Presenters: Laura Martin, Senior Advisor, Arizona Science Center Jenni Martin, Director of Education and Strategic Initiatives, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose Moderator: Mark Feitl, Museum Program Specialist, Institute of Museum and Library Services As the primary source of federal support for the nation's museums, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides grant funds that assist museums of all types and sizes in their work to be effective and sustainable organizations. IMLS support is available for projects including but not limited to exhibits and programs, collections care and conservation, professional development, and research. This session offers information on grant opportunities and tips for preparing competitive applications. #NutsAndBolts

1. Western Museums Association
Annual Conference
October 27, 2015
Welcome to IMLS!

2. Today’s Presenters
 Mark Feitl, Museum Program Specialist, IMLS
 Jenni Martin, Director of Education and
Strategic Initiatives, Children's Discovery
Museum of San Jose
 Laura Martin, Senior Advisor, Arizona Science
Center

3. Session Agenda
 Introduction to IMLS
 Overview of IMLS Museum Funding Programs
 Eligibility
 The Application Process, Jenni Martin
 The Review Process, Laura Martin
 National Initiatives and Partnerships
 Questions

4. What is IMLS?
 The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a
U.S. federal government agency funded through
annual congressional appropriations.
 Established in 1996
 Presidentially appointed Director and
Museum and Library
Services Board
 Welcome, Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew!

5. Our Mission
To inspire libraries and museums to advance
 Innovation
 Lifelong learning
 Cultural and civic engagement

6. Our Activities
 Grant Programs
 Policy Making and Convening
 National Initiatives and Partnerships
 Research, Statistics, and Publications

7. Our Strategic Plan
Three programmatic strategic goals drive IMLS grant-making.
Read more here:
www.imls.gov/about/strat
egic_plan.aspx
Learning Experiences: IMLS places the learner at the center and
supports engaging experiences in libraries and museums that
prepare people to be full participants in their local communities
and our global society.
Community Anchors: IMLS promotes museums and libraries as
strong community anchors that enhance civic engagement,
cultural opportunities, and economic vitality.
Collections Stewardship: IMLS supports exemplary stewardship
of museum and library collections and promotes the use of
technology to facilitate discovery of knowledge and cultural
heritage.

8. Our Budget
FY2015 Appropriations – FY2016 CR expires
12/11/2015
• Office of Library Services $180,909,000 (79%)
• Office of Museum Services $30,131,000 (13%)
• Administration/Research, Evaluation, and Data
Collection $16,820,000 (8%)
• TOTAL $227,860,000

9. IMLS Museum Funding Programs
1. Museums for America
2. National Leadership Grants for Museums
3. Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services
Grants
4. Museum Grants for African American History and
Culture
5. Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums
6. Museum Assessment Program – with AAM
7. Conservation Assessment Program - TBD

10. IMLS Museum Grant Programs
Museums for America
National Leadership Grants
for Museums
Program Goals
Support activities that strengthen
museums as active resources for lifelong
learning, vital components of livable
communities, and good stewards of the
nation’s collections
Support projects that address challenges or
needs of the museum field, have broad
impact, and demonstrate innovation and
collaboration
Project Categories
• Learning Experiences
• Community Anchors
• Collections Stewardship
• Learning Experiences
• Community Anchors
• Collections Stewardship
Deadline December 1, 2015 December 1, 2015
Amount $5,000-$25,000 $25,001-$150,000 $50,000-$500,000
Cost Share
No Cost Share
Allowed
1:1 required
1:1 required*
* Cost share not required for research projects
Eligible Applicants Museums
Museums, Institutions of Higher Education,
Nonprofit Organizations that serve museums

11. IMLS Museum Grant Programs
Native American/Native
Hawaiian Museum Services
Grants
Museum Grants for African
American History and
Culture
Sparks! Ignition Grants
for Museums
Program Goals
Enhance museum services to
sustain heritage, culture, and
knowledge
Improve the operations, care
of collections, and
development of professional
management at African
American museums
Provide opportunity to
expand and test the
boundaries of museum
services and practices
Deadline December 1, 2015 December 1, 2015 December 1, 2015
Amount $5,000-$50,000
$5,000-
$25,000
$25,001-
$150,000
$10,000-$25,000
Cost Share None required
No Cost Share
Allowed
1:1 required None required
Eligible
Applicants
Federally recognized tribes,
Alaska Native villages and
corporations, and non-profit
Native Hawaiian-serving
organizations
African American museums,
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Nonprofit
Organizations that serve
African American museums
Museums, Institutions of
Higher Education, Nonprofit
Organizations that serve
museums

