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Museum Grant Program

CA Natural Resources Agency · 3720

Eligibility details

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including museums, located in the State of California may apply. Museums of any size and discipline are eligible to participate but must have been open to the public for at least two years, for a minimum of 120 days per year pre-COVID-19, and have the institutional and financial capacity to complete the project and create the outputs described in their proposal.

Matching funds & resources

Source matching-funds field: Not Required. Matching funds are required for public agencies in an amount not less than 5% of the requested grant amount. However, public agencies directly serving an underserved community, and with compelling circumstances, may ask the State to consider approving a lower match.10 Nonprofit organizations are not required to provide a match.

Matching funds and leveraged resources are different requirements. Read the description and reviewed rules below before determining resource commitments.

About this opportunity

Assembly Bill (AB) 716 established the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) in 2002. Funds for the CCHE came from Proposition 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002. $122 million in grants were distributed competitively to for the acquisition, restoration, preservation, and interpretation of historical and cultural resources. In 2013, AB 482 (Atkins) authorized the creation of a specified competitive grant program administered by CCHE to support small capital projects in museums. On September 23, 2018, Senate Bill (SB) 1493 was approved and expanded the museum grant program’s project focus of capital projects to include programming such as exhibits, educational programs, outreach programs, public programs, curriculum, marketing, and collections care in museums. SB 74 Budget Act of 2020 states that the California Natural Resources Agency shall prioritize the funds for museums severely affected by COVID -19 and that serve historically underserved communities and/or students subject to Title 1 of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This program is intended to solicit proposals for program projects, capital projects, or a combination of program and capital projects that assist and enhance museums that are deeply rooted in, and reflective of, previously underserved communities. In total, between $500,000 and $1.0M will be available for awards during Fiscal Year 20/21 and 21/22. In response to impacts caused by COVID-19, it is anticipated projects will be awarded in two parts – March 2021 and again July 2021.

Funding geography: Statewide.

Funding instrument: Grant. Issuing jurisdiction: California. This is not a geographic eligibility determination.