Virginia Humanities Major Grants support cultural nonprofits in developing and delivering public humanities projects that engage audiences with history, literature, and culture. Awarded twice per year, alternating with Opportunity Grants cycles, these grants provide between $5,000 and $15,000 for projects with an eighteen-month period of performance.

Major Grants are designed for initiatives with broader scope and sustained impact, including programs that foster dialogue, interpret cultural resources, and expand access to the humanities. Awards are paid in full (100%) following the decision date, enabling organizations to implement projects with immediate support.

access grant Application portalRight Arrow

Current Award Cycle Timeline

Application opens*Monday, August 17, 2026
LOI approval opensMonday, August 17, 2026
LOI approval deadlineFriday, September 11, 2026
Application deadlineFriday, October 16, 2026
Decision notificationDecember 2026

*Approval of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required. Applications are assigned upon approval of LOI.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or another eligible organization. For a full list, see “Who is eligible to apply?” in the FAQ.

  • Organizations may apply to only one grant opportunity at a time.
  • Organizations may not apply in consecutive cycles if they received funding in the immediately preceding cycle.
  • Organizations may not hold more than one active Virginia Humanities grant at a time.
  • A final report must be submitted and approved before applying for new funding.
  • The same project may be funded for up to two cycles, but not a third.

We support public-facing humanities projects that engage broad audiences, including:

  • Community forums and public discussions (including book or film programs)
  • Community history projects, including oral histories
  • Conferences and symposia with a strong public component
  • K–12 curriculum resources
  • Exhibitions (physical or digital)
  • Festivals and interpretive performances
  • Teacher institutes and professional development programs
  • Lectures and lecture series
  • Media projects (film, video, radio, podcasts, websites, and other digital formats)
  • Project planning and development
  • Print publications (books, brochures, exhibit catalogs, interpretive maps)
  • Research that leads to public programming
  • Travel expenses for project personnel (mileage and meals)

We do not support:

  • Advocacy or political action, including projects promoting a specific policy or viewpoint
  • Creative or performing arts projects, unless used to support humanities-focused engagement
  • Credit-bearing courses (except those designed specifically for teachers)
  • Indirect costs
  • International travel
  • Awards, prizes, or gifts
  • Building construction, restoration, or renovation
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Budget forms are available within the application. Use the required budget template; alternate formats will not be accepted.
  • If working on a Mac, save and upload your budget as an Excel (.xlsx) file.
  • Total project costs must equal the grant request amount.
  • Provide clear explanations for all expenses.
  • Cost share is required for all Major Grant applications:
    • Cash cost share: monetary contributions from third-party sources (e.g., other grants)
    • In-kind cost share: non-cash contributions such as staff time, volunteer labor, facilities, or materials
  • Sample applications, including budgets, are available in the FAQ.

Create an account or log in to our grants portal to begin your application.

Need help?

Adam Courville

Director of Grants and Fellowships

Kaity Wasinger

Grants and Fellowships Assistant
SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH OUR TEAMRight Arrow
Grants News & Events
See more newsRight Arrow
See more eventsRight Arrow
Explore the Virginia Humanities Network
CLOSE