Justifcation for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change FY21 MFA and NLG-M

Justification for Change

3137-0094 Museums for America and National Leadership Grants for Museums Notices of Funding Opportunity

IMLS is requesting a change to a previously approved clearance in order to update the instructions for the FY21 grant programs Museums for America (MFA) and National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M). With this non-substantive change for both MFA and NLG-M, IMLS is requesting the same expiration date of 8/31/21. The data collection forms referred to in the instructions (IMLS Supplementary Information Form, IMLS Museum Program Information Form, IMLS Budget Form, and Digital Product Form) for both programs are already approved and remain unchanged.

Request abstract:

The information collections in this package include the guidelines and instructions to apply for IMLS support in the following grant programs: Museums for America and National Leadership Grants for Museums.

Justification for Museums for America

Museums for America supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public.

IMLS has continued to bring its Notice of Funding Opportunity templates into close conformity with the standards set forth in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. part 200, in particular Appendix I – Full Text of Funding Opportunity). The attached draft reflects those efforts.

The attached draft contains minimally updated program guidance for FY21, a few minor language clarifications to reduce applicant confusion in several sections of the NOFO, and responds to requests from both internal staff, as well as the applicant community, to better align the MFA grant program language with other museum grant programs.

Justification for National Leadership Grants for Museums

National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M) grants support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums can strengthen services for the American public.

IMLS has continued to bring its Notice of Funding Opportunity templates into close conformity with the standards set forth in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. part 200, in particular Appendix I – Full Text of Funding Opportunity). The attached draft reflects those efforts.

The attached draft contains minimally updated program guidance for FY21, a few minor language clarifications to reduce applicant confusion in several sections of the NOFO, and responds to requests from both internal staff, as well as the applicant community, to better align the NLG-M grant program language with other museum grant programs.

The respondent burden for both should remain the same.