Collections Grants

By supporting collections projects, we hope to support endeavors that will exert a long-term impact on institutional practices, such as:

• presentation of a multiplicity of artists and themes
• inclusion of a plurality of voices
• rethinking of collections to re-tell local or regional histories
• engagement with local communities in collaborative program and content creation
• broadening and deepening access through inclusive stories and design

If you are seeking support for research and planning and/or installation of temporary exhibitions consisting primarily of loans, please see our Exhibition grant program.

Grants offset planning, research, and/or implementation costs for permanent collection reinstallations or temporary exhibitions drawn primarily from an institution’s permanent collection. Funds may be used for costs associated with:

• planning and research, including short-term positions (e.g. research fellows or assistants), convenings, travel, and advisory committees
• interpretation
• signage/labels
• artist fees (except for commissions)
• shipping, crating, couriers, insurance, and object loan fees
• construction of temporary gallery walls
• conservation/framing
• rental equipment
• programs and events
• marketing
• evaluation
• dissemination of research, whether in digital or print form

We encourage written materials to be multilingual when possible and relevant to the project and/or its audiences.

We are also happy to support related staff positions (up to 25% of the award amount) and indirect costs (up to 15% of the award amount).

We encourage projects that:

• collectively reflect the full breadth and complexity of American art and its histories through the artists represented, voices included, and stories told
• engage artists, scholars, and communities who present a plurality of perspectives and methods, including intercultural and interdisciplinary approaches
• catalyze inclusive and expansive practices in the field of American art

All applicants must hold United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or its international equivalent.

Only the project organizer(s) may apply for support. If co-organizing with a presenting partner institution, the co-organizers must apply jointly. Grants are not made to individuals.

If an organization has received a Collections research and planning grant, it may subsequently apply for Collections implementation support for the same project.

Currently, we do not accept requests for:

• the creation or acquisition of existing or commissioned artwork
• acquisitions or capital expenditures or permanent equipment (including technology, construction other than temporary gallery walls, contracted exhibition or architectural design, exhibition furniture/vitrines, etc.)
• projects that are exclusively online
• projects previously opened that are touring to new venues
• projects consisting primarily of loans
• grant inquiries or proposals previously declined through this program

Grant Inquiry Form
Use the Apply Now buttons to submit a grant inquiry form by the deadline listed on this page. After reviewing the inquiry, the foundation may invite you to submit a grant proposal.

Grant Proposal
If invited, prospective applicants submit a grant proposal. Formal proposals and all attachments must be written in English. Grant proposals are reviewed by an external panel made up of curators and arts professionals who reflect a diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives, and approaches.