published · $25K – $75K The Terra Foundation for American Art offers Collections Grants to support projects that address historical inequities in American art history.	Not published	$25K – $75K
Henry Luce Foundation: American Art Program Responsive Grants The Henry Luce Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K – $1M The Henry Luce Foundation's American Art Program offers responsive grants to support projects in art museums that encourage creative expression and public dialogue.	Not published	$10K – $1M
Transportation Funding Request The Dixon Gallery & Gardens Endowment Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Dixon Gallery & Gardens provides funding to cover transportation costs for school groups and facilities visiting the museum.	Rolling	Varies
NC Science Museums Grants - Tier Two Funding North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences · Foundation Not published · Up to $60K The NC Science Museums Grants - Tier Two Funding program offers critical support to science and children's museums in North Carolina.	Not published	Up to $60K
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation: Arts & Culture Grant Robert W Woodruff Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20M The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation supports arts and culture initiatives to enhance community vitality in Georgia.	Not published	Up to $20M
IDEAL Internship Grants Decorative Arts Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The IDEAL Internship Grants, offered by the Decorative Arts Trust, promote inclusivity and diversity within the museum field.	Not published	Up to $5K
Conservation Fellowship and Scientific Research Fellowship: Senior Fellow Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $63K The Conservation Fellowship and Scientific Research Fellowship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a unique opportunity for senior fellows to engage in significant research projects utilizing the museum's extensive collection.	Not published	Up to $63K
Wisconsin Humanities Recovery Grants Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc · Foundation Not published · $766K Special recovery grants to help Wisconsin organizations prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.	Not published	$766K
Charles D. Berry Foundation Grant Charles D. Berry Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Charles D. Berry Foundation, established in 2018 by Chuck Berry, aims to enrich the Greater Dayton community through grants in arts, education, health, and community services.	Not published	Varies
Mapplethorpe Foundation: Photography Grant The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, established in 1988, supports photography programs at museums and public institutions. It promotes photography's recognition alongside other art forms and contributes to HIV/AIDS medical research.	Not published	Varies
Kress Foundation: Conservation Grant Program Samuel H Kress Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Kress Foundation's Conservation Grant Program supports projects that enhance the appreciation and preservation of European art from antiquity to the early 19th century.	Not published	Varies
The Met: Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art: Postdoctoral fellowships Grant Metropolitan Museum Of Art · Foundation Not published · Up to $66K The Leonard A. Lauder Fellowship in Modern Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers postdoctoral scholars a unique opportunity to research modern art from diverse perspectives.	Not published	Up to $66K
NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program Greater Hudson Heritage Network · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program, a collaboration between the New York State Council on the Arts and Greater Hudson Heritage Network, offers funding for the conservation of various objects in New York's museums and…	Not published	Up to $10K

Showing 121–144 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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