21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2026)

The 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (21MP) supports projects that build career pathways, strengthen professional networks, and identify and share effective workforce education and training practices in the museum field. The program has two goals: to support the professional development of the current museum workforce and to recruit and train future museum professionals. Eligible applicants include museums, museum service organizations, and affiliated nonprofits, as well as institutions of higher education. The program provides funding for projects that align with one of the two program goals and associated objectives. The application deadline is March 13, 2026, and the anticipated start date for new awards is September 1, 2026. The program expects to award $2,000,000 in total, with individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Some key points to consider for this opportunity include: • The program prioritizes projects that provide alternative pathways to upskill early-career professionals and opportunities for non-traditional applicants to enter the museum workforce. • The program encourages applications from institutions that serve rural and remote communities, as well as those that haven't traditionally been recipients of federal funding. • The program requires a 1:1 cost share, meaning that awardees must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the federal award. • The program has specific guidelines and restrictions on allowable costs, including personnel salaries, travel expenses, and materials and supplies. • The program requires a Performance Measurement Plan to describe how the project will be evaluated and assessed. • The program has a Digital Products Plan requirement, which outlines how digital products created with IMLS funding will be made available, accessed, and sustained.