National Leadership Grants for Libraries

http://www.imls.gov/applicants/national_leadership_grant_guidelines.aspx
National Leadership Grants – FY12 Guidelines
Application Deadline: February 1, 2012
(Projects must begin October 1, November 1, or December 1, 2012.)
Date Posted: November 28, 2011
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 45.312

Questions? See the National Leadership Grants Web page for IMLS contact info.
Teletype (TTY/TDD) (for persons with hearing difficulty): 202/653-4614
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202/653-4614 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Upon request, IMLS will provide an audio recording of this or any other
publication.
Web Conferencing with Program Staff
IMLS staff are available by phone and through e-mail to discuss general issues
relating to National Leadership Grants. We also invite you to participate in one
of two pre-application Web conferences to learn more about the program, ask
questions, and listen to the questions and comments of other participants. See
the National Leadership Grants Web page for date/time information.
Equal Opportunity
IMLS-funded programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, disability, or age. For further information, write to the Civil Rights
Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street, NW, 9th Floor,
Washington, DC 20036-5802.

IMLS Information

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About the Institute of
Museum and Library
Services

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National Initiatives

Guideline Contents
1.

Program Information

2.

Eligibility

3.

Registration Requirements

4.

Preparing and Submitting an
Application

5.

After You Apply

Office of Management and Budget Clearance Numbers
Guidelines: OMB No. 3137-0029; Expiration Date: August 31, 2013.
Forms: OMB No. 3137-0071; Expiration Date: August 31, 2013.
How long should it take me to complete this application?
We estimate the average amount of time needed for one applicant to complete the narrative portion of this application
to be 40 hours. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and writing and reviewing the answers.
We estimate that, in addition to the time needed for you to answer the narrative questions, it will take you an average
of 15 minutes per response for the Program information Sheet, 3 hours per response for the Detailed Budget and
Summary Budget, and 10 minutes per response for the Partnership Statement.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at 1800 M Street, NW, 9th
Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5802, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project
(3137-0029), Washington, DC 20503.

1. Program Information
What are National Leadership Grants?
National Leadership Grants (NLG) support projects that address challenges faced by the museum, library, and/or
archive fields and that have the potential to advance practice in those fields.
Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or
alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment.

This year, we are requiring NLG applicants to align their projects with one of the following three goals and their
associated objectives from the agency’s new Strategic Plan.
1.

Place learners at the center and support engaging experiences in libraries and museums that prepare
people to be full participants in their local communities and our global society.

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Invest in projects that provide inclusive and accessible learning opportunities to individuals of
diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with special needs; and
underserved communities.
o Support communities of practice that draw on current research and evaluation literature to develop
effective informal and formal learning experiences in museums and libraries.
o Facilitate partnerships among museums, libraries and other education providers to expand learning
opportunities for the public.
Promote museums and libraries as strong community anchors that enhance civic engagement, cultural
opportunities, and economic vitality.

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Invest in projects that strengthen the role of libraries and museums as core components of the
broader community learning and service infrastructure.
Practice exemplary stewardship of collections and use the power of technology to facilitate discovery of
knowledge and cultural heritage.

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Support the care and management of the nation’s collections, both material and living, to expand
and sustain access for current and future generations.

In addition, for 2012, the Library Museum Collaboration Category of NLG will focus on museums and libraries
promoting early learning (learners from ages 0-8 and their parents and caregivers). Libraries and museums are
encouraged to partner with each other and/or with applicable community organizations to address at least one of the
challenges identified by the Campaign for Grade Level Reading including school readiness, summer reading loss, and
chronic school absence. In recognition of this national priority and the role that museums and libraries play in early
learning, we intend to provide up to $2 million over two years to this initiative subject to the availability of funds and
agency discretion.
What are the important characteristics of successful National Leadership Grant applications?

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National Impact: Your proposal should address key needs and challenges that face libraries, museums,
and/or archives. Your project should expand the boundaries within which libraries, museums, and archives
operate; show the potential for far-reaching impact, influence practice throughout the museum, library,
and/or archival communities; and reflect awareness and support of current strategic initiatives and agendas
in these fields.
Innovation: Your proposal should demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge
about the subject matter, and show how the project will advance museum, library, and/or archive service.
Collaboration: While partners are not required in all NLG categories, partnerships can help demonstrate a
broad need, field-wide buy-in and input, access to appropriate expertise, and sharing of resources.

