Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program with the goal of strengthening the ability of an individual museum to serve its public through professional development activities that cut across various departments to generate systemic change within the museum.
In this clearance submission (3137-0107) and justification, IMLS is requesting approval of non-substantive changes to a previously approved clearance for the FY2026 NOFO for Museums Empowered, a discretionary grant program that supports the Nationâs museums.
The changes consist of:
⢠Updating the application due date, date of notification of award decisions, and beginning date of the period of performance.
⢠Making copyedits to further simplify descriptions and streamline instructions.
⢠Updating the Executive Summary to further comply with 2 C.F.R. 200 updates.
⢠Updating the program goals and objectives to combine elements and comply with Administration policies and priorities.
⢠Updating instructions on how to complete and submit the IMLS Museum Program Information Form.
⢠Removing the requirement to select Keywords on the IMLS Museum Program Information Form.
⢠Updating the simplified acquisition threshold to $350,000 (Section 6 - Risk Assessment).
⢠Updating the requirement for reporting matters related to recipient integrity and performance detailed in 2 CFR 200, Appendix XII (Section 8 - Reporting)
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.