Inspire’s 2004 pilot projects were funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in co-operation with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
The 2004-6 Inspire Programme  was funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the  Regional Libraries Advisory Group (sponsored by the BL, CILIP, MLA Council), and through the DCMS Action Plan supporting Framework for the Future, the public library strategy to 2013.  

At the end of 2006, the MLA and other sponsors have kindly allowed the Inspire Directors to continue to use remaining funds to further Inspire’s aims of widening access to information and learning.

Lead organisations in the Inspire programme are:

• The British Library
• SCL, the Society of Chief Librarians (public library authorities in England, Wales & N. Ireland)
• SCONUL, the Society of College, National and University Libraries
• MLA and the MLA Partnership organisations

• Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland (COLICO)
• National Library of Scotland (NLS)
• National Library of Wales (NLW)
• Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
• Colleges of Further and Higher Education (CoFHE)