Opportunity Information: Apply for MFA FY21
Museums for America (2021) is a discretionary grant program run by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that funds projects designed to strengthen how an individual museum serves the public. The program is aimed at helping museums build organizational capacity and deepen public value through practical, mission-driven work, rather than funding general operating support. In this opportunity, IMLS frames museum impact through three main project categories, allowing applicants to position their proposals based on the kind of public benefit they intend to deliver.
The first category, Lifelong Learning, supports projects that improve and expand learning opportunities offered by museums across different ages and stages of life. In practice, this category tends to align with education and interpretation, including the development of programs, exhibits, curricula, digital learning tools, and partnerships that make museum learning more accessible and effective. Proposals in this area typically focus on measurable learning outcomes, audience engagement, and strengthening a museum's ability to deliver high-quality educational experiences for its community.
The second category, Community Anchors and Catalysts, focuses on the museum as a civic partner and community resource. Projects in this track generally emphasize community engagement, relationship-building, and the museum's role in addressing local needs or priorities. This can include initiatives that position the museum as a convening space, support dialogue and connection, elevate underrepresented voices, or create programs built with and for community members. The underlying idea is that museums can function as trusted institutions that both reflect and contribute to the well-being and resilience of their communities.
The third category, Collections Stewardship and Public Access, supports work that improves the care of collections and expands public access to them. This category often includes projects related to conservation, collections management, documentation, digitization, and making collections easier to discover and use by researchers, educators, and the public. It also can include activities that strengthen the policies, workflows, and systems needed to manage collections responsibly over time. The emphasis is not only on preservation, but on connecting collections to people through improved access and usability.
For the FY21 cycle, the funding opportunity number is MFA FY21, and awards are made as grants under CFDA number 45.301, with activity areas tied to arts and humanities (cultural affairs). The maximum award amount listed is $250,000, and IMLS anticipated making roughly 120 awards under this competition. The opportunity was created on August 18, 2020, with an original application deadline of November 16, 2020. Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility language, indicating that applicants needed to consult the detailed eligibility section in the official notice to confirm whether their museum or organization type qualified.Apply for MFA FY21
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Museums for America (2021)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.301.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 18, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 16, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 120 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (MFA FY21) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| National Leadership Grants for Museums (2021) Apply for NLG M FY21 Funding Number: NLG M FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Museums Empowered (2021) Apply for ME FY21 Funding Number: ME FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums (2021) Apply for IGSM FY21 Funding Number: IGSM FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2021) Apply for AAHC FY21 Funding Number: AAHC FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2021) Apply for NANH FY21 Funding Number: NANH FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Asuncion, Paraguay - PD Annual Program Statement Fiscal Year 2021 Apply for SPA10021GR001WHA11202020 Funding Number: SPA10021GR001WHA11202020 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Paraguay Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program (2021) Apply for LB21 FY21 P2 Funding Number: LB21 FY21 P2 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2021) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY21 P2 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY21 P2 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant Apply for NAG BASIC FY21 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Collections Assessment for Preservation Program Apply for CAP FY21 Funding Number: CAP FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant (2021) Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY21 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant (2021) Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY21 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| IMLS American Rescue Plan Apply for ARP FY21 Funding Number: ARP FY21 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2022) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY22 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2022) Apply for LB21 FY22 Funding Number: LB21 FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Museums for America (2022) Apply for MFA FY22 Funding Number: MFA FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums (2022) Apply for IGSM FY22 Funding Number: IGSM FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums (2022) Apply for NLG M FY22 Funding Number: NLG M FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Museums Empowered (2022) Apply for ME FY22 Funding Number: ME FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2022) Apply for AAHC FY22 Funding Number: AAHC FY22 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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