Opportunity Information: Apply for AAHC FY17
The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under CFDA 45.309. Its purpose is to strengthen African American museums by funding projects that improve day-to-day museum operations, enhance the care and stewardship of collections, and build stronger professional management practices. In practical terms, the program is aimed at helping eligible institutions become more sustainable and effective in preserving and presenting African American life, art, history, and culture for public benefit.
Eligibility is structured around three required conditions. First, an applicant must be either a unit of state or local government or a private nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. Second, the applicant must be based in an eligible U.S. jurisdiction, which includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as U.S. territories and affiliated areas specifically listed in the notice: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau). Third, the applicant must fit into one of several qualifying organizational categories tied directly to African American museum work.
The primary eligible category is a museum whose mission is centered on African American life, art, history, and/or culture, including major historical periods and movements such as slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, and broader aspects of the African American diaspora. To qualify as a museum under this program, the institution is expected to operate on a permanent basis for educational or aesthetic purposes, employ a professional staff, own or use tangible objects (animate or inanimate), care for those objects, and regularly exhibit them to the general public through facilities it owns or operates. The program also allows an agency (public or private nonprofit) that is responsible for operating an eligible museum to apply on that museum's behalf. In addition, museum service organizations or associations can apply if their primary mission is to support museums focused on African American life, art, history, and/or culture. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as defined in federal law and relevant executive guidance, are also eligible applicants. Native American tribal organizations may apply as well, as long as they meet the same overarching eligibility requirements described in the notice.
For this specific funding cycle (AAHC FY17), the opportunity listed an application deadline of December 1, 2016. The maximum award amount was $150,000, and IMLS anticipated making roughly 14 awards. The funding activity category is Arts and Humanities, and the grant instrument type is a standard grant. Applicants are encouraged to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for finer points and definitions, especially where eligibility depends on mission language, governance and operating responsibility, and how the museum meets the program's expectations around staffing, collections stewardship, and public exhibition.Apply for AAHC FY17
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services in the arts, humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Museum Grants for African American History and Culture" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.309.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-12-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC)
What is the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program?
The AAHC program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under CFDA 45.309. It is designed to strengthen African American museums by supporting projects that improve daily museum operations, enhance collections care and stewardship, and build stronger professional management practices.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program aims to help eligible institutions become more sustainable and effective in preserving and presenting African American life, art, history, and culture for public benefit.
What kinds of activities or outcomes is the program trying to support?
Based on the program description, supported projects are expected to align with one or more of the following broad outcomes: improved day-to-day museum operations, stronger collections care and stewardship practices, and stronger professional management practices.
Who administers the AAHC program?
The program is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Is this a federal grant?
Yes. It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by IMLS.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing provided for this program is 45.309.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed for this opportunity is Arts and Humanities.
What type of grant instrument is used?
The opportunity indicates the grant instrument type is a standard grant.
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
Eligibility is described as requiring three conditions: (1) the applicant must be either a unit of state or local government or a private nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code; (2) the applicant must be based in an eligible U.S. jurisdiction (as listed in the notice); and (3) the applicant must fit into one of the qualifying organizational categories tied to African American museum work described in the notice.
What types of organizations can apply?
The notice describes several eligible applicant categories, including: (1) an eligible museum with a mission centered on African American life, art, history, and/or culture; (2) a public or private nonprofit agency responsible for operating an eligible museum (applying on the museum's behalf); (3) museum service organizations or associations whose primary mission is to support museums focused on African American life, art, history, and/or culture; (4) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as defined in federal law and relevant executive guidance; and (5) Native American tribal organizations, as long as they meet the overarching eligibility requirements described in the notice.
Does an applicant have to be a nonprofit or government entity?
Yes. The first eligibility condition states an applicant must be either a unit of state or local government or a private nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
Which locations are eligible?
Eligible jurisdictions include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, plus the following U.S. territories and affiliated areas listed in the opportunity: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau).
What qualifies as an eligible museum under this program?
The opportunity describes an eligible museum as one whose mission is centered on African American life, art, history, and/or culture (including major historical periods and movements such as slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights movement, as well as broader aspects of the African American diaspora). It also notes expectations that the institution: operates on a permanent basis for educational or aesthetic purposes; employs a professional staff; owns or uses tangible objects (animate or inanimate); cares for those objects; and regularly exhibits them to the general public through facilities it owns or operates.