12. IMLS Technical Assistance Programs
Conservation Assessment Program
(CAP)
Museum Assessment
Program (MAP)
Description
Program provides a general conservation
assessment of a museum’s collections,
environmental conditions, and facilities.
Program helps museums strengthen
operations, plan for the future, and meet
national standards through self-study and a
site visit from a peer reviewer. Three
assessment types: Organizational, Collections
Stewardship, & Community Engagement.
Administered by TBD American Alliance of Museums
Deadline(s) TBD December 1, 2015 & July 1, 2016
For more information TBD
www.aam-us.org/resources/assessment-
programs/MAP

13. 2015 Museum Grant Statistics
MFA Grant Statistics:
 Number of applications: 521
 Number of grants awarded: 202 (38.8%)
 Total dollar amount awarded: $20,207,105
NLG Grant Statistics:
 Number of applications: 62
 Number of grants awarded: 15 (24.2%)
 Total dollar amount awarded: $5,789,295

14. 2015 Museum Grant Statistics
Continued
NANH Grant Statistics:
 Number of applications: 32
 Number of grants awarded: 21 (65.6%)
 Total dollar amount awarded: $924,000
AAHC Grant Statistics:
 Number of applications: 38
 Number of grants awarded: 17 (44.7%)
 Total dollar amount awarded: $1,407,000
SPARKS! Grant Statistics:
 Number of applications: 40
 Number of grants awarded: 6 (15.0%)
 Total dollar amount awarded: $139,580

15. 2015 Museum Applications & Grants
from the WMA Region
 Number of applications received: 148
 Number of grants awarded: 66 (44.6%)
– 44 MFA Grants
– 1 NLG Grant
– 16 NANH Grants
– 4 AAHC Grants
– 1 Sparks! Grant

16. Who may apply for IMLS grants?
You are eligible to apply if you are:
A non-profit library or museum
located in the United States, its
territories, or a freely associated
state
Additional types of organizations are
eligible for some programs. Check
specific program guidelines on the
IMLS website

17. How does IMLS define “museum?”
 A museum is defined as an organization that:
– Uses a professional staff
(employs at least one professional staff member, or the full-time equivalent, whether paid or
unpaid, who is primarily engaged in the acquisition, care, or exhibition to the public of objects
owned or used by the applicant)
– is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes;
– owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or inanimate;
– cares for these objects; and
– exhibits these objects to the general public on a regular basis through facilities which it owns
or operates
(if such exhibition is a primary purpose of the institution and available for at least 120
days/year)

18. Eligibility Continued
Other organizations eligible for IMLS museum funds
(program specific):
 NLG & Sparks! - Institutions of Higher Education,
Nonprofit Organizations that serve museums
 NANH - Federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native
villages and corporations, and non-profit Native
Hawaiian-serving organizations
 AAHC - African American museums, Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, Nonprofit
Organizations that serve African American
museums

19. Who may not apply for IMLS grants?
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
• A federally funded institution
• A for-profit organization
• An individual
• A foreign country or organization
If you are a non-eligible institution, we
encourage you to partner with an eligible
organization.

20. The Application Process
The four “R”s:
1. Registrations
2. Resources
3. Recommendations
4. Requirements

21. How do I prepare to submit a federal grant?
Acquire a D-U-N-S® Number: www.dnb.com/us
Register early!

22. How do I prepare to submit a federal grant?
SAM Registration: www.sam.gov
For SAM issues, call the Federal Service Desk at 866.606.8220
(Monday-Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time).

23. How do I prepare to submit a federal
grant?
Grants.gov Registration: www.grants.gov
For Grants.gov help, call 800.518.4726 (available 24/7
– except on federal holidays) or email
support@grants.gov.

