Museums for America (2027)

The Museums for America (MFA-FY27) program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, provides grant funding to museums of all sizes and disciplines for project-based efforts. The program focuses on enhancing a museum's capacity to serve the public through educational programs, exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. Eligible projects must align with MFA program goals and demonstrate a clear link to the museum's strategic plan, utilizing relevant data to address specific community needs or challenges. Funding requests must generally fall between 5,000 and 350,000 dollars, with awards determined by the Director following a professional peer review process. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically via Grants.gov Workspace by November 13, 2026. Required documentation includes a project narrative, organizational profile, strategic plan summary, budget form with justification, and a performance measurement plan, all submitted as PDFs with specific formatting requirements. To be eligible, organizations must maintain an active System for Award Management registration, a Unique Entity Identifier, and an active Grants.gov registration. Projects are governed by 2 CFR Part 200 and are evaluated based on the clarity of goals, the experience of project staff, the practicality of the sustainability plan, and the potential for meaningful results.