Key takeaways
- IMLS museum grants close Nov. 13, 2026.
- Two NEH programs close in mid-December: Collections Stewardship on Dec. 15 and Public Humanities Projects on Dec. 16.
- AmeriCorps State and National competitive applications are due Jan. 13, 2027, with earlier state deadlines.
- Federal applications need active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations, which can take weeks.
Updated weekly. Every deadline here comes from the funder's own notice or guidelines, checked Nov. 9, 2026. Funders can change dates, so confirm in the official notice before you submit.
Upcoming grant deadlines
| Deadline | Program | Funder | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 13, 2026 | IMLS Museums for America and Museums Empowered (FY 2027) | Institute of Museum and Library Services | Museums. Submit through Grants.gov. | IMLS notice |
| Dec. 15, 2026 | NEH Collections Stewardship | National Endowment for the Humanities | Preserving and opening access to humanities collections. 11:59 p.m. Eastern. | NEH notice |
| Dec. 16, 2026 | NEH Public Humanities Projects | National Endowment for the Humanities | Exhibitions, historic places and public programs. Planning awards up to $75,000; implementation up to $500,000. 11:59 p.m. Eastern. | NEH notice |
| Dec. 31, 2026 | Walmart Spark Good Local Grants (Nov. 1–Dec. 31 window) | Walmart | Local grants from Walmart and Sam's Club locations. Apply through a Spark Good account. | Walmart guidelines |
| Jan. 13, 2027 | AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants (FY 2027) | AmeriCorps | National competition. Single-state applicants usually apply through their state service commission, often earlier; Idaho's deadline is Dec. 9, 2026. | Grants.gov listing |
| February 2027 (date TBA) | NEA Grants for Arts Projects, February cycle | National Endowment for the Arts | NEA expects new guidelines by late December 2026. Last year's cycles closed Feb. 12 and July 9, 2026. | NEA |
| July 2027 (date TBA) | NEA Grants for Arts Projects, July cycle | National Endowment for the Arts | Second annual cycle. | NEA |
| Summer 2027 (date TBA) | FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA, through state agencies | Security upgrades for nonprofits at high risk of attack. The FY 2026 FEMA deadline was July 31, 2026; states set earlier deadlines for nonprofits. | FEMA bulletin |
How to prepare for federal deadlines
- Register early. Federal applications go through Grants.gov and need an active SAM.gov registration. NEH says it won't extend deadlines for lack of registration.
- Check for two-part applications. NEA's Grants for Arts Projects uses a Grants.gov step followed by a second step in its own portal, each with its own date.
- Find your state deadline. For AmeriCorps and FEMA's security grants, most nonprofits apply through a state agency that sets an earlier date.
- Plan for cost share. Several federal programs, including NEA's, require matching funds.
- Submit days early. Grants.gov can flag errors after you submit, and a late fix can miss the deadline.
More funding resources
Grants work best alongside individual and corporate giving. See our lists of the largest US foundations and corporate matching gift programs, plus the fundraising calendar for the year's key giving dates.
Sources: IMLS, Museums for America FY 2027 notice; NEH, Collections Stewardship notice; NEH, Public Humanities Projects notice; Walmart, Spark Good Local Grants guidelines; Grants.gov, FY 2027 AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants; Serve Idaho; NEA, apply for a grant; NEA, Grants for Arts Projects; FEMA bulletin, week of July 21, 2026.