We award grants to support public humanities projects that engage Virginians with our history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. Through a range of funding opportunities, we enable cultural nonprofits across the Commonwealth to develop and deliver community-centered programs that expand access to the humanities and foster dialogue and understanding.
Our grants support projects of varying scope and timeline, from sustained initiatives to smaller, time-sensitive efforts, as well as regionally focused programs that address the unique histories and communities of Virginia.
Major Grants
- Awards range from $5,000 to $15,000
- Supports substantial, planned public humanities projects with broad reach and long-term impact
- Period of performance up to 18 months from the decision date
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is required
Opportunity Grants
- Awards up to $5,000
- Supports time-sensitive or focused initiatives that require rigor but may not align with the scale or timing of the Major Grant cycle
- Period of performance is 12 months from the decision date
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required
Community Action Grants
- Awards up to $1,500
- Supports clearly defined public humanities activities embedded in festivals, public events, and community gatherings
- Rolling application intake, with bi-monthly decision cycles
- Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required
Virginia Humanities at WHRO Grants
- Regional grants program serving Hampton Roads
- Awards up to $6,000
- Administered in partnership with WHRO Public Media
Virginia Humanities at UVA Wise Grants
- Regional grants program serving Southwest Virginia
- Awards up to $5,000
- Administered in partnership with UVA Wise
Other Funding Opportunities
Fellowships
Our fellowships support writers, community scholars, educators, and university faculty in researching and sharing stories about Virginia’s history and culture. We currently offer four fellowship opportunities: Public Humanities Fellowships; Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowships; K–12 Educator Fellowships; and Rosel Schewel Fellowships.
Folklife Apprenticeships
Our Folklife Apprenticeship Program supports the preservation and continuation of traditional cultural knowledge by providing funding for an artist who is considered a master of a tradition to train an apprentice of their choosing. We welcome apprenticeships across a wide range of traditions, including music, dance, crafts, community storytelling, cultural reclamation, traditional healing, agriculture, foodways, and specialty trades.
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Grants News & Events
EventDear Folks at Home: Lynchburg and the Great War
The Jones, a genealogy and history library in Lynchburg, Virginia, hosts an exhibit about Lynchburg and the Great War, 1914 -1918 in the library Reading Room. Open to the public …
EventUnder the Stars Teen Open Mic
Step into the spotlight and share your voice! Join fellow teen artists from your community for an unforgettable night of poetry, music, rap, and creative expression. Whether you’re performing or …
EventLynchburg’s WW1 Last Man’s Club
The Jones, an independent genealogy and history archive in Lynchburg, hosts a lecture with William Hansen on Lynchburg’s WW1 Last Man’s Club. During and after World War I, veterans across …
EventNative Nations and the American Revolution
This talk by Pulitzer Prize winner and historian Kathleen DuVal explores what the American Revolution was like for Native Nations. From Bunker Hill to Yorktown to conflicts on the British …
EventRemember The Ladies
St. John’s Church Foundation presents a gender-reversed production of our time-honored Liberty or Death reenactment. In this historic rendition, women drawn from Richmond’s vibrant theatre and film community portray nine …
