• Federal and corporate dollars fund all types of museum exhibits, including natural history.dinosaure image by pucci raf from Fotolia.com
  
  In difficult economic times, museums and other cultural organizations often suffer financially, as people find themselves with less disposable income and visitor attendance falls off. Luckily, corporate giving programs and federal agencies actively support both large and small museums---helping fund everything from exhibits to conservation to education projects. Keen competition, however, requires museum staff to think creatively about the kinds of exhibits and programs that raise an organization to the top of the application heap and bring in needed funding. These funders' websites often list past recipients, providing clues to the kinds of projects they support.
  
  

Museums and Community Connections

• As part of its Museums and Community Connections initiative, MetLife Foundation dispenses $1 million yearly among a select 15 museums nationwide. This highly competitive corporate grant program rewards museums that seek "to make art a part of people's lives" in diverse communities, according to the foundation website. Museums may receive funding for special exhibitions and other projects that highlight cultural diversity. MetLife Foundation reviews applications throughout the year; the first step in the process consists of a letter of inquiry, detailing the history of the museum, the specific project and the funding request. Based on the letter, the foundation decides whether to request more information from the museum.
  
  MetLife Foundation
  
  1095 Avenue of the Americas, 40th floor
  
  New York, NY 10036
  
  212-578-3194
  
  metlife.com
  
  

Museums for America Program

• The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offers funding to the 17,500 museums located in the United States. Under its Museums for America initiative, museums apply for grants ranging between $5,000 and $150,000 in three categories: Engaging Communities, Building Institutional Capacity and Collections Stewardship. Eligible projects include everything from exhibition design to staff training to digitizing of collections. In addition to art, history and science museums of all sizes, the program also funds other cultural organizations, such as historic houses and natural history museums. Application is on-line, through the federal grants.gov system.
  
  Institute of Museum and Library Services
  
  1800 M Street, NW, 9th floor
  
  Washington, DC 20036
  
  202-653-4634
  
  imls.gov
  
  

Challenge America Fast-Track

• The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) supports efforts by arts organizations such as museums to "bring the arts to all Americans," according to its website. Although much of its funding goes to established, larger museums, the NEA's Challenge America Fast-Track program is specifically geared toward small and medium-sized organizations that may be less familiar with the public-funding process. A Challenge America grant provides $10,000 for projects that reach "under-served populations"---those without easy access to the arts due to factors such as ethnicity or economics. Projects might include a special exhibit with a guest artist; public arts projects, such as murals or sculptures; or planning for the reuse of a structure as a museum facility. Recipients must match fast-track grants dollar for dollar with non-federal funds. Applications are due in March and August each year.
  
  National Endowment for the Arts
  
  1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  
  Washington, DC 20506
  
  202-682-5555
  
  nea.gov