21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2025)

The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) grant program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), supports projects that offer professional development to the current museum workforce, train and recruit future museum professionals, and identify and share effective practices in museum workforce education and training. Eligible applicants include units of state/local/tribal government, private non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status, museum associations, museum studies programs, and museums serving as part of the professional training environment. Projects must align with the program's goals and objectives, and applicants must provide cost share of at least 1:1. The application deadline is November 15, 2024, and IMLS expects to issue award decisions by June 2025.

IMLS expects to award a total of $2 million through approximately 8 individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The project period for awarded projects is July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, and activities can be conducted nationwide.