Grants for Aviation Museums
The rich history of aviation is a window on American history. From the Wright brothers to the Enola Gay, the development of aircraft, its impact on American civilization and the dream to soar above the clouds have captured the imagination and attention of many Americans. To pay tribute to the numerous aviators who have shaped aviation history and the crafts they have flown, there are numerous aviation museums across the United States. In order to help with the costs associated with running such museums, from preservation and conversation to acquisitions and research, there are several types of grants available to aviation museums.
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Federal Funding
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides federal assistance to more than 17,500 museums in the United States. The IMLS works in conjunction with state agencies to ensure the success of the nation's museums and to connect the American people with these institutions. The IMLS offers several grants that could assist an aviation museum maintain and build its collection as well as reach a wide audience. For example, the Museums for America program offers awards that range from $5,000 to $150,000. This program assists museums to best serve their guests by helping to fund initiatives such as technology improvement, collection development and securing new exhibits. All IMLS grants that can be of assistance to a museum can be found on the IMLS website. All grant applications can be made through the grants.gov website.
State Historical Commissions
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Individual state historical commissions can serve as a resource for all types of museums, including aviation museums. State historical commissions look to preserve the history of their states and make the information accessible to the public. Many historical commissions sponsor grants to help local museums and other historic organizations that are integral in preserving state history. For example, the New Jersey Historical Commission awarded $21,881 to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum for fiscal year 2011 and in 2006 $8,000 was given to the Millville Army Air Field Museum.
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Local Philanthropic Foundations
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Museums can often look to local organizations for financial support. Many philanthropic foundations work to improve the lives of the residents of a specific town, city or region, which can include providing access to quality museums. Two such examples of local organizations that have provided direct support to aviation museum are El Polmar Foundation in Colorado and the Dayton Foundation in Ohio. The El Polmar Foundation was established to enhance the lives of Colorado citizens and award grants to nonprofit organizations to further this endeavor. In 2010 the Foundation awarded the The National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs $40,000 to build on 20 acres. The Dayton Foundation assists individuals and nonprofit organizations in the Grater Dayton, Ohio, area. In 1996 the Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center.
Corporate Funding
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Many corporations can also provide financial support to aviation museums. For example, the Boeing Corporation has provided financial support to a variety of museums, including the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Boeing, which specializes in aerospace and defense manufacturing, has its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
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- Photo Credit airplane image by Stanisa Martinovic from Fotolia.com
