Closed
Source verified May 28, 2026
Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management
Supports improved collections management in Canadian museums and heritage organizations
Funding available
$ 200,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Museums Assistance Program – Collections Management provides up to $50,000 in funding to support projects that enhance knowledge, skills, and practices related to key museum functions. Eligible activities include improving collections management systems, policies, and storage, as well as supporting research, documentation, and the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop team skills
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 1 employees minimum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Improving the management of heritage collections through the development or implementation of systems, policies, procedures, or practices.
- Optimizing storage conditions for collections or upgrading collections management systems, including associated staff training.
- Cataloguing and documenting specific collections for defined purposes (not related to general ongoing operations).
- Developing or renewing emergency plans, protocols, or policies to support key museum functions, including those enabling the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural belongings and ancestral remains.
- Carrying out projects that support the sharing of best practices, professional development, and the creation of tools or resources that benefit multiple museums or heritage organizations.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated non-profit Canadian museums
- Incorporated non-profit Canadian service organizations related to the museum sector
- Indigenous governing bodies or Indigenous organizations within Canada with a mandate to preserve and support First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis heritage
Who is not eligible
- Federal departments, Crown corporations, and federal agencies.
Eligible expenses
- Pro-rated salaries and wages for staff working on the project (excluding reimbursable salaries from municipal and provincial governments).
- Travel expenses for project personnel (excluding attendance at professional development activities), in accordance with government travel rates.
- Honorariums, fees, and travel costs for consultants, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural practitioners, following permitted government rates.
- Equipment rental, shipping fees, promotion, and communication costs.
- Translation of materials aimed at the public into both official languages, and other relevant languages including Indigenous languages.
- Materials and supplies directly related to the project.
- Minor capital asset purchases (equipment), up to 25% of the project funding from the program.
- Purchase of software for project implementation.
- Staff training expenses related to the project.
- Hospitality and gifts specifically associated with traditional Indigenous ceremonies and protocols.
- Incremental project administration costs (maximum 15% of eligible project expenses).
- Project audit fees (where applicable).
- Other direct project-related costs as specified in the budget.
Eligible geographic areas
- All provinces and territories in Canada
Selection criteria
- Link between proposed activities and Program objectives.
- Relevance of the proposed activities.
- Community engagement (if applicable).
- Feasibility of the proposed activities, including management and planning.
- Capacity of the applicant organization to carry out the project, including financial stability, governance, and heritage activities.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review Application Guidelines
- Read the complete Collections Management – Museums Assistance Program Application Guidelines.
- Familiarize yourself with all funding requirements and procedures.
- Step 2: Contact Regional Office
- Contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage to discuss your project.
- Confirm eligibility of your organization, project, and proposed expenses with a program advisor.
- Step 3: Gather Required Documents
- Prepare all required documents, including:
- Completed application form, including checklist and Declaration and Attestation, signed by an authorized person.
- Project Budget Form.
- Comprehensive project timeline.
- Financial statements for the past two years (audited if available).
- All supporting documents required in the application checklist (e.g., letters of intent/support/confirmation, agreements, quotes, reports, confirmation of other sources of funding, etc.).
- If submitting more than one project, clearly indicate the order of priority.
- Step 4: Complete Online Application
- Access the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal to complete the application process.
- Upload all required forms and supporting documents via the portal.
- Step 5: Submission and Confirmation
- Submit your complete application electronically through the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal before the deadline.
- If unable to submit online, contact info@pch.gc.ca or call 1-866-811-0055 for alternative submission methods.
- After submission, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt within two weeks.
Additional information
- Products developed for the public must be available in both official languages, and applicants are encouraged to include other relevant languages as appropriate.
- Funding requests for emergency assistance related to natural disasters are accepted year-round.
- Donated goods and services may be counted as in-kind contributions if they meet specific criteria.
- Recipients must publicly acknowledge financial support from the Government of Canada in both English and French in all communications materials and promotional activities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management Program
What is the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
The Museums Assistance Program – Collections Management provides up to $50,000 in funding to support projects that enhance knowledge, skills, and practices related to key museum functions. Eligible activities include improving collections management systems, policies, and storage, as well as supporting research, documentation, and the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
How much funding can be received?
Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $200,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program?
To be eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program, you must:
Incorporated non-profit Canadian museum with at least one paid professional staff and policies for key museum functions
Incorporated non-profit Canadian service organization related to the museum sector with at least one paid professional staff
Indigenous governing body or organization in Canada with a mandate to preserve First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis heritage
What expenses are eligible under Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
Improving the management of heritage collections through the development or implementation of systems, policies, procedures, or practices.
Optimizing storage conditions for collections or upgrading collections management systems, including associated staff training.
Cataloguing and documenting specific collections for defined purposes (not related to general ongoing operations).
Developing or renewing emergency plans, protocols, or policies to support key museum functions, including those enabling the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural belongings and ancestral remains.
Carrying out projects that support the sharing of best practices, professional development, and the creation of tools or resources that benefit multiple museums or heritage organizations.
Who can I contact for more information about the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
You can contact Canadian Heritage by email at map-pam@pch.gc.ca or by phone at 1-866-811-0055.
Where is the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management available?
The Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program is available across Canada.
Is the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management is a Grant and Funding