Institute of Museum and Library Services

      The Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) offers a number of grants that public gardens are eligible to apply for. These programs are the most commonly used for GIS projects, and offer full support for the completion of a well planned project.


Museums for America

The goal of the Museums for America (MFA) program is to strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve the public more effectively by supporting high-priority activities that advance its mission, plans, and strategic goals and objectives. MFA grants support activities that strengthen museums as active resources for lifelong learning, as important institutions in the establishment of livable communities, and as good stewards of the nation’s collections. MFA grants can fund both new and ongoing museum activities and programs. Examples include planning, managing and conserving collections, improving public access, training, conducting programmatic research, school and public programming, producing exhibitions, and integrating new or upgraded technologies into your operations. Program Information | Application and Submission Information


National Leadership Grants for Museums

National Leadership Grants (NLG) for Museums support projects that address current and future needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums can improve services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment. Distinguishing features of all National Leadership Grants for Museums projects are:

  • Broad Impact: Your proposal should address key needs and challenges that face museums. Your project should show the potential for far-reaching impact, influence practice throughout the museum profession; and reflect awareness and support of current strategic initiatives and agendas in the field.
  • Innovation: Your proposal should demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the subject matter, and show how the project has the potential to strengthen and improve museum services to benefit the audiences and communities being served.
  • Collaboration: While partners are not required in all NLG for Museums projects, partnerships can help demonstrate a broad need, field-wide buy-in and input, access to appropriate expertise, and sharing of resources.

Program Information | Application and Submission Information