Institute of Museum and Library Services

Portfolio overview. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) currently administers 10 federal assistance programs listed in the SAM.gov Assistance Listings database. The portfolio concentrates in Arts & Culture (10 programs). Each listing on this page links through to the full CFDA program detail — funding range, eligibility categories, current funding opportunities on Grants.gov, and the authorizing legislation.

Funding scale. SAM.gov publishes funding range data for 10 of 10 IMLS programs. The largest award ceiling in this portfolio is $20.0 million, and the median listed ceiling is $500,000. Assistance Listings funding ranges represent the envelope across all awards, not the amount any single applicant can expect — individual awards depend on appropriations, the scope of the proposed project, and the evaluation score. Always cross-check against the current NOFO for the figure that matters to your application.

Who applies. Across the 10 IMLS programs, the most frequently listed eligibility categories are nonprofit (8 programs), educational institution (2 programs), state local gov (1 program). Every applicant, regardless of entity type, must maintain an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI) before submitting on Grants.gov. Nonprofits need current IRS 501(c)(3) determination; state and local governments typically need a designated authorizing official; tribal organizations apply under set-aside provisions; educational institutions frequently need institutional pre-award offices to handle the submission. First-time applicants should allow 4–6 weeks for SAM.gov registration to validate before a deadline.