What are the National Leadership Grant categories?
The National Leadership Grant program accepts applications under four categories:

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Advancing Digital Resources—Support the creation, use, presentation, and preservation of significant digital
resources as well as the development of tools to enhance access, use, and management of digital assets.
Research—Support research that investigates key questions that are important to museum, library, and/or
archival practice.
Demonstration—Support projects that produce a replicable model or practice that is usable, adaptable, or
scalable by other institutions for improving services and performance.
Library Museum Collaboration— Support collaborative projects (between museums and /or libraries and
other community organizations) that address the educational, economic, cultural, or social needs of a
community. In 2012, a funding priority will be projects that promote early learning.

What types of grants are available in the NLG program?

Applicants may choose to submit a Project Grant, Planning Grant, or National Forum Grant proposal in any of the
four NLG categories listed above.

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Project Grants support fully developed projects for which needs assessments, partnership development,
feasibility analyses, prototyping, and other planning activities have been completed.
Planning Grants allow project teams to perform preliminary planning activities that could lead to a
subsequent full project, such as needs and feasibility analyses, solidifying partnerships, developing project
work plans, or developing prototypes or proofs of concept. Applications for Planning Grants must include at
least one formal partner in addition to the lead applicant.
National Forum Grants provide the opportunity to convene qualified groups of experts and key stakeholders
to consider issues or challenges that are important to libraries, museums, and/or archives across the nation.
Grant-supported meetings are expected to produce widely disseminated reports with expert
recommendations for action or research that address a key challenge identified in the proposal. The expert
recommendations resulting from these meetings are intended to guide future proposals to the NLG program.

What is the deadline for applying for a National Leadership Grant?
The FY2012 deadline for National Leadership Grants is February 1, 2012.
What is the period of time in which my institution can conduct activities funded by a FY12 NLG grant?
Projects must begin on October 1, November 1, or December 1, 2012. Projects must begin on the first day of the
month and end on the last day of the final month of the project. Generally, project activities supported by NLG grants
may be carried out for up to three years.
How much money can my institution apply for?
The award amount limitations are as follows:

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Project Grants: $50,000 - $500,000 (except for Library Museum Collaboration (LMC) category projects
addressing the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, which are capped at $250,000)
Planning Grants: up to $50,000
National Forum Grants: up to $100,000

Do we have to provide funds from other sources in order to be eligible for a NLG grant?
In order to receive an NLG grant, you must provide funds from non-federal sources in an amount that is equal to or
greater than the amount of the grant. This rule does not apply to applications in the Research category, or to
applications for grants under $250,000 regardless of category. In these instances, no matching funds are required,
but we encourage you to provide non-federal funding in an amount equal to or greater than one-third of the amount of
the grant. Click here for further information on cost sharing.
What types of activities can be funded under the Advancing Digital Resources category?
Advancing Digital Resources grants support enhanced access, use, and management of digital content over its entire
life cycle by incorporating new technologies or new technical practice. Projects should harness the power of
technology to permit new types of information use and experiences.
Examples of potential projects include those that

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develop and disseminate new tools or services that facilitate access, presentation, management,
preservation, sharing, and use of digital resources;
increase community access to online information resources through innovative use of existing technologybased tools and/or social networking environments;

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support collaborations to enhance online access to digital content from multiple sources, including cultural
heritage institutions of all types to provide innovative opportunities for the use of museum, library, and/or
archival content and materials for research, teaching, and learning; or
deploy and test new processes or tools that support the evolving practices and needs involved in creating,
managing, using, and sharing digital information.

Proposals that involve the creation of new digital products such as digital collections, software tools, or other digital
resources must include as part of the application the Digital Specifications Form for Projects That Develop Digital
Products with the relevant portions of Part I and II completed.
What types of activities can be funded under the Research category?
Research grants support projects that have the potential to inform and improve museum, library, and/or archival
practice, resource use, programs, and services. Research project proposals should answer each of the following
questions in the narrative portion of their application.

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What are the specific research questions this investigation will attempt to answer?
What is the relevance of the proposed research for current practice?
What research method(s) will be used to conduct the research?
What type of data will be gathered?
How will be data be analyzed?
How will the information be reported?
How will the research data be managed and made available for future use (as applicable)?

Click here to learn more about the elements of an effective research proposal.
Examples of potential projects include those that

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acquire new understanding of any broadly relevant aspect of library, museum, or archive practices, or the
needs of communities these organizations serve;
investigate how to improve the quality, effectiveness, or efficiency of library or museum management,
programs, or services;
investigate ways to enhance the archiving, preservation, management, discovery, and use of digital assets
and resources;
investigate or conduct research to add new knowledge or make improvements in the conservation and
preservation of collections;
re-use or re-purpose existing datasets to conduct new library or museum research; or
investigate how learning takes place in museums, libraries, and archives and how use of library, museum,
and/or archive resources affects learning.

