Funding Sources

Because funding programs and proposal deadlines vary from year to year, please refer to each agency for submission guidelines.

Agency Description
American Alliance of Museums (AAM)

The American Alliance of Museums (formerly known as the American Association of Museums) administers the Museum Assessment Program (MAP).  MAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which funds the grants.  MAP helps small and mid-sized museums strengthen operations, plan for the future and meet national standards through self-study and a site visit from a peer reviewer.  MAP grants are non-competitive and provide $4,000 of consultative resources and services to participating museums.

MAP offers four assessment tools: Organizational, Collections Stewardship, Community Engagement, and Leadership.  The Collections Stewardship assessment focuses on collections policies and management (care, use, acquisitions, deaccessioning, legal/ethical/safety issues, documentation, inventory, and emergency planning).  These grant monies can help you assess your collection-related need and improve your collections standards, policies, and stewardship.


Agency link: www.aam-us.org/
Program link: www.aam-us.org/resources/assessment-programs/MAP
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is the only comprehensive national organization dedicated to state and local history.  From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH serves a membership, which directly reflects the kaleidoscopic demographics of the field itself. Most history organizations in the United States are small, volunteer led and, often, volunteer staffed. They have small budgets and limited staff resources. AASLH is the national organization known for serving this special audience.  AASLH provides a variety of programs and services that includes technical resources, workshops, and seminars, and help with finding resources. 
Each year, the Alderson Internship Grant Program provides funding of up to $1,000 for three of its members to hire a summer intern. The host institution must provide information on what they expect their intern to do and match funds at a 1:4 level (that is $1 for every $4 AASLH provides).  Requirements:

  • Applicants must be an institutional member of AASLH.
  • Applicants must have an annual operating budget under $250,000.
  • Application must be received by AASLH office by 5 p.m. on December 9 (the internship begins the following summer.

Agency link:  https://www.aaslh.org/aboutus.htm
Program link:  https://www.aaslh.org/alderson.htm
American Association of Museums (AAM)

In 2012, the American Association of Museums changed its name to the American Alliance of Museums, but its acronym remains AAM. And, the agency url is still https://www.aam-us.org/.  Please read the American Alliance of Museums entry.

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