The right grant at the right time could take your institution to new heights. Below is a list of various government agencies, and the types of projects they are looking to support. All the grant-giving bodies share an interest in projects that help increase public access to, and engagement in collections through tools such as websites and mobile apps, as well as those projects that introduce new collections management measures. If this is the year you want to better manage your collections and broaden your audience, these grants could be your ticket.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Museums for America Grants

  1. Support projects that strengthen the ability of a museum to serve its public.
  2. Project categories: Learning Experiences, Community Anchors, and Collections Stewardship
  3. Collections Stewardship projects may include but are not limited to:
    • Cataloging, inventorying, documenting, and registration
    • Developing and enhancing collections databases
    • Digitization designed to improve collections management

Deadline: December 1, 2015

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (Division of Preservation and Access)

Implementation Grants support among other things:

  • Cataloging collections
  • Digitizing collections
  • Developing databases, virtual collections, or other digital resources

Guidelines

Deadline: July 21, 2015

Digital Projects for the Public (Division of Public Programs)

Supports projects such as websites and mobile apps that contribute to the public’s engagement with humanities ideas

Guidelines

Deadline: June 10, 2015

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA Art Works

Supports 4 outcomes:

  • Creation
  • Engagement
  • Learning
  • Livability

Under Engagement support is available for projects that engage the public directly with the arts
Eligible Engagement activities include among other things:

  • Documentation
  • Publication, production, and promotion of digital, audio, mobile or online publications; and searchable information databases

Deadline: July 23, 2015 (for Engagement outcomes for museums)

Canadian Heritage
Museum Assistance Program Collection Management Component

Projects can include:
Introduction of new digital collections management systems, purchase and implementation of new database software, or upgrade of an existing system.

Guidelines

Deadline: Not posted. Last year was November 1, 2014

 

Partnering with Gallery Systems

To help make better collections management a reality and strengthen public engagement in your collections, Gallery Systems offers software applications to help you manage collections of any size or type and allow you to dynamically publish information to your website, intranet, and kiosks. At Gallery Systems, we have assisted a number of institutions with their successful grant applications and we would be happy to guide you through the process. Contact us to learn more.