If an electronic dataset will be created as a result of the proposed research, you must complete Part III of the Digital
Specifications Form for Projects That Develop Digital Products and include this form as part of your application. Part III of
this form asks you to summarize the dataset’s original purpose and scope; provide technical information about the
dataset’s format, structure, and content; explain what metadata will be created about the dataset and what standards
and formats will be used for the metadata; list any relevant hardware, software, or other dependencies for using the
data; identify a repository where the data and metadata will be archived, managed, and made accessible (if
applicable); and describe the long-term preservation plan for the dataset.
What types of activities can be funded under the Demonstration category?
Demonstration projects address key needs and challenges facing libraries, museums, and archives and should
implement and evaluate innovative models for new services or practices that other institutions may replicate or adapt
to improve their services or operations. Projects should be designed to document and make available key information
about the processes, resources, and lessons learned from the project.
Examples of potential projects include those that

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demonstrate and/or test new types of partnerships, services, processes, or practices in the museum, library
and/or archive field;
demonstrate how museums, libraries, and/or archives can enhance services to their communities and
contribute to local economic/workforce development, fostering public value and promoting systemic changes
in the field;
consolidate, restructure, or reorganize existing programs, services, and/or operational workflows in
innovative ways through the use of technology or other creative means;
demonstrate and/or test an expansion of collection management, preservation, and/or conservation
practices.

Exhibition projects, unless they are truly broad collaborations that address identified field-wide challenges and
demonstrate significant innovation are generally not funded under the National Leadership Grant program.
What types of activities can be funded under the Library Museum Collaboration (LMC) category?
Library Museum Collaboration (LMC) grants support collaborative projects (between museums and/or libraries and
other community organizations) that address the educational, economic, cultural, or social needs of a community.
In 2012, a funding priority will be projects that promote early learning (learners from ages 0-8 and their parents and
caregivers). Libraries and museums are encouraged to partner with each other or with applicable community
organizations to address at least one of the challenges identified by the Campaign for Grade Level Reading including
school readiness, summer reading loss, and chronic school absence.
Grant funds in the Library Museum Collaboration category support innovative, collaborative projects—whether new or
building on an existing project or relationship. While projects should position museums and/or libraries as important
community anchors, recognizing and responding to community needs, you should structure your project to be a
replicable or adaptable model, envisioning your institution as a member of a national community of practice around
early learning.
As with all NLG applications involving partnerships, the lead applicant must be an eligible library or museum entity
that will serve as the financial agent if a grant is awarded. Each partner of the lead applicant must complete a
Partnership Statement form, to be included as part of the submitted application.
Examples of potential projects include those that

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combine the resources of community organizations to meet the early learning needs of children, their
parents, and caregivers;
provide increased services and support for underserved populations within communities;
combine or coordinate existing programs, services, and/or operational workflows in innovative ways through
the use of technology or other creative means;
apply technology to serve audiences more effectively;
assist in building effective local, statewide, or regional coalitions of museums, libraries, archives, and other
cultural heritage organizations;
conduct collaborative research; or
increase the capacity of partnering organizations to provide effective services, creative venues, and
meaningful resources for learning.

Acknowledgement and Copyright/Work Products
Read more about Acknowledgement and Copyright/Work Products
What requirements govern the use of IMLS funds?
You may only use IMLS funds for allowable costs as found in IMLS and government-wide cost principle rules,
including OMB Circulars and regulations.
What expenses are allowable with NLG funds?

Examples of allowable expenses for National Leadership Grants include

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project personnel (contract or in-house) whose staff time is necessary for the proper and efficient execution
of the project;
project consultants;
project-related travel of key project staff and consultants;
purchase of equipment, materials, supplies, or services;
program development and implementation;
integration of technology into operations or programs;
research;
publications based on project activities;
software development;
evaluation to show the extent to which the project has met its goals; and
indirect or overhead costs.

You must explain all proposed expenses in your Budget Justification.
What expenses are not allowable with NLG funds?
Examples of unallowable expenses for National Leadership grants include

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general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general
fundraising;
general operating support;
general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those
related to the specific project;
construction and renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving contract labor in the construction
trades is not an allowable cost);
exhibit fabrication that includes creation of large-scale permanent structures for animals or objects that
would involve contract labor of the construction trades (applicants with questions about the eligibility of
exhibition activities should call IMLS staff immediately);
acquisition of collections;
projects where the majority of requested funds go to training library or museum staff;
contributions to endowments;
social activities, ceremonies, receptions, or entertainment; and
pre-award costs.

(Note: If you have questions about the allowability or unallowability of specific activities, please call us for guidance.)
Are Partnerships Required for NLG?
Partnerships may strengthen a National Leadership Grant application, if they are appropriate to the project.
Partnerships are required for Planning Grants and under the Library-Museum Collaboration category. An application
may include one or more partners. The lead applicant in a partnership must be eligible to apply as an individual entity,
and all members of a partnership should be active contributors to project activities. Read more about partnerships.

