Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2026)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- AAHC-FY26
- Applications due
- Award size
- $5,000 to $500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Categories
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- Arts
- Humanities
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is soliciting applications for the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program, which provides federal funding to build capacity at African American museums and support professional development of museum staff. Eligible applicants include state and local government units, nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status, museum service organizations focused on African American institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) located in the United States. Projects must address institutional capacity building or workforce development through activities such as collections management, exhibition development, educational programming, internships, fellowships, mentorships, and professional development opportunities. Applications will be evaluated based on alignment with IMLS agency goals, project justification, work plan clarity, measurable results, and organizational capability to execute the proposed project through a formal peer review process. The application deadline is March 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with submissions required through Grants.gov, and award notifications are anticipated in August 2026.
IMLS expects to distribute approximately $6,000,000 in total funding across approximately 35 awards, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $500,000 depending on project scope. Small projects require no cost share, while large projects (awards exceeding $100,000) require a minimum 1:1 cost share from non-federal sources. Project performance periods will run from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, with flexibility for one to three-year timelines. All eligible applicants must be located in the 50 states, District of Columbia, U.S. territories, or freely associated states.
Synopsis
The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program builds the capacity of African American museums and supports the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums. The program supports projects that nurture museum professionals, build institutional capacity, and increase access to museum and archival collections at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| fy26-oms-aahc-NOFO.pdf | ||
| fy26-oms-aahc-NOFO.pdf |
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