The Hermitage Museum & Gardens

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Sculptures outside the Hermitage – photo by Pat Jarret/Virginia Humanities

Learn how this historic house and art museum is adapting to COVID-19 with the help of a Virginia Humanities CARES Act grant.

“The Hermitage Board of Directors made the decision early on in the crisis that all full-time employees would remain in their positions. Staff immediately began brainstorming and collaborating on ways to make the museum and grounds accessible with digital technology.” – Hermitage Development Director Ashleigh Maggard

More About the Hermitage

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Grants Program News

Notice to Prospective Applicants

Our online application forms (for Open and Discretionary grants) will be closed from midnight on Sunday, July 19 to midnight on Sunday, August 7 to post new guidelines and application procedures. There will be no access to the application forms during this period. We regret any inconvenience.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact the Grant Program staff at grants@virginiahumanities.org.

About the Grants Program

Virginia Humanities grants support projects that explore the stories of Virginia—its history, people, communities, and cultural traditions—as well as issues and questions that impact the lives of Virginians in the present day.

Any non-profit organization may apply for a Virginia Humanities grant, with preference given to those located within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grants are made to organizations based outside the state only for projects that take place within Virginia’s borders.

We are particularly, but not exclusively, interested in projects that address the following themes:

  • Equity and Democracy: Exploring the ways our democratic ideals both are and are not reflected in the histories of Virginia and its communities;
  • Amplifying Virginia’s Stories: Exploring the lives, histories, and traditions of communities who are new to Virginia and/or whose stories have been excluded from previous narratives;
  • Cultures and Communities in Transition: Exploring the challenges faced by Virginia and its communities during times of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and technological change

Want to learn more about what we fund? Check out our FAQ, download our guidelines or view a list of recent grants we’ve awarded.

Grant Opportunities

Spring & Fall Grants

  • Spring Deadline: April 15, decisions in early June
  • Fall Deadline: October 15, decisions in early December
  • Maximum request: $20,000
  • Most Spring and Fall grants are in the $5,000–$10,000 range
  • Additional requirements for requests greater than $10,000 (see grant manual for details)

Rolling Grants

These grants are awarded between regular cycles.

  • Proposals may be submitted at any time.  Decisions typically within 2-3 weeks
  • Maximum request: $5,000
  • Most rolling grants are in the $2,000-$3,000 range
  • Rolling grants support: planning, first step(s) or phase(s) in a larger project, programs or activities that take place before the next spring or fall grant review period
Download Our Grant Guidelines
Start an Application

Applicants should contact Virginia Humanities Grants staff at grants@virginiahumanities.org or 434-924-3296 in advance of submitting proposals. Draft proposals are strongly encouraged for all applications.

Grant Resources

For Applicants

For Grant Recipients