EVERETT, APRIL 21: The Imagine Children’s Museum, located in downtown Everett, received notice last week that a $250,000 federal grant has been terminated by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The grant terminated was the Museums for America (MFA) grant which would have provided funding for three years to expand the Museum’s Little Science Lab program, a press release from Imagine Children’s Museum said.
The program provides free, high-quality early learning to preschool-age children at several community-based locations throughout Snohomish County.
“Preschool-age children throughout Snohomish County stand to lose the most with this decision by the federal government,” Elizabeth (Elee) Wood, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at the Musuem said. “The termination of this federal grant represents a sudden and significant loss of as much as $222,973 in funding through 2027, leaving us without the critical resources we need to continue this essential program. We are actively reallocating internal resources to deliver the program as planned and without interruption through June 2025, but without further funding, we will not be able to continue.”
The MFA grant is a competitive grant program that supports museums across the nation to improve library services to communities. IMLS is an independent federal agency that administers the grant. In fiscal year 2024, Imagine Children’s Museum was one of 115 museums of diverse sizes, disciplines and geographies across the U.S. selected to be MFA grant recipients, and one of only two institutions in Washington state
Imagine Children’s Museum received an email from IMLS last week notifying the Museum that the grant was terminated Tuesday, April 8. The termination comes as the Trump administration makes sweeping cuts to federal spending in an effort to minimize wasteful spending.
On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order to reduce the IMLS and named Keith E. Sonderling as the new acting director of the department. Later that month, IMLS employees were notified by email that they had been placed on administrative leave.
“The Museum had adhered to all deadlines set forth in the grant and had not received any communication providing explanation or cause. The termination letter did not adhere to any of the rules required by IMLS’s own terms for grant terminations,” the press release said.
“We are here to serve children and to support their healthy development through playful learning,” said Wood. “We are fortunate to have incredible support in our community, and are grateful to the Board, staff, volunteers and community members who are working hard to figure out what comes next for Imagine Children’s Museum and this program for preschool-age children.”
Based on a press release from Imagine Children’s Museum.