2. Eligibility
What are the eligibility criteria for libraries and archives?
To be eligible as a library applicant for a National Leadership Grant, you must:

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be either a unit of State or local government or a private nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status
under the Internal Revenue Code.

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be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the
Republic of Palau; and
qualify as one of the following six types of organizations:
o a library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a state agency, or an
academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library. Eligible libraries include
public libraries, public elementary and secondary school libraries, college and university libraries,
research libraries and archives that are not an integral part of an institution of higher education and
that make publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research
and not otherwise available1. Research libraries, under the supervision of at least one permanent
professional staff librarian, must be either generally recognized as possessing unique scholarly
research materials and services that are made available to the public, or able to demonstrate that
such is the case when submitting an application to IMLS. Private or special libraries that have been
deemed eligible to participate in this program by the State in which the library is located;
o an academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science
that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would make application;
o a digital library, if it makes library materials publicly available and provides library services,
including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of
at least one permanent professional staff librarian;
o a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by
the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its
jurisdiction;
o a library consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative
association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the
resources of eligible libraries, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the
services delivered to the clientele of these libraries; or
o a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a
national, regional, state, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being
of libraries and the library profession.

What are the eligibility criteria for museums?
To be eligible as a museum applicant for a National Leadership Grant, you must:
1.

be either a unit of State or local government or a private nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status
under the Internal Revenue Code;

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be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the
Republic of Palau; and

3.

qualify as one of the following:

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a museum2 that, using a professional staff,3 is organized on a permanent basis for essentially
educational or aesthetic purposes; owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or inanimate;
cares for these objects; and exhibits these objects to the general public on a regular basis through
facilities that it owns or operates.4
an organization or association that engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of
museums and the museum profession;
an institution of higher education, including public and nonprofit universities; or
a public or private nonprofit agency which is responsible for the operation of a museum may apply
on behalf of the museum.

Please note that a museum located within a parent organization that is a State or local government or multipurpose
not-for-profit entity, such as a municipality, university, historical society, foundation, or cultural center, may apply on
its own behalf if the museum: (1) is able to independently fulfill all the eligibility requirements listed above; (2)
functions as a discrete unit within the parent organization; (3) has its own fully segregated and itemized operating
budget; and (4) has the authority to make the application on its own. When any of the last three conditions cannot be
met, a museum may only apply through its parent organization.

IMLS may determine that a non-profit organization that is affiliated with a museum is eligible for this program where
the organization can demonstrate that it has the ability to administer the project and can ensure compliance with the
terms of these guidelines and the applicable law, including the Assurances and Certifications. The applicant
organization must submit an agreement from the museum that details the activities that the applicant and museum
will perform and binds the museum to the statements and assurances made in the grant application.

1. Research libraries must be either generally recognized as possessing unique scholarly research materials and
services that are made available to the public, or able to demonstrate that such is the case when submitting an
application to IMLS.
2. Museums include, but are not limited to, aquariums, arboretums, art museums, botanical gardens, children/youth
museums, general museums (those having two or more significant disciplines), historic houses/sites, history
museums, natural history/anthropology museums, nature centers, planetariums, science/technology centers,
specialized museums (limited to a single distinct subject), and zoological parks.
3. An institution uses a professional staff if it employs at least one professional staff member, or the full-time
equivalent, whether paid or unpaid, primarily engaged in the acquisition, care, or exhibition to the public of objects
owned or used by the institution.
4. An institution exhibits objects to the general public if such exhibition is a primary purpose of the institution. An
institution that exhibits objects to the general public for at least 120 days a year is deemed to exhibit objects to the
general public on a regular basis.
An institution that exhibits objects by appointment may meet the requirement to exhibit objects to the general public
on a regular basis if it can establish, in light of the facts under all the relevant circumstances, that this method of
exhibition does not unreasonably restrict the accessibility of the institution’s exhibits to the general public.
An institution that does not have as a primary purpose the exhibition of objects to the general public but that can
demonstrate that it exhibits objects to the general public on a regular basis as a significant, separate, distinct, and
continuing portion of its activities, and that it otherwise meets the museum eligibility requirements, may be determined
to be eligible as a museum under these guidelines. For more information, please see 45 C.F.R. Chapter XI,
Subchapter E (Institute of Museum and Library Services).

3. Registration Requirements
Getting a D-U-N-S® Number
Read more about Getting a D-U-N-S® Number.
CCR Registration
Read more about CCR Registration.
Grants.gov Registration
Read more about Grants.gov Registration and Tips for Using Grants.gov.

