2026 NAAM Conference - Reimagining the Road Ahead

In this session, the panelists will discuss the basics of grants for auto museums. They will explore what kinds of grants are available (private foundation, local, regional, state, and federal); how to find grant support; what information is needed; time and staff required; deliverables and the reporting process; and timelines. They will discuss the overall costs and benefits of grant writing efforts.

Inaddition, they will discuss the different kinds of grants available to help museums accomplish theirmission, including:
 How to get started with grant writing.
 How museums find the technical staff to identify, write, and submit grants.
 How to write grants that appeal to the granting agencies and how to reach out to officers,asking what works, what doesn’t, and asking for examples.
 Learning the “buzzwords” and syntax grantors prefer, and how to speak their language.
 How to keep your name out there, stay in touch, show passion and enthusiasm, even if youdo not get the grant the first time.
 Grants on capacity building to strengthen the foundational elements of a museum such asfunding for strategic planning, professional development for staff, or upgrades toadministrative systems.
 Grants on collections stewardship to find resources for proper storage, conservation, anddigitization, and digitization.
 Grants on public engagement and education to support the development of engaging newexhibits, innovative educational programs for local schools, or community outreachinitiatives that bring the museum’s stories beyond its walls.
 Grants on technological advancement to develop a user-friendly website, creating onlineexhibitions, or implementing a modern collections management system that makes theirholdings accessible to a wider audience.
 Grants on historic preservation and restoration, and operations. 
 Unrestricted grants and donations.
 Making yourself known to financial advisors.
 Owning their Candid, Charity Navigator, and GuideStar descriptions.
 Sustaining the institutional internal capabilities after a grant is over.