Does the museum have to focus on specific periods like the Harlem Renaissance or civil rights movement?
The opportunity lists examples of major historical periods and movements (slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement) as part of the kinds of African American history and culture that may fall within an eligible museum mission, along with broader aspects of the African American diaspora.
What does "operates on a permanent basis" mean in the context of this program?
The information provided states the institution is expected to operate on a permanent basis for educational or aesthetic purposes, but it does not provide additional detail beyond that phrasing. Applicants are encouraged to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for finer points and definitions.
What does the program mean by "professional staff"?
The opportunity states the institution is expected to employ a professional staff as part of meeting the program's museum expectations. It does not further define staffing levels or specific roles in the summary provided, and it points applicants to the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for finer points and definitions.
What does the program mean by "tangible objects"?
The description indicates that the museum is expected to own or use tangible objects, whether animate or inanimate, care for those objects, and regularly exhibit them to the public. No additional definition is provided in the summary.
Does a museum need to regularly exhibit to the public?
Yes. The museum description includes an expectation that the institution regularly exhibits objects to the general public through facilities it owns or operates.
Can an agency apply on behalf of a museum?
Yes. The program allows a public or private nonprofit agency that is responsible for operating an eligible museum to apply on that museum's behalf.
Can a museum association or museum service organization apply?
Yes, if its primary mission is to support museums focused on African American life, art, history, and/or culture.
Are HBCUs eligible to apply?
Yes. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as defined in federal law and relevant executive guidance, are listed as eligible applicants.
Are Native American tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Native American tribal organizations may apply as long as they meet the same overarching eligibility requirements described in the notice.
Is this opportunity tied to a specific fiscal year?
Yes. The information provided references the AAHC FY17 funding cycle.
What was the application deadline for the AAHC FY17 cycle?
The application deadline listed for AAHC FY17 was December 1, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount for this funding cycle?
The maximum award amount listed for AAHC FY17 was $150,000.
How many awards did IMLS expect to make?
For this cycle, IMLS anticipated making roughly 14 awards.
Where should applicants look for details not included in this summary?
Applicants are encouraged to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for finer points and definitions, especially where eligibility depends on mission language, governance and operating responsibility, and how the museum meets expectations related to staffing, collections stewardship, and public exhibition.
What are common areas where the Notice of Funding Opportunity may matter most?
The summary specifically flags that applicants should review the Notice closely where eligibility depends on: (1) mission language; (2) governance and operating responsibility; and (3) how the museum meets expectations around staffing, collections stewardship, and regular public exhibition.
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Apply for AAHC FY17
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (AAHC FY17) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Apply for LB21 FY17 2 Funding Number: LB21 FY17 2 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Museums Empowered: Professional Development and Capacity Building Opportunities for Museums – A Museums for America Special Initiative Apply for ME FY17 Funding Number: ME FY17 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants Program Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY17 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY17 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2023) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY23 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY23 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship Initiative (2024) Apply for ALIF FY24 Funding Number: ALIF FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Native American Library Services Basic Grant (2024) Apply for NAG BASIC FY24 Funding Number: NAG BASIC FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2024) Apply for 21MP FY24 Funding Number: 21MP FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants (2024) Apply for NAG HAWAIIAN FY24 Funding Number: NAG HAWAIIAN FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2024) Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY24 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY24 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums Apply for SPARKS MUSEUM FY16 Funding Number: SPARKS MUSEUM FY16 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants Program Apply for NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16 Funding Number: NAG ENHANCEMENT FY16 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Ukraine: U.S. Government Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program – Culture and Youth Projects Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 003 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2020 003 Agency: U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Poland Grants Program - U.S. Culture Apply for WAW NOFO FY21 03 Funding Number: WAW NOFO FY21 03 Agency: U.S. Mission to Poland Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2025) Apply for LB21 FY25 Funding Number: LB21 FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2025) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY25 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (2025) Apply for 21MP FY25 Funding Number: 21MP FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Museums for America (2025) Apply for MFA FY25 Funding Number: MFA FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| National Leadership Grants for Museums (2025) Apply for NLG M FY25 Funding Number: NLG M FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Inspire! Grants for Small Museums (2025) Apply for IGSM FY25 Funding Number: IGSM FY25 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts, Humanities Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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