4. Preparing and Submitting an Application
PLEASE REVIEW THESE GUIDELINES AND THE GRANTS.GOV REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. WE MAKE
GRANTS ONLY TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS THAT SUBMIT COMPLETE APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING
ATTACHMENTS, ON OR BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
For the FY12 National Leadership Grants, Grants.gov will accept applications through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
February 1, 2012.
We strongly recommend that you REGISTER EARLY and COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION EARLY.

Apply for Grants: www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp
Use one of the following identifiers to locate the National Leadership Grants package in Grants.gov:
CFDA No: 45.312, or
Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-FY12

What documents are required and how should they be completed, formatted, named, and sequenced?
Please see the Table of Application Components below. Links to more information and instructions for completing
forms are provided in the table. Applications missing any Required Documents or applicable Conditionally
Required Documents from this list will be considered incomplete and will be rejected from further
consideration.
You should also use this table to determine the format of each document, the name it must be given, and the
sequence in which the documents should be attached.
We will not accept file formats other than PDF and we will not convert files for you. For assistance in converting
documents to PDF, visit www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#pdf_conversion_programs. Also, please do not send
secured PDFs because we cannot process these files.

Please note that, aside from the first two documents listed, all documents must be submitted as PDF documents,
regardless of how they were created. Documents listed as IMLS forms are available in both Microsoft® Word
document and fill-in PDF formats, and are located on the IMLS Web site. If you do not have Adobe® Pro, we suggest
using the Word document to complete the forms. Remember, the Word version must later be converted to and
submitted as a PDF.
Be sure to note the maximum page limits for certain components. We will remove any pages above the limit, and we
will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.
Append all the documents to the attachments form in the sequence used in the Table of Application Components.
Use all the available spaces in the "Mandatory Documents for Submission" box first. If there are more attachments
than will fit there, use the "Optional Documents for Submission" box for the remaining ones, following the same
naming convention and submitting them one at a time.
You may use this table as a checklist to ensure that you have created and attached all the documents that may be
necessary for a complete application. We suggest assembling and uploading your documents in this sequence to
assist you in confirming the inclusion of all required materials.
Table of Application Components
Component

Format

File name to use

Required Documents
The Application for Federal Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF424S)

Grants.gov form

n/a

Abstract (to be uploaded through Grants.gov) (one page, max.)

Text document that you
create

n/a

Program Information Sheet

IMLS PDF form

Programinfo.pdf

Organizational Profile (one page, max.)

PDF document

Organizationalprofile.pdf

Narrative (ten pages, max.)

PDF document

Narrative.pdf

Schedule of Completion (one page per year, max.)

PDF document

Scheduleofcompletion.pdf

Detailed Budget Form (by year, as appropriate)

IMLS PDF form

Detailedbudgetyear1.pdf
Detailedbudgetyear2.pdf
Detailedbudgetyear3.pdf

Summary Budget Form

IMLS PDF form

Summarybudget.pdf

Budget Justification (two pages, max.)

PDF document

Budgetjustification.pdf

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants (one page, max.)

PDF document

Projectstaff.pdf

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants that appear on the list above
(two pages each, max.)

PDF document

Resumes.pdf

Conditionally Required Documents
Proof of Nonprofit Status (if applicable)

PDF document

Proofnonprofit.pdf

Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

PDF document

Indirectcostrate.pdf

Partnership Statement Form(s) (if applicable)

IMLS PDF form

Partners.pdf

Specifications for Projects that Develop Digital Products Form (if
applicable)

IMLS PDF form

Specificationsdigital.pdf

Supporting Documents
Information that supplements the narrative and supports the project
description provided in the application

PDF document

Supportingdoc1.pdf
Supportingdoc2.pdf
Supportingdoc3.pdf
etc.

Abstract
A project abstract should be no more than one page. Insert the text, which you generate through a word processing
program and save as a PDF, into the Abstract field in Grants.gov.
Information in the abstract should cover the following areas as related to the proposed project:

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Who is the lead applicant and, if applicable, who are the formal partners?
What is the time frame for the project?
What is the challenge, problem, or need the project addresses?
Which one of IMLS’s strategic goals does this project address?
Who is the intended audience for the project outcomes?
What will be the specific project activities and tangible products?
What are the intended outcomes for audience members in terms of measurable changes in knowledge,
skills, attitudes, or behavior?

