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Maryland Historical Trust

Museum Assistance Program Grants

A person in a straw hat guides two oxen with yokes on a grassy field. Behind them, a wooden barn and fence create a rustic, autumnal farm scene.

The Museum Assistance Program (MAP), administered by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), offers funding to support Maryland museums and institutional collections. The program helps small and mid-sized museums strengthen operations, build professional capacity and improve long-term sustainability. 

Timeline 

  • Application opens: November
  • Application deadline: December
  • Awards announced: Spring 

Eligible applicants

  • Nonprofits that
    • Manage a museum that's been open and operating for at least three years, and
    • Are in good standing with the state, and
    • Are tax-exempt or have applied for tax-exempt status
  • Local governments that operate a museum that's been open and operating for at least three years

A museum is defined as an organization that collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials for the public.  

Applicant museums must interpret Maryland’s cultural heritage, history, natural history, or history of science and technology. 

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

Eligible activities 

A group of people standing in an elegant room with wooden floors and a chandelier, listening to a speaker.
Mount Clare Museum Credit: Danielle Walter Davis

Eligible activities may change from year to year. For Fiscal Year 2026, grants will support everyday museum operations, such as: 

  • Paying staff
  • Training staff or volunteers
  • Office or admin costs (insurance, reporting, accounting)
  • Environmental monitoring (e.g., pest management or humidity control)
  • Security and safety systems 

Capital projects — such as construction, restoration, or building repairs — are not eligible for funding. 

See the grant guidelines for a longer list of eligible and ineligible costs. 

Available funding 

  • In FY26, the program received $285,000 for grants statewide
  • Applicants may request up to $20,000 in funding, with grants typically between $10,000 - $15,000
  • A match is not required

How to apply 

  1. Review the current grant guidelines.
  2. Confirm project eligibility and applicant type.
  3. Prepare required attachments such as cost estimates, photographs, and proof of ownership or site control.
  4. Submit a completed application through the grants portal before the posted deadline. 

If an applicant runs more than one museum, each museum seeking funding will need a separate application.