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Institute of Museum and Library Services – National Leadership Grants for Museums Attention museum folks! Here’s another spotlight on the museum funding opportunities that are currently open. If your program is seeking to explore opportunities to improve the museum profession at a broad level, you might be interested in this solicitation. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently opened applications for the National Leadership Grants (NLG) for Museums program to support projects that address pressing needs of the broader museum field, as well as projects that can advance practices and strengthen museum services. The mission of the IMLS is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. The agency accomplishes this through research, policy and development, and grantmaking opportunities such as the NLG program.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about relationships. Perhaps it is all the talk of social distancing, self-quarantine, and isolation. As a seasoned grant professional working at my home office for more than ten years, I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever felt “alone.” One might wonder how I could feel lonely with my new “co-workers”; my once-quiet office is now interrupted by two kids, markers, paint, notepads, and maybe even yesterday’s fruit snacks stuck to my desk (don’t judge)! But I desperately miss face-to-face meetings with clients, board and committee meetings, and live trainings that provide valuable in-person adult time to connect and build or strengthen relationships.

Raytown C-2 School District (RQS) recently received a grant for $384,000 from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Homeless Children and Youth Grant Program (MO DESE) to provide services that ensure students currently experiencing homelessness have equal access to education without barriers including academic support which will lead to academic achievement, removal of enrollment obstacles, and assurance that policies and procedures are fair and do not negatively impact them because of their homelessness.

Institute of Museum and Library Services – Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Attention museum folks – another opportunity for you this week! If your institution is an African American museum looking for capacity-building and/or staff professional development opportunities, you might be interested in this funding program. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently opened applications for the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program to nurture museum professionals, build institutional capacity, and increase access to museum and archival collections at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The mission of the IMLS is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. The agency accomplishes this through research, policy and development, and grantmaking opportunities such as AAHC.

Every grant proposal requires some type of budget. Unfortunately, some of us tend to put off this component for as long as we can. However, it should really be the starting point. When we write a proposal, it should be for the purpose of filling a gap in our budget, not just to get money for money’s sake. In a previous blog, Julie Alsup introduced the idea of braided funding. Here, let's walk you through the nuts and bolt of implementing this useful concept.

Institute of Museum and Library Services – Museums for America Attention museum folks! If your program is seeking funding to strengthen your museum’s capacity to serve the public, you might be interested in this opportunity. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently opened applications for the Museums for America program grants to support lifelong learning, increase public access, and improve capacity.

Braided funding, supplanting, and leveraged funds are important concepts to understand for the purposes of effective grant planning (pre-award) and for successful grant management (post-award). Put simply, braided funding refers to the concept of using multiple funding streams to support the expenses of an organization, program, or project. Having more than one funding stream helps to minimize risk should one funding stream dry up. In addition, having one or more confirmed revenue source helps build confidence among other potential funders.

Department of Health and Human Services – Administration for Children and Families – Early Head Start Expansions and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership Grant Attention folks already operating Head Start services (or capable of doing so)! If your program is seeking funding to expand services or create a childcare partnership that addresses your community’s needs, then you might be interested in this opportunity. The U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently opened applications for Early Head Start (EHS) Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care (CC) Partnership grants. The Head Start and EHS programs provide funding to public and private nonprofit and for-profit entities that offer comprehensive child development services. The emphasis for this grant funding is on supporting economically disadvantaged children and families.