Mount Clare House and Museum. Photo by Danielle Walter Davis.

The Maryland Historical Trust's Museum Assistance Program (MAP) provides grants and technical support to Maryland's historical and cultural museums. The program received an FY26 appropriation of $285,000 for grants, which will be awarded as operational grants.

The FY26 deadline to apply is December 31, 2025, with funding decisions expected by April 2026.

Eligible Applicants

Nonprofit organizations and local governments that administer museums are eligible to apply. To qualify, the museum must have been open and operating for at least three years before applying.

Nonprofits are eligible to apply if they are:

• in good standing with Maryland’s State Department of Assessment and Taxation and legally able to do business in the state, and
• recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization or have applied for tax-exempt status.

Local governments operating multiple museums may apply on behalf of multiple museums, but each application must be submitted separately.

Museums operated in whole or in part by the state or federal government are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Activities

Applicants may apply for operational grants of up to $20,000. Individual awards typically range from $10,000 – $15,000. There is no match requirement. Funds may be used for day-to-day operational support, such as:

• Staff salaries
• Training and professional development for staff and volunteers
• Administrative costs (accounting, reporting, insurance)
• Environmental monitoring (humidity/temperature control, pest management)
• Security and safety systems

For more examples of eligible activities, see the Grant Guidelines.

Other Requirements

Additional information regarding evaluation criteria and grantee responsibilities is provided in the Grant Guidelines.

For general information about the Museum Assistance Program, contact Nell Ziehl, Chief, Office of Planning, Education and Outreach at [email protected].