Opportunity Information: Apply for AAHC FY27
Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2027) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under CFDA 45.309. The program is designed to strengthen African American museums by helping them build long-term institutional capacity while also investing in the professional growth of the people who work in these museums. In practice, the funding is aimed at projects that make museums more sustainable, more skilled, and better equipped to serve their communities over time.
The core focus of the opportunity is capacity-building and workforce development within African American museums, along with efforts that expand access to museum and archival collections. Projects supported through this program can center on nurturing museum professionals through training and development, improving internal systems and operations that help an institution function more effectively, and increasing public, scholarly, or community access to collections. The scope also includes projects connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), particularly where museum and archival collections are involved, reflecting the program's interest in strengthening access to and stewardship of African American cultural heritage held in these institutions.
Key administrative details include an anticipated award ceiling of up to $500,000 per grant, with IMLS expecting to make roughly 32 awards. The opportunity was created on September 1, 2026, and the original application deadline is November 13, 2026. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," and the program notes that applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity for the specific eligibility requirements and any additional conditions that determine who can apply and what types of projects are allowed.
Overall, this funding opportunity is best understood as support for African American museums and related institutions that want to strengthen their staffing, improve their operational and programmatic foundations, and increase the reach and usability of their collections, especially in ways that preserve, interpret, and share African American history and culture with wider audiences.Apply for AAHC FY27
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts, humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2027)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.309.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 32 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2027) program?
Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (2027) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under CFDA 45.309. It is designed to strengthen African American museums by building long-term institutional capacity and supporting the professional growth of museum staff.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
What is CFDA 45.309?
CFDA 45.309 is the program listing identifier associated with this IMLS grant opportunity.
What is the main goal of this grant?
The main goal is to strengthen African American museums over time by funding capacity-building and workforce development, and by supporting efforts that expand access to museum and archival collections.
What kinds of projects does this program support?
Based on the description provided, supported projects can include capacity-building and workforce development within African American museums, as well as projects that expand public, scholarly, or community access to museum and archival collections.
What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this program, capacity-building refers to projects that help an institution become more sustainable and effective over time, including improvements to internal systems, operations, and other organizational foundations that support long-term success.
What does "workforce development" mean for this grant?
Workforce development in this program context includes training, professional development, and other efforts to nurture museum professionals and strengthen the skills of the people who work in African American museums.
Does this grant support projects related to museum collections and archives?
Yes. The program includes efforts that expand access to museum and archival collections, with an emphasis on improving reach and usability of collections so they can be preserved, interpreted, and shared with wider audiences.
Are projects connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) included?
Yes. The scope includes projects connected to HBCUs, particularly where museum and archival collections are involved, reflecting an interest in strengthening access to and stewardship of African American cultural heritage held at these institutions.
What is the maximum award amount?
The anticipated award ceiling is up to $500,000 per grant.
How many awards does IMLS expect to make?
IMLS expects to make roughly 32 awards.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 1, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is November 13, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others." Applicants are instructed to consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity for specific eligibility requirements and any additional conditions that determine who can apply.
Where can applicants confirm eligibility and any special conditions?
Applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity for the specific eligibility requirements and any additional conditions related to allowable applicants and allowable projects.
What types of outcomes is this program trying to support?
The program is aimed at helping museums become more sustainable, more skilled, and better equipped to serve their communities over time, including increasing the reach and usability of collections that preserve and share African American history and culture.
Is the grant limited only to African American museums?
The program is described as designed to strengthen African American museums, and it also includes projects connected to HBCUs where museum and archival collections are involved. For a precise definition of eligible institutions, applicants should refer to the official Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Does the program prioritize community access to collections?
The description indicates that projects may increase public, scholarly, or community access to collections, suggesting that expanding access is a core component of what the program supports.
What should an applicant focus on when designing a competitive project for this program?
Based on the stated focus, projects should align with capacity-building, workforce development, and/or expanding access to museum and archival collections in ways that support long-term sustainability and broader use of African American cultural heritage materials.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts, Humanities
Previous opportunity: F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US Standard Grants
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Apply for AAHC FY27
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (AAHC FY27) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Museums Empowered (2027) Apply for ME FY27 Funding Number: ME FY27 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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