Fund the Future

This programme gives museums an audit of their current strategy and plan with a consultant, resulting in a bespoke plan to improve the museum’s income generation. The consultancy also supports implementation of the recommendations.

The programme this year has four 'micro-consultancies' worth up to £2,000 to allocate to London’s non-national, non-NPO museums in 2026–2027.

Closing date for applications is 12pm on Mon 18 May 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The programme this year has four 'micro-consultancies' worth up to £2,000 to allocate to London’s non-national, non-NPO museums in 2026-2027.

Museums will have the chance to work with David Burgess, Apollo Fundraising, to receive an audit of their current strategy and plan that will result in a bespoke, realistic plan to improve the museum’s income generation performance.

The micro-consultancies will provide each museum with increased confidence and skills to successfully embed and approach identified methodologies into its work, resulting in increased income generation for the participants.

Participating museums will be supported to implement the recommendations from each micro-consultancy.

Projects will need to be completed by Wed 10 Mar 2027. More information on eligibility as well as the type of projects the grants programme will support can be found in the guidance for applicants below.

If you’d like to apply, please complete and return an application form, along with any supporting documents to [email protected].

If you're unsure whether your project would be eligible, have questions about the grant criteria or would like to discuss your project in more detail, please do get in touch with Yvette Shepherd, Museum Development Officer Organisational Health. Or join us at one of two online coffee sessions on Tue 21 Apr or Thu 23 Apr.

We'll announce our current grant museums for 2026–2027 in June once the assessment panel has met and the applicants have been notified of the outcome of their application.

The grants funded the following museums:

• Bentley Priory Museum
• Charles Dickens Museum
• Guildhall Art Gallery
• Royal College of Physicians Museum

Projects were completed by March 2026 and detailed case studies will be available from July 2026 onwards.

The grants funded the following museums:

• Crossness Engine Trust
• Dorich House Museum
• Estorick Collection
• Foundling Museum

The grants funded the following museums:

• Brunel Museum
• Florence Nightingale Museum
• London Museum of Water and Steam
• Museum of Richmond

The grants funded the following museums:

• Bruce Castle Museum
• Hackney Museum
• Museum of Croydon
• Orleans House Gallery