The coalition of state museum associations (cosma) will increase the capacity of state museum associations to more effectively serve the museums in their state

The Coalition of State Museum Associations (COSMA) received a $1,095,816 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the 21st Century Museum Professional Program (CFDA 45.032), awarded October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The award funds a capacity-building initiative designed to strengthen state museum associations' operational effectiveness and ability to serve their member museums. The inaugural cohort encompasses state museum associations from the Western Museum Association region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai'i, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) along with representatives from other regional museum associations.

COSMA will deliver capacity-building products and services structured around the Common Service Model, which establishes core function benchmarks in governance, communications, advocacy, member services, and financial stability. The program provides annual support to participating state associations through an in-person convening coordinated with the Western Museums Association Annual Meeting, five webinars, and designated monthly virtual office hours. These structured networking and learning opportunities enable participants to identify operational gaps, address capacity challenges, and track progress toward meeting established standards. The initiative directly supports IMLS's goal of strengthening professional networks and building workforce development capacity across the museum field.

The inaugural cohort will focus on states in the western museum association-alaska, arizona, california, hawai'i, idaho, nevada, oregon, utah, and washington, and representatives from each of the remaining regional associations. The project will generate networking opportunities that will empower state museum associations to meet core function benchmarks for governance, communications, advocacy, member services, and financial stability standards outlined in the common service model. The common service model was created to support state museum associations to increase their operational capacity. Each year the program will guide cohort participants through a process to identify and address operational gaps by providing an in-person convening in conjunction with the western museums association annual meeting, 5 webinars, and designated monthly virtual monthly office hours to provide feedback and track progress for participants.