Opportunity Grants

Virginia Humanities Opportunity Grants support cultural nonprofits in planning and implementing public humanities projects with a relatively smaller scope and shorter timeline. Awarded twice per year, alternating with Major Grants cycles, these grants provide up to $5,000 for projects lasting up to twelve months.

Opportunity Grants are intended to provide a responsive pathway for time-sensitive or focused initiatives that require rigor but may not align with the scale or timing of the Major cycle. The period of performance is twelve months from the decision date, and awards are paid in full (100%) following the decision date, allowing organizations to move forward quickly with project implementation.

Current Award Cycle Timeline

Next Award Cycle Timeline

Eligibility 

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.

What We Fund

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)

What We Don’t Fund

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

Budgets

• 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 Regular 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.

How to Apply

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