Museum Grants for African American History and Culture are intended to enhance institutional capacity and sustainability through professional training, technical assistance, internships, outside expertise, and other tools.

Successful proposals will focus on one or more of the following three goals:

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(1) developing or strengthening knowledge, skills, and other expertise of current staff at African American museums; (2) attracting and retaining professionals with the skills needed to strengthen African American museums; and (3) attracting new staff to African American museum practice and providing them with the expertise needed to sustain them in the museum field.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2015: 17 awards made in FY15. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

Consult the current funding opportunities, guidelines, or program announcements for complete information (www.imls.gov).

Grant funds must be used for the purposes outlined in the relevant guidelines or program announcement, and in accordance with the Institute of Museum and Library Services General Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants include museums whose primary purpose is African American life, art, history, and/or culture, encompassing: the period of slavery; the era of Reconstruction; the Harlem renaissance; the civil rights movement; and other periods of the African American diaspora.

Nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to support museums identified above may also apply.

Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) are also eligible.

For more information about eligibility requirements, visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/museums.aspx.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Public and private non-profit museums. Through activities and projects funded, beneficiaries include the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR Part 200 applies to this program. As part of the president's E-government initiative, the federal government developed Grants.gov, a single Web site for organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all 26 of the federal grant-making agencies. Beginning with the 2008 grant cycle, the Institute required all applicants to apply online through Grants.gov. Applicants who are unable to use Grants.gov should contact an IMLS program officer. The Institute no longer accepts mailed paper applications. For more information on the process of applying through Grants.gov, visit www.grants.gov/GetStarted.

Award Procedures

Proposals are reviewed by field and/or panel reviewers, staff, and the director.

Deadlines

Dec 01, 2015 December 1, 2015.

Authorization

Museum and Library Services Act (20 USC CHAPTER 72) and National Museum of African American History and Culture Act (20 USC CHAPTER 3, SUBCHAPTER XIV (20 USC 80r-5)).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately seven months.

Appeals

Appeals may be made in writing to the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Renewals

The Institute of Museum and Library Services may extend particular grants at the discretion of the director.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Requirements: Awards will not exceed $150,000; awards of $25,000 or less do not require matching; awards of more than $25,000 must be matched one-to-one, but the match may include in-kind contributions. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects may be carried out for a period of up to 24 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Direct payments for a specialized use upon request.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The Institute of Museum and Library Services requires annual interim and final financial and performance reports.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Grant recipients will be required to maintain standard financial statements and project records.

Financial Information

Account Identification

59-0301-0-1-503.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 15 $1,407,000; FY 16 est $1,481,000; and FY 17 est $1,407,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Between $5,000 and $150,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

See the IMLS website at www.imls.gov for the latest program data.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Mark Isaksen 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW Suite 4000, Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Email: misaksen@imls.gov Phone: 202-653-4667

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

See Notice of Funding Opportunity.