Our mission is to improve the quality of life in North Carolina by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural heritage tourism, and promoting economic development.
The North Carolina Science Museums Grant program aims to sustain and enhance the network of science museums across the state, recognizing them as pivotal educational resources that boost science literacy in both school and community settings. With an annual funding of more than $2,400,000, the program supports museums that are instrumental in economic development and education, aligning with state government priorities. Grants are competitively awarded based on factors such as economic need, the generation of non-state revenue, attendance ratios, partnership activities with other museums, and geographic diversity. The program operates on a two-year cycle, corresponding with the state's budget, and specifies award amounts up to $75,000, determined by the economic status of each applicant’s county.