ATALM is a predominately Native-led national non-profit organization that was incorporated in 2010 for the purpose of providing a sustainable infrastructure to ensure the continuation of culturally relevant training and networking programs that began in 2003.
Major support for the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Additional support is provided by individuals and corporate sponsors.
In 2015, IMLS granted $498,000 to ATALM to support and expand its continuing education programs, including the development and delivery of a series of professionally produced live and on-demand web conferences, as well as international convenings in 2016 and 2017.
Additional support was provided to enable ATALM to document the institutional structure, programs, and needs of the nation’s indigenous cultural organizations. Specifically, ATALM will continue its work with the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona to produce a follow-up national report on the status and needs of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan cultural organizations. The first report, completed in 2012, is available here.