National Leadership Grants support projects that address current and future needs of the museum and library fields and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums and libraries can improve services for the American public.

Successful proposals will generate results

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such as models, new tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment.

Selected Recipients for this Program

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.