This abstract may be used for public information purposes, so it should be informative to other persons working in the
same or related fields, as well as to the lay reader. The abstract must not include any proprietary or confidential
information.
Program Information Sheet
1. Applicant Information
a. Legal Name: Enter the legal name of the applicant.
b. and c. Organizational Unit and Address:
If the eligible entity cannot apply for grants on its own behalf, then enter the name and address of the entity in these
spaces. For example, if an entity that is applying is part of a parent organization, such as a university, then the

university would be the legal applicant, and the entity would be entered as the organizational unit. Be sure to include
the four-digit extension on the ZIP code.
d. Web Address: If an organizational unit is listed, enter its Web address here. If not, enter the Web site of the entity
listed under Legal Name in Section 1a above.
e. Type of Institution: Select the one that most accurately describes your organization.
2. Grant Program or Grant Program Category
Select the appropriate funding office:

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Museum
Library

Select the type of funding:

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Project Grant
Planning Grant
National Forum Grant

Select the grant category:

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Research
Demonstration
Advancing Digital Resources
Library Museum Collaboration

3. Request Information
a. IMLS Funds Requested: Enter the amount in dollars sought from IMLS.
b. If you are providing non-federal matching funds in support of this project, enter the amount here. Although
matching is not required, we encourage applicants to provide at least one-third of the total project costs from nonfederal sources. Read more about cost share.
4. Museum Profile (Museum applicants only)
Museum applicants must answer all questions (a - g) in this section.
If you indicate a budget surplus or deficit for one or both of the two previous fiscal years on the Program Information
Sheet, you should provide an explanation in the application narrative, Section 4: Project Resources. This explanation
is intended to assist reviewers in evaluating the financial capacity of your institution to complete the project activities.

5. Project Partners
In the space provided, list all organizations that are partners for the project. Note: Each partner listed in this section is
required to complete and submit a Partnership Statement form to the lead applicant for submission with the
application.
6–8.
Skip these sections. They do not apply to NLG.
Download Program Information Sheet:
Adobe® PDF (318 KB)
Microsoft® Word Document (118 KB)
Narrative

Write a narrative that addresses the components listed and explained below, noting that not all narrative components
are required for all categories. Limit the narrative to ten single-spaced, numbered pages. We will remove any pages
above the ten-page limit, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.
Make sure your organization’s name appears at the top of each page. Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides and
a font size of at least twelve-point. See the instructions for "Supporting Documents" to provide supplementary
material.
Reviewers with a variety of professional backgrounds will read these applications and advise us on their merits. They
will base their evaluations on the information presented in the application. Your project narrative should therefore be
clear, concise, and well organized with a minimum of technical jargon.
Review criteria are listed below for each section of the narrative. These criteria describe what the reviewers are
instructed to consider as they evaluate proposals. Keep these application review criteria in mind when writing your
narrative. Be certain to address the bullet points under each of the narrative sections as you write. Address the
sections of the narrative separately and in the same order in which they are listed below.
Please be advised that reviewers may also choose to visit your organization’s Web site, as listed on the SF-424S
form provided with this application.
1. Statement of Need

Provide a justification for the proposed project as it relates to a field-wide need or challenge. Include information such
as the following:

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The project’s intended audience and the need or challenge it faces
Evidence that there is some consensus around the urgency to address this need or challenge
How this project differs from, complements, or builds upon, previous work in this area
How the project will benefit the intended audience

For projects building on a prior NLG Planning Grant, include a discussion of what was learned during the planning
process.
For research grants, click here for more information about the elements of an effective research proposal.
Review Criteria:

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Evidence that the applicant has identified an audience, performed a formal or informal assessment of its
needs, is aware of similar projects completed by other institutions, and has developed the project and its
goals as the best solution to answer those needs
Evidence of innovation shown by the degree to which the project results in more than incremental change
Research proposals should frame the project in the context of current research and explain what the project
will contribute to the library, museum, and/or archive fields.
Planning grant proposals should describe the field-wide need or challenge the planning grant is addressing
but do not require full needs assessments and environmental scans since these types of activities can be
part of planning activities.

2. Impact

Describe the benefits of this project for the museum, library, and/or archive field. Address issues such as the
following:

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How the project innovatively addresses current issues that concern the library, museum, and /or archive
fields and will have a lasting impact on the field(s)
How the project design allows for input, consensus building, and buy-in from others in and/or outside the
field

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Describe the design, integration, and implementation of an assessment method that will measure project
outputs, outcomes, findings, and products. Include a description of evaluation measures and indicators of
success. Describe how the evaluation plan is an integral part of the project design

Review Criteria:

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Degree to which the project is likely to have a far-reaching impact through results or products that serve
multiple institutions and constituencies
Evidence that the project will create, implement, and document workable models that have the potential for
successful, widespread adaptation where appropriate
Degree to which potential benefits of the project outweigh its potential risks
Degree to which evaluation plan ties directly to project goals through measurable project outcomes, findings,
or products
Evidence that the project evaluation will provide reliable information on which to judge impact or base
actions
For projects that involve building digital collections, software, or other technology products, in addition to the
above criteria, evidence that the project demonstrates interoperability and accessibility in its broadest
context and potential for integration into larger-scale initiatives
For research projects, evidence that the results will be generalizable and useful to the library, museum, and
/or archive communities
For planning grant proposals, evidence that the planning outcomes, findings, or products are identified, will
be measured, and can be used to inform the development of a full project

Resources for Evaluating a Project’s Impact
Click here for helpful information about project evaluation.

