Advocacy Alert – December 12, 2025

In this Alliance Advocacy Alert:

• Museums Advocacy Day Registration is Open
• IMLS Grants Restored
• Appropriations Update
• Advocacy Tip of the Month: Coalitions

Museums Advocacy Day 2026 – Feb. 23-24: Registration is Open!

Registration is open for Museums Advocacy Day 2026!

Museums Advocacy Day brings the museum ecosystem together in Washington, DC to advocate for museums with a unified message to members of Congress. Participants include museum staff of all levels, museum studies graduate students, museum associations, and industry partners who work with museums.

Museums Advocacy Day provides opportunities for networking with other museum professionals, developing advocacy skills, and building relationships with Congressional offices. All politics is local. Congressional offices want to hear from their constituents, the people who live and work in their districts. This is an opportunity to start making those connections with Congressional offices or build upon the relationships you already have.

What’s new for Museums Advocacy Day 2026:

• Two new panels, including one featuring Congressional staff
• Community Town Hall
• Revamped Congressional Reception with a museum “Show and Tell”

New to advocacy? We’ve got you covered. AAM will hold a “What to expect” webinar prior to the event, provide training resources via the Event Resource Center, and provide additional training during the Monday programming.

Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to combine our collective voices to share the unique value of museums of all types and sizes across the country. Your participation matters. Don’t wait! Registration closes January 16.

Interested in being a supporter or sponsor of Museums Advocacy Day? The true cost of Museums Advocacy Day amid today’s rising costs is $500 per person. We are grateful to our partners and individuals whose financial support helps keep registration as affordable as possible for advocates to access quality training, Congressional meetings, and advocacy materials year-round. If you would like to support Museums Advocacy Day:

• Learn more about becoming an organizational supporter (levels start at $175 and go to $8,000). This is a great opportunity for our fellow museum associations.
• Contact us about Corporate Sponsorship opportunities.
• Make a donation to support advocacy.

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IMLS Grants Restored

Due to a November 21 court ruling, IMLS has now restored all the grants that were terminated earlier this year. Grantees were notified via the eGMS system. More information on the court case.

The Administration has until January 20, 2026 to appeal the ruling.

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Appropriations Update

Unfortunately, efforts to move the appropriations bills through Congress to fund the government for fiscal year 2026 have once again stalled. The current Continuing Resolution that is temporarily funding the federal government expires on January 30, 2026. However, efforts could resume at any time, so it’s important to continue encouraging Congress to support museum funding. Make sure to personalize the draft letters with your story.

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Advocacy Tip of the Month: Coalitions

Amplify your voice through advocacy within a coalition of groups with a common goal. Working within a coalition allows you to pool your resources and amplify your voice in support of a common goal. It can be a coalition of other local museums or organizations that share your interest in the same issue. At the national level, AAM is a member of numerous coalitions, each focused on advocacy for different issues and representing very different types of groups. Finding organizations or museums in your area to partner with can help you with your state and local advocacy efforts.