Advocacy

In This Section

Issue: IMLS Office of Museum Services Funding

Request

We urge Congress to:

  • provide at least $65.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the IMLS Office of Museum Services, a much needed increase of at least $10 million accounting for inflation and public need for museum services.
  • include funding for the agency to explore establishing a roadmap to strengthen the structural support for a museum Grants to States program administered by OMS, as authorized by the Museum and Library Services Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 9173(a)(4), in addition to the agency’s current direct grants to museums.

Introduction

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary federal agency responsible for helping museums connect people to information and ideas. Its Office of Museum Services (OMS) supports all types of museums—including aquariums, arboretums, art museums, botanical gardens, children’s museums, culturally-specific museums, historic sites, history museums, military museums, natural history museums, nature centers, planetariums, railway museums, science and technology centers, zoos, and more—by awarding grants that help them educate students, preserve and digitize collections, and connect with their communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, OMS has provided critical leadership to the museum community through its CARES Act, American Rescue Plan grants, and the agency has been providing science -based information and recommended practices to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff and visitors engaging in the delivery of museum services. Its Communities for Immunity partnership helped boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence in communities across the country. The 2022 -2026 IMLS strategic plan commits the agency to champion lifelong learning, strengthen community engagement, advance collections stewardship and access, and demonstrate excellence in public service.

Status

  • The Office of Museum Services within IMLS is funded through the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. It is currently funded at 55.5 million (FY 2023). IMLS awarded $13.8 million through the IMLS CARES Act Grants to Museums and Libraries to 68 museums and libraries to support their response to the coronavirus pandemic. IMLS received 1085 applications from museums but was only able to fund 39 awards or 4 percent for a total of $8.28 million.
  • Out of $200 million in American Rescue Plan funds, museums received a small fraction, $10.5 million (5.2%), to provide direct support to address community needs created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and in assisting with recovery as nearly all of the funding was directed by Congress to the states for broadband expansion.

Talking Points

  • The Institute of Museum and Library Services has strong bipartisan support, and has been lauded for its peer-reviewed, highly competitive grant programs.
  • OMS has set a strong record of congressional support during the appropriations submission process in each of the last several years, with 136 Representatives and 42 Senators signing FY 2023 appropriations letters on its behalf.
  • In FY 2022, Congress provided $268 million to IMLS, of which $47.6 million was directed to the Office of Museum Services. With this funding, OMS provided 280 grants totaling $44.6 million to museums and related organizations in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
  • By leveraging significant private, state, and local funding, OMS grants amplify a small federal investment for maximum impact in the community.
  • There is high demand for funding from the IMLS Office of Museum Services. In FY 2022 OMS received 716 applications requesting more than $109 million, but current funding has allowed the agency to fund only a small fraction of the highly rated grant applications it receives.
  • $65.5 million or more in FY 2024 funding would allow OMS to increase its grant capacity for museums, funds which museums will need to help recover from the pandemic and continue to serve their communities. This substantial funding increase would still be greatly shy of the high demand of $109 million in FY 2022 in highly rated grant applications the agency received.
  • A Grants to States program administered by OMS, in addition to the agency’s current direct grants to museums, would merge federal priorities with state-defined needs and expand the reach of museums and increase their ability to serve their communities, address underserved populations and meet the needs of the current and future museum workforce.
  • The Inspire! Grants for Small Museums program, designed to encourage small institutions to apply for IMLS funding, generated 218 applications in FY 2022. IMLS made awards to 59 museums through this program, demonstrating a continuing need for support for the nation’s small museums.
  • In 2014, IMLS launched Museums for All, a national access initiative. Today, more than 1000 participating museums in 50 states, DC, and the US Virgin Islands offer deeply discounted admission to visitors who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The program has reached over 5.8 million visitors.
  • OMS provides critical funding for professional development to improve the recruitment, preparation, and professional development of museum professionals, especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
  • In 2018, legislation reauthorizing IMLS passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support by unanimous consent in the Senate and by a vote of 331 to 28 in the House, showing Congress’ renewed support for the agency’s programs and a renewed commitment to its funding.
  • To learn more about grants awarded to museums in your state or district, visit: Advanced Search | Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Additional Information About Museums

  • Museums are economic engines, prior to the pandemic, supporting more than 726,000 jobs and contributing $50 billion to the US economy per year. They attract tourists, promote economic development, and make communities more desirable for employers.
  • Museums’ economic impact generates $12 billion in tax revenue at all levels of government.
  • Museums have strong public support: Museums and Public Opinion, a 2017 national public opinion poll, showed that 95% of voters would approve of lawmakers who acted to support museums and 96% want federal funding for museums to be maintained or increased.
  • Museums are an important part of the nation’s educational system, spending more than $2 billion a year on education and promoting lifelong learning. Museums receive more than 55 million visits each year from student groups.
  • Children who visited a museum during kindergarten had higher achievement scores in reading, mathematics, and science in third grade than children who did not.
  • Museums are essential community infrastructure, attracting over a million volunteer hours every week, prior to the pandemic.
  • Many museums have developed innovative programs to meet the growing needs of their individual communities. For example, some museums have programs designed specifically for children with special needs and their families, some work with medical schools to teach observation and description skills, and some are helping veterans heal from their wounds, both physical and psychological.

IMLS Office of Museum Services Funding History

Appropriation (in millions)

  • FY 24 President’s Request: TBD
  • FY 23: $55.5
  • FY 22: $47.5
  • FY 21: $40.5
  • FY 20: $34.7
  • FY 19: $34.7
  • FY 18: $34.7
  • FY 17: $31.7
  • FY 16: $31.3
  • FY 15: $31.3
  • FY 14: $30.1
  • FY 13 CR*: $30.9
  • FY 12: $30.9

*In FY 2013, across the board sequestration cuts reduced OMS’ effective funding to $29.2 million.

» IMLS Office of Museum Services Funding Printable PDF

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COVID-19 & IMLS Funding

Supporting Letters and Testimony

 

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