3. Project Design

Describe the proposed project’s design. Include information such as the following:

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Project goals and activities, the planning process, and specifics of project implementation
If the project is a partnership, describe how it will be managed

Review Criteria:

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Evidence that the project proposes efficient, effective, and reasonable approaches to accomplish its goals
and objectives
Evidence that methodology and design are appropriate to the scope of the project
Evidence that the project uses existing or emerging standards or best practices
If products such as digital collections or software tools will be generated by the project, evidence that
applicant has considered key technical details and has included the form Specifications for Projects That
Develop Digital Products with relevant portions of Parts I and II completed

4. Project Resources: Personnel, Time, Budget

Describe the resources, including those funded by the grant and those funded by the organization’s cost share,
required to implement and complete the project. Include information such as the following:

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The institutional responsibilities for the project’s implementation and management
The personnel who will complete project activities, and their qualifications and commitment to the project
activities, particularly if they have other ongoing duties
The budget allocated to accomplish project activities, including cost sharing

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If the project includes a partnership, the contributions to and benefits from the project for both the applicant
and partner organizations, and how information will be shared and decisions will be made
For museum applicants, if a budget surplus or deficit for one or both of the two previous fiscal years is
shown on the Program Information Sheet, an explanation as part of this section of the narrative

Review Criteria:

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Clear description of how the applicant will effectively complete the project activities through the deployment
and management of resources including money, facilities, equipment, and supplies
Cost-efficient, complete, and accurate budget that uses appropriate resources to fulfill any cost-sharing
requirement
Evidence that project personnel demonstrate appropriate experience and expertise and will commit
adequate time to accomplish project goals and activities
If the project includes a partnership, evidence that all partners are active contributors to and beneficiaries of
the partnership activities
For museums, if a budget surplus or deficit for one or both of the two previous fiscal years in shown on the
Program Information Sheet, include an explanation as part of this section of the narrative

5. Communications Plan [Not required for Planning Grants]

Describe the variety of media and other means the project will use to reach library, museum, archive, and other
audiences that might benefit from its work. Include information such as the following:

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How new products, services, research results, and information will reach the audiences described in the first
narrative section above, Assessment of Need. Many strategies that apply to publicizing an award may be
used to disseminate project news as well. See http://www.imls.gov/recipients/grantee.aspx.)
How new and emerging engagement and communications strategies, such as communities of practice,
might be used to further the reach of the project
If developing software or other technology tools, how these will be made available to the public for reuse and
implementation

Review Criteria:

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Extent to which the results, products, models, data sets, processes, and benefits of this project will be made
accessible through effective communication channels to the museum, library, and/or archive fields, and to
other professional organizations and communities, as appropriate
Extent to which research findings will be made available to the public

6. Sustainability [Not required for Planning Grants, National Forum Grants, or proposals in the Research Category]

Describe how the applicant will continue to support the project, its results, and/or the new model it creates beyond the
grant period.
Review Criteria:

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Extent to which the project’s benefits will continue beyond the grant period, either through ongoing
institutional support of project activities or products, Web sites, and development of institutional expertise
and capacity, or through broad long-term access to project products
Extent to which the project will lead to systemic change within the organization as well as within the
museum, archive, and/or library fields
For projects that produce digitized collections, software, information systems, and other technology tools, in
addition to the above criteria, the extent that project plans address activities to preserve and sustain the
resulting digital products

For this section of the application, reviewers will consider information provided in the Narrative, Budget Forms,

Budget Justification, and Resumes.

