Each grant cycle, the percentage of museums awarded funds within a given discipline or budget size closely corresponds to the percentage of all applications submitted by museums of that same discipline or budget size. Many applicants report that applying for this grant is a useful form of self-evaluation. Many report that they use the application to apply for other grants and to introduce new staff and board members to the institution. However, first-time applicants should be aware that the application requires a considerable amount of time to complete. IMLS recommends that all applicants begin this process well in advance of the deadline for submission.
Every museum is reviewed by peers on the basis of the application it submits for that year alone.
Grants are awarded based on the overall strength and quality of the applicant as represented by its responses in the application. No information from previous applications is considered in the current competition. Each museum may submit only one GOS application during a given fiscal year. Applicants should apply for the project that meets the institution's highest collections care needs. All applications must demonstrate that the primary goal of the project is conservation care and not collection management or maintenance.