Changes are coming to how community history, humanities and cultural projects get funded across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Beginning July 1, 2026, Virginia Humanities is officially reshaping its grants program into a streamlined, three-tier system designed to make funding more accessible for organizations of all sizes.
The updated framework renames some traditional categories and introduces an entirely new way to inject the humanities into public gatherings :
- Major Grants (formerly Regular Grants): These remain the core funding engine for large-scale, comprehensive projects with a broad public reach and lasting impact. Organizations can apply for up to $15,000 during two annual application cycles. The next application deadline is October 16, 2026
- Opportunity Grants (formerly Rapid Grants): Tailored for time-sensitive or highly focused projects, these grants award up to $5,000. Virginia Humanities has actively streamlined this application process to cut down on paperwork for smaller organizations. The next application deadline is July 31, 2026.
- NEW: Community Action Grants: This brand-new, entry-level tier offers up to $1,500 on a rolling basis. It is specifically designed to help local communities incorporate history, storytelling, and cultural dialogue directly into existing festivals and community events. The next due date has not been announced yet, but applications will open in July 2026 with anticipated first round of awards announced in September 2026.
Please note that all of these grant opportunities are considered limited submissions, and only one grant per institution may be submitted. Applicants will need to be approved by the Research Development team via the WizeHive platform. Please contact either Sheila Davis at sdavis46@gmu.edu or limited@gmu.edu if you have any questions about the limited submission process.
While the core structure is changing, Virginia Humanities noted that its specialized partnership grants administered alongside WHRO, the VA250 Commission, and UVA Wise will remain unchanged.
The VA250 Grant deadline is upcoming on July 31, 2026, and offers grant programs to support local commemorative events, programs, and activities. Projects should be focused on content on the American Revolution. Please reach out to the CHSS Pre-Award Team if you are interested in applying for this program to confirm eligibility.
Please contact the CHSS Pre-Award Team at chssprea@gmu.edu for any additional information or if you are interested in applying!