Conditionally Required Documents
Proof of Nonprofit Status
If your organization is a private, nonprofit organization, you must submit a copy of the IRS letter indicating your
eligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. We
will not accept a letter of state sales tax exemption as proof of nonprofit status.
Please consult the table below to determine if any additional documents are required. If any of the conditions in the
left column apply to your project, then the documents described in the right column are required. If you do not provide
them, your application will be considered incomplete and will be rejected from further consideration.
If your project involves …

Then you must include …

A federally negotiated indirect cost rate

A current copy of your Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost
Rate Agreement

A partner who will receive grant funds or who will
contribute substantive funds to the completion of project
activities

An IMLS Partnership Statement form for each partner entity

A digital product (for example, a database of digital
images, new software program)

Specifications for Projects that Develop Digital Products Form

Supporting Documents
You may submit other attachments of your choosing as part of your application package, but do not overload the
reviewers with too much information. These attachments should include only information that will supplement the
narrative and support the project description provided in the application. They should help reviewers envision your
project, but they should not be used to answer narrative questions. You may wish to consider the following:

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Needs assessments

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Reports from planning activities

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Digitization plans

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Web links to relevant online materials

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Letters of support from experts and/or stakeholders

Note: When attaching these documents, give each one a specific title for clear identification. All Supporting
Documents must include dates of creation and authorship.
Assurances and Certifications
What Federal Laws Do I Agree to Comply With When I Submit My Application?
As an applicant for Federal funds, you must certify that you are responsible for complying with certain
nondiscrimination, debarment and suspension, drug-free workplace, and lobbying laws. These are outlined below and
are set out in more detail, along with other requirements, in the Assurances and Certifications. By signing the application
form, which includes the Assurances and Certifications, you certify that you are in compliance with these
requirements and that you will maintain records and submit any reports that are necessary to ensure compliance.
Your failure to comply with these statutory and regulatory requirements may result in the suspension or termination of
your grant and require you to return funds to the government.
1. Nondiscrimination Statutes: You certify that you do not discriminate:

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On the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), in accordance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.);
On the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(29 U.S.C. §701 et seq., including §794);
On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, as amended (42
U.S.C. §6101 et seq.); and
On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.)

2. Debarment and Suspension (2 C.F.R. Part 180 and 2 C.F.R. Part 3185):
You certify that neither you nor your principals: (a) are presently excluded or disqualified; (b) have been convicted
within the preceding three years of offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. §180.800 (including but not limited to: fraud, antitrust,
embezzlement, or offense indicating lack of business integrity) or have had a civil judgment rendered again you or
them for one of such offenses within that time period; (c) are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly
charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local) with commission of any of such offenses; or (d) have had
one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated within the preceding three years for cause or
default. Where you are unable to certify to any of the above, you must attach an explanation to this application. You
must also comply with applicable sections of the OMB guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 180, and include a term or condition
in lower-tier transactions requiring lower-tier participants to comply with subpart C of the OMB guidance in 2 C.F.R.
part 180.
3. Federal Debt Status:
You certify that you are not delinquent in the repayment of any Federal debt. Examples include delinquent payroll or
other taxes, audit disallowances, and benefit overpayments.
4. Drug-Free Workplace:
You must provide a drug-free workplace by complying with the requirements of 2 C.F.R. part 3186. This includes:
making a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace; publishing a drug-free workplace statement; establishing
a drug-free awareness program for your employees; taking actions concerning employees who are convicted of
violating drug statutes in the workplace; and identifying (either at the time of your application or upon award, or in
documents that you keep on file in your offices) all known workplaces under your Federal awards.
5. Lobbying Activities (31 U.S.C. §1352):
You are subject to various restrictions against lobbying or attempting to influence a Federal employee or a Member of
Congress or Congressional employees, in connection with legislation, appropriations, or the award or modification of
a Federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. Certain additional restrictions apply if you are requesting
over $100,000 in Federal assistance.
The Assurances and Certifications contain other general requirements that may apply depending on the nature of your
grant activity (for example, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 and the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966).

5. After You Apply
What is the application review process?
We use a two-tiered peer review process that includes individual field review and/or panel review to evaluate all
eligible and complete applications. Reviewers and panelists are professionals in the field with relevant knowledge and
expertise in the types of project activities identified in the applications. They are instructed to evaluate proposed
projects according to the criteria identified in the program guidelines. The Director takes into account the advice
provided by the review process and makes final funding decisions consistent with the purposes of the agency’s
programs.
How can I serve as a reviewer?
All competitive awards are reviewed by museum professionals who know the needs of communities, can share best
practices, and are well versed in the issues and concerns of museums today.
If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, you may submit your information through our online reviewer
application at www.imls.gov/reviewers/become.aspx. Please remember to attach your resume. Your information will be
considered, and if accepted, your name will be entered into our reviewer database. You will be contacted prior to the
next deadline regarding your availability to serve as a reviewer.

There are many benefits to reviewing applications, including enhancing your professional knowledge and serving the
museum and library communities. If you are selected to serve, you will be helping IMLS and strengthening our grant
review process.
When will we find out if we have been selected to receive a grant?
No information about the status of an application will be released until the applications have been reviewed and all
deliberations are concluded. IMLS expects to notify both funded and unfunded applicants of final decisions by late
September 2012. Funded projects may not begin earlier than October, 2012.