The Sciencenter was notified on April 10th, 2025, that two federally awarded grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), totaling nearly $500,000, have been terminated. These grants, awarded through IMLS’s established competitive process and funded by Congressional appropriations, were intended to support critical science education initiatives for rural and underserved communities in the region.
Originally totaling nearly $500,000, the majority of funds—almost $400,000—remained unspent at the time of termination.
IMLS grants have supported the Sciencenter’s mission since 1997, helping to bring innovative STEM education to local families and students. Past projects have included early learning programs in partnership with Head Start and the development of hands-on engineering exhibits.
The now-terminated grants were earmarked for two key projects:
A Museum-Library Partnership Serving the Finger Lakes: This initiative aimed to create access to STEM enrichment in rural areas. It would have provided science kits and training to libraries across the Finger Lakes region, empowering families to explore science together at home and in their communities.
Enhancements to the Outdoor Science Park: The second grant was dedicated to expanding and updating the Sciencenter’s outdoor Science Park, creating new, engaging science experiences for visitors of all ages. View grant award →
“The Sciencenter has always been a community-driven institution,” said Michelle Kortenaar, Executive Director. “For over 40 years, we’ve connected families, educators, and learners with meaningful science experiences. The loss of these grants is devastating. These grants were vital to extending that reach, particularly to rural communities that are often overlooked.”
Each year, the Sciencenter welcomes more than 105,000 visitors—22% of whom attend for free or reduced admission. Located on the site of a former water treatment plant in Ithaca, NY, the museum continues to serve as a cornerstone for STEM education across the region.
“Museums like ours are essential community anchors,” Michelle added. “We rely on federal funding to deliver transformative educational experiences. Without that support, it becomes significantly harder to reach the families who need us most.”
Since a March 14th Executive Order “Continuing The Reduction Of The Federal Bureaucracy” targeted the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the entire IMLS staff was put on administrative leave, and thousands of organizations have received communication that their grants have been terminated. IMLS provides essential federal support to museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions, and funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, meaning that requests for payments submitted since April 1st will likely go unpaid by the agency.
FAQ
Were these funds promised but not in hand, or promised and expenses were being reimbursed externally, or actually sent but clawed back? What happens to the portion that has been spent?
These funds were contractually obligated and congressionally appropriated. The federal government makes IMLS grants available on a reimbursement basis. Each month, we send an invoice for the expenses we incurred during the previous month. Through February 2025, these invoices were always paid in full in a timely manner. Our invoice for March 2025 expenses has not yet been paid. Until now, we have had faith that the federal government would meet its financial obligations, and they have been a reliable funding source and partner.
The Sciencenter has three IMLS grants in total. Two, we were directly awarded, and one, we were a subaward. They were all terminated as of April 8, and we were notified two days later, in the middle of the night. The termination letters, signed by IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling, stated “this memorandum authorizes the termination of federal grants administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), effective April 8, 2025, in alignment with the agency’s updated priorities and the President’s Executive Order 14238, Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, issued on March 14, 2025.
Will the projects that were to be funded from these grants be put on hold or canceled, or are there alternate plans for proceeding?
One of the IMLS grants supported our work with the Finger Lakes Library System to engage rural audiences and others in hands-on family-led science activities. We have a very limited amount of supplemental funding that will allow us to continue this work for a few weeks; after that, the project will be mothballed.
With the termination of the IMLS grant that supported exhibit development for our outdoor science area, we will be dramatically scaling back that project. We will continue to make that space safe for families, but the enriching hands-on activities our community was hoping for will not be possible without funding.
The third grant, on which we were a subaward, supported our outreach efforts to families impacted by incarceration. Our work focuses on supporting learning for children and their families, and we had looked for ways to make these experiences available to all, including some of the most vulnerable children in our community. View grant award →
IMLS grants require a match. That means that they allowed us to leverage other funding sources.
Any anticipated impacts to day-to-day operations from this or other funding being cut?
Federal grants not only fund specific projects; They also provide essential support that keeps the lights and heat on and the museum open and welcoming. We are actively working to minimize any impact on our staffing levels at this time so that we can continue to provide engaging science experiences to over 105,000 visitors each year at the museum and to even more out in the community.
We are also concerned about our other federal grants, including those from NASA, NSF, and NIH. In total, federal grants support over one-third of our current budget. We are very concerned about the future impacts of the federal government not supporting museums, libraries, and other institutions that educate and engage our communities.
Media Coverage
Ithaca Sciencenter hit by Institute of Museum and Library Services federal grant funding cuts
The Ithacan — May 1, 2025
Ithaca Sciencenter gets hit with Federal cuts Totaling Nearly $500,000: Museum’s Executive Director Speaks out
WENY TV News — April 25, 2025
Half-Million in Federal Grants Pulled From Ithaca Museum
Fingerlakes1.com — April 21, 2025
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants yanked back from Ithaca’s Sciencenter
14850 Magazine — April 20, 2025
Federal cuts hit Ithaca Science Center for roughly $500,000
WENY TV News — April 16, 2025
Paleontological Research Institution Grapples With Loss of $100,000 Grant Amid Trump Funding Cuts
Cornell Daily Sun — April 16, 2025
Sciencenter Loses Nearly $500K in Federal Grants Following IMLS Termination
Ithaca Times — April 15, 2025
Executive Order Threatens Federal Funding for Ithaca Museums and Libraries
Ithaca Times — April 4, 2025