24. What resources are available on the
IMLS website?

25. What resources are available on
the IMLS website?

26. What resources are available on
the IMLS website?

27. Helpful Resource Links for Applicants
 IMLS Website: http://www.imls.gov/
 Notice of Funding Opportunities: http://www.imls.gov/grants/apply-grant/notices-funding-
opportunities
 Search Awarded Grants: http://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded-grants
 Sample Narratives: http://www.imls.gov/grants/apply-grant/sample-applications

28. Recommendations for Writing a
Competitive Proposal
 Start planning early!
 Be certain your project goals relate to the goals of the program
and category to which you are applying.
 Take time to carefully research and articulate the need for your
project.
 Follow the narrative bullets and instructions.
 Identify consultants and other key personnel or outline the
selection process.
 Carefully prepare your budget and budget justification-make
sure your numbers match.
 Avoid generalities, acronyms, and jargon.
 Ask a colleague to review before you submit.
 Contact IMLS program staff for assistance!

29. Narrative Components
 Statement of Need
– What do you propose to do?
– What need, problem, or challenge will your project address and how was it identified?
– Who or what will benefit from your project?
– How will your project advance your institution’s strategic plan?
– How will your project address the goals of this program?
 Impact
– Describe the intended performance goals and benefits of this project.
 Project Design
– What specific activities, including evaluation and performance measurements, will you carry
out?
– Who will plan, implement, and manage your project?
– When and in what sequence will your activities occur?
– What financial, personnel, and other resources will you need to carry out the activities?
– How will you track your progress toward achieving your intended results?
– How and with whom will you share your project’s results?
* NOTE: Each section of the narrative also includes review criteria.

30. What else do I need to know?
 We make grants only to eligible applicants that
submit complete applications, including
attachments, on or before the deadline.
 Review the checklist of application components
and be certain that all required, conditionally
required, and supporting documents are
uploaded to Grants.gov. We will reject
incomplete applications.

31. The Review Process
 How are applications selected for funding?
 What is the role of IMLS staff?
 Two-tiered process (for some programs):
– Field Review
– Panel Review

32. Internal Checks, External Review
 IMLS staff check each application for eligibility and
completeness.
 Experienced and knowledgeable peer reviewers score
all eligible and complete applications and provide
comments based on the criteria outlined in the
program guidelines.
 The field and panel reviewers use different scoring
systems and review criteria.
 By law, the IMLS director is charged with the authority
and responsibility to make final award decisions.

33. What’s it like to be an IMLS reviewer?
 IMLS peer reviewers are museum professionals
who know the needs of communities, can share
best practices, and are well versed in the issues
and concerns of museums today.
 IMLS reviewers enhance their professional
knowledge and serve the museum community
too.
 IMLS reviewers are anonymous.
 IMLS reviewers receive very modest honoraria.

34. How can I serve as a reviewer?
 Talk to us at this meeting!
 Become familiar with IMLS grant programs.
 Read existing reviewer materials on our Web site.
 Visit http://www.imls.gov/node/21.
 Submit your information and your resume online.

35. National Initiatives and Partnerships
 For a complete list, go to:
http://www.imls.gov/issues/national-initiatives
 Award Recognition Programs:
1. National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards
2. National Medal for Museum and Library Services

36. National Arts and Humanities Youth
Program Awards
These awards recognize and support
outstanding out-of-school community arts
and humanities programs that celebrate
the creativity of America’s young people
by providing them with learning
opportunities and chances to contribute
to their communities. These awards focus
national attention on exemplary programs
currently fostering the creative and
intellectual development of America’s
youth through education and practical
experience in the arts and the humanities.

37. National Medal for Museum and
Library Service
The National Medal for Museum and
Library Service honors outstanding
institutions that make significant and
exceptional contributions to their
communities. Selected institutions
demonstrate extraordinary and innovative
approaches to public service, exceeding
the expected levels of community
outreach. The winners are honored at a
National Medal award ceremony held in
Washington, D.C.

38. How can I connect with IMLS?
 Website: www.imls.gov
 Primary Source: Free monthly e-mail update, sent to over 9,000 subscribers.
 UpNext Blog: http://blog.imls.gov/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USIMLS
 Twitter: @US_IMLS

39. Time for Questions
Questions?

40. Contact Information
Mark Feitl
Museum Program Specialist
mfeitl@imls.gov
202-653-4635