Synopsis

Inspire Grants for Small Museums (Inspire) is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program designed to support small museums of all disciplines, including small rural or small remote institutions and small museums that have not previously received federal funding. The program funds project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. The goal of the Inspire program is to build the capacity of small museums to provide museum services to their communities through supporting the development of experiential learning and discovery in small museums, and the management and care of collections in small museums.
Response Date	Nov 13, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST
Posting Date	Sep 01, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date
Award Ceiling	75,000
Award Floor	5,000
Cost Sharing	Yes

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info on Eligibility:	See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligibility information.

Additional Information

Agency Name	Institute of Museum and Library Services
Link to Additional Information:	https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/inspire-grants-for-small-museums
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk Phone: 202-653-4634

CFDA Program(s)

• 45.301: Museums for America