IMLS National Leadership Grants Program

Office of Grant Writing & Publications 202 Jesse Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 573 882-9500 phone 573 884-8371 fax

Limited Submission Announcement

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites applications for the National Leadership Grants Program to support projects that have the potential to elevate museum, library, and archival practice within the context of national strategic initiatives. The Institute seeks to advance the ability of museums, libraries, and archives to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge, contribute to building technology infrastructure and information technology services, and provide 21st century knowledge and skills to current and future generations in support of a world-class workforce.

Successful proposals will have national impact and generate results - new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances - that can be widely adapted or replicated to extend the benefit of federal investment and that increase community access and participation. IMLS seeks to fund projects that have the following characteristics:

1. National Impact - Proposals should address key needs and challenges that face libraries, archives, and museums. They should expand the boundaries within which libraries, archives, and museums operate, show the potential for far-reaching impact, influence practice throughout the museum, archival, and/or library communities, and show support of current strategic initiatives in these fields.
2. Innovation - Proposals should demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the subject matter, and show how the project will advance the state of the art of museum, library service, and archival service.
3. Collaboration - While partners are not required in all National Leadership Grant categories, IMLS has found that involving carefully chosen partners with complementary competencies and resources can create powerful synergies that extend project impact. Proposals should show understanding of the challenges of collaboration and propose means for addressing them.

IMLS supports two types of funding within the National Leadership Grant program: Project Grants and Collaborative Planning Grants. Applications for Project or Collaborative Planning Grants may be submitted in the categories of Advancing Digital Resources, Research, Demonstration, and Library and Museum Collaboration. Collaborative Planning Grants are available to enable project teams from more than one institution to work together to plan a project for a National Leadership Grant.

Because MU is limited to one application for this program, letters of intent must be submitted to the Office of Research, ltdsub@missouri.edu, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010. Letters of intent should be limited to three pages and should include the type and category of the proposal. For project grants, include 1) a needs assessment, 2) a work plan, 3) research methodology, if applicable, 4) a communication plan, 5) an evaluation plan, and 6) the source of matching funds. For collaborative planning grants, include 1) whether Level I or II, 2) a summary of the idea to be fully developed, 3) project partners, 4) planning activities, 5) expected results, and 6) the source of matching funds. For both types of projects, please include the names of three MU personnel who could serve as internal reviewers for letters of intent under this program.

All limited submission announcements can be tracked by deadline via the Calendar at research.missouri.edu or by announcement date via the Limited Submissions listing at http://research.missouri.edu/ogwp/lsa.htm.