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National Leadership Grants
Successful proposals will generate results
- Museums for America
- Conservation Project Support
- 21st Century Museum Professionals
- Grants to States
- Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services
- Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2016: Visit the IMLS website at www.imls.gov to search awarded grants.
Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of Federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute serves as a leader in providing services to enhance learning, sustain cultural heritage and increase civic participation.
Contacts for NLG for Libraries and Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries: Tim Carrigan, Senior Program Officer, tcarrigan@imls.gov, (202) 653-4639; Sandra Toro, Senior Program Officer, storo@imls.gov, 202-653-4662; Mary Alice Ball, Senior Program Officer, mball@imls.gov, 202-653-4730; and Trevor Owens, Senior Program Officer, towens@imls.gov, 202-653-4654 Contact for NLG for Museums and Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums: Helen Wechsler, Supervisory Grants Management Specialist, hwechsler@imls.gov, (202) 653-4779.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Omaha Zoological Society | $ 445,069 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Broad, The | $ 776,466 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Center For Plant Conservation, Inc | $ 476,040 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| University Of Montana | $ 670,969 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society, The | $ 554,091 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Morton Arboretum, The | $ 611,354 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Rochester Institute Of Technology (inc) | $ 429,409 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Zoological Society Of Cincinnati | $ 770,601 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| Arizona State University | $ 481,377 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 | |
| University Of North Carolina At Greensboro | $ 707,537 | 2020-09-01 | 2023-08-31 |
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2015: 69 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
Applicants that fulfill the general criteria for libraries may apply for National Leadership Grants for Libraries.
Applicants that fulfill the general criteria for museums may apply for National Leadership Grants for Museums.
For more information about eligibility requirements, visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/eligibility_criteria.aspx.
See program guidelines for special conditions of eligibility for this program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Libraries, archives, and 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
Sep 15, 2015 NLG for Libraries: Deadline for first round of Preliminary Proposals September 15, 2015; Full Proposals (by invitation only); Deadline for first round of Full Proposals January 15, 2016; Deadline for second round of Preliminary Proposals February 2016; Full Proposals (by invitation only); Deadline for second round of Full Proposals April 2016; NLG for Museums: December 1, 2015; NLG Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums: December 1, 2015.
Authorization
Museum and Library Services Act (20 USC CHAPTER 72).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
NLG for Libraries: Approximately seven months; NLG for Museums: Approximately nine months; NLG Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums: 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
This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Matching Requirements: NLG for Libraries: Awards amounts will not exceed $2,000,000 and one-to-one matching is required for requests over $250,000 (with the exception of research projects); NLG for Museums: Awards will not exceed $500,000 and must be matched one-to-one (with the exception of research projects), but the match may include in-kind contributions; Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Musuems: Awards will not exceed $25,000 and no matching is required. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
NLG for Libraries: Projects may be carried out for a period of up to 36 months; NLG for Museums: Projects may be carried out for a period of up to 36 months; Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums: Projects may be carried out for a period of up to 12 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 $19,800,000; FY 16 est $28,668,000; and FY 17 est $22,840,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
NLG for Libraries: Between $10,000 and $2,000,000; NLG for Museums: Between $50,000 and $500,000; Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums: Between $10,000 and $25,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
See the IMLS website at www.imls.gov for the latest program data.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None. Contacts for NLG for Libraries and Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries: Tim Carrigan, Senior Program Officer, tcarrigan@imls.gov, (202) 653-4639; Sandra Toro, Senior Program Officer, storo@imls.gov, 202-653-4662; Mary Alice Ball, Senior Program Officer, mball@imls.gov, 202-653-4730; and Trevor Owens, Senior Program Officer, towens@imls.gov, 202-653-4654 Contact for NLG for Museums and Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums: Helen Wechsler, Supervisory Grants Management Specialist, hwechsler@imls.gov, (202) 653-4779.
Headquarters Office
Helen Wechsler 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, SW Suite 4000, Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Email: hwechsler@imls.gov Phone: 202-653-4779
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
See Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Leicester Social Enterprise Guides Future Generations To Deliver Sustainable, Environmental Impact
Bina Sitaram, a 40-year old former senior garment technician in the fashion industry, has created a social enterprise that affords young students lessons in healthy living by holding gardening, cooking and arts and crafts sessions.
