Institute of Museum and Library Services
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (2027)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 13, 2026 · 35 days left
- Award size
- $5,000 – $250K
- Total available
- $3.8M · about 20 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Only tribes or Native American / Native Hawaiian organizations can apply
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
Who can apply, from the official notice
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/8f24cc4f-4412-4739-8829-926d6028d129 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/9afe9c11-eea3-43da-bdc5-5919c145385c
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct9
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct23
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Nov6
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Nov11
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov13
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Davidson County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice fy27-oms-nanh-NOFO.pdf (77 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Award size and project length
Award amounts here are per year · p. 27
“You must include $3,000 per year in your project budget for travel to attend IMLS-designated meetings. o How will you track your progress toward achieving your intended results?” Open page 27
Registrations you need first (2)
SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI), Grants.gov · p. 3
“Set up your SAM.gov (including Unique Entity Identifier) and Grants.gov registrations now.” Open page 3
Login.gov · p. 3
“You’ll need an active SAM.gov account and a Login.gov account to register and access Grants.gov.” Open page 3
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 16
“However, the rate must be finalized by the time your budget is approved before we make an award; use a rate not to exceed 15 percent of the Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) if your organization currently does not have a Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost…” Open page 16
Budget narrative / justification · p. 29
“Budget Justification Write a Budget Justification to identify how each expense supports your proposed activities, detail how you calculated all costs, and provide supporting documentation, including any dollar amounts that you may have consolidated and…” Open page 29
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 30
“Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants Provide a resume for each person whose expertise is essential to the success of the project.” Open page 30
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 36
“Forms (follow form and Grants.gov instructions) □ SF-424S □ IMLS Museum Program Information Form Files Formatting Instructions □ Organizational Profile □ Narrative □ Schedule of Completion □ IMLS Budget Form □ Budget Justification □ List of Key Project Staff…” Open page 36
Length limits
Page limit (see quote): 1 page (suggested, not required) · p. 21
“PDF Page Limit: 1 page (recommended).” Open page 21
Page limit (see quote): 7 pages max · p. 21
“PDF Page Limit: 7 pages max.” Open page 21
Page limit (see quote): 2 pages (suggested, not required) · p. 22
“PDF Page Limit: 2 pages each (recommended) File Name:” Open page 22
Character limit (see quote): 200 characters max · p. 58
“Enter a brief descriptive title for your project, using no more than 200 characters, including spaces.” Open page 58
Abstract: 3,000 characters max · p. 61
“Abstract Write an Abstract of no more than 3,000 characters (including spaces) in a concise narrative format for a general audience.” Open page 61
Formatting rules
11-point font · p. 26
“PDF Font Size: 11-point or higher Margins: 0.5 inches or greater Components:” Open page 26
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 42
“Cost share is not required for NANH and is not considered in the review of applications.” Open page 42
Cost share / match · p. 61
“Enter “0” if your budget includes no cost share/match.” Open page 61
Dates in the notice
November 13, 2026 · p. 1
“FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity Applications Due November 13, 2026 Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Funding Opportunity Number:” Open page 1
Mistakes that get applications rejected (3)
Not an eligible applicant: We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because the organization is determined to be... · p. 10
“We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because the organization is determined to be ineligible. To receive an IMLS award, your organization must be determined to be eligible and must comply with all applicable IMLS, administrative and…” Open page 10
Over the length limit: We will remove any pages over the stated limits, and they will not be sent to peer review; any additional... · p. 24
“We will remove any pages over the stated limits, and they will not be sent to peer review; any additional pages will not be considered part of your application.” Open page 24
Over the length limit: Narrative - Required Format Page Limit: 7 numbered pages We will remove any pages over the limit and will... · p. 26
“Narrative - Required Format Page Limit: 7 numbered pages We will remove any pages over the limit and will not send them to peer review; any additional pages will not be considered part of your application.” Open page 26
More from Institute of Museum and Library Services
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About the federal program
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program
Program number 45.308 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · The Institute of Museum and Library Services · Project grant, direct payment for a set purpose
How applications are judged
Match
None required (federal program listing).