Best History Grants in Virginia

Schools and educational groups in Virginia planning live bluegrass ensemble presentations for students can seek mini-grants to support these programs. With a mission to support bluegrass-related education, the IBMA Foundation provides US $500 to help pay bands for history- and culture-focused assemblies that explore bluegrass origins, instruments, harmony, and its place today.

Virginia educational, medical, human welfare, and other 501(c)(3) charitable organizations can access funding through Van Metre Companies Foundation to support their community-focused programs. Organizations in these fields that incorporate history-related education, interpretation, or services into their work may be eligible to apply.

Virginia schools, nonprofits, governments, and VCA teaching artists can receive up to US $2,000 to support short-term, in-person artist residencies and workshops in Virginia. History-focused programs that use teaching artists to explore memory, personal narratives, or historical themes may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of residency or workshop fees, with a required 15 percent cash match.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits planning capital projects for historic sites, cultural institutions, or related facilities can seek challenge or matching grants from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, typically covering up to one-third of project costs. Awards range from US $50,000 - US $500,000 and support history-focused preservation, arts, education, environment, and social services infrastructure.

About Our Foundation

Our history, people and finances

Hampton Roads Community Foundation has a proud history. We began in 1950 as The Norfolk Foundation with total donations of $2,350. Despite the city-focused name, we were always regional -- giving scholarships and grants across southeastern Virginia to ambitious students and essential nonprofits. Over the past 75 years we have put almost $395 million into action through nonprofit grants and student scholarships awards.

Giving Together

We are pleased to introduce an opportunity for our region's small and mid-sized nonprofits to promote their work to our donors.

What is the Giving Together PRogram

The Giving Together program is a crowd-funding opportunity for our donor-advised fundholders within HRCF’s private donor portal. It allows our donor advisors to view submitted projects from a wide range of small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations during the last quarter of the year. Fundholders can make grants in any amount over $250 from their donor-advised funds to support those projects they select. Grants from participating donor-advised funds will be pooled together and distributed to the recipient organization in January. Due to space limitations, we will post 50 projects at a time. HRCF staff will select 50 projects to post initially. If a project is fully funded, it will be removed and a new one selected and posted. Your organization will be notified when your project is posted.

Virginia nonprofits, 501(c)(3) organizations, local government agencies, and state or federally recognized American Indian tribes can receive support for history education and preservation projects in Virginia. The Virginia Historical Society’s Commonwealth History Fund backs activities like restoration, preservation, research, documentation, educational programs, digitization, and related projects that highlight significant and often underserved historical narratives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing domestic violence and abuse services for adults and children in Virginia’s South Hampton Roads region can apply for $5,000 - $65,000 in funding. Focused on supporting residential facilities for children, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation’s Sue Cook Winfrey Fund may benefit programs documenting or interpreting the history and impact of abuse.

Nonprofit organizations supporting arts and humanities activities or high school programs on the Virginia Peninsula can apply for Hampton Roads Community Foundation’s Mary E. and Curtis M. Chappell Jr. Fund; awards US $1,000 - US $10,000 for eligible projects. History-focused arts or humanities initiatives in Virginia may be particularly well suited.

Virginia history and cultural organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofits can seek project support for education, history, science, arts, and community initiatives through the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, which funds work across the U.S. The foundation emphasizes strengthening communities and supporting future generations, so history-focused programs within broader community impact efforts may be eligible.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - Virginia

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

Virginia nonprofits, government entities, and state-recognized nonprofits can seek US $3,000 - US $5,000 to support firearms safety, shooting sports, hunting safety, and related educational programs. Virginia history organizations that teach firearms history, marksmanship traditions, or youth shooting sports may be eligible for The NRA Foundation’s charitable, educational, or sports-competition-focused support.

501(c)(3) public charities serving parts of Virginia with community, arts, or educational programs can apply for Philip L. Graham Fund’s grants, awarding US $30,000 - US $75,000 for primarily one-time projects or expenses. Eligible organizations in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park may benefit, including those with history-focused museums or cultural initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools or colleges in Virginia can apply for IBMA Foundation project grants, awarding US $1,000 - US $2,500 for bluegrass-focused arts, education, literary, or historic preservation projects. History organizations incorporating bluegrass music into interpretive or preservation work may be especially competitive.

With a mission to strengthen communities, Cameron Foundation provides Virginia 501(c)(3) organizations with project, operating, and capital grants ranging from US $10,000 - US $200,000. Eligible nonprofits serving the Tri-Cities and nearby counties can fund historic preservation, sacred landmarks, conservation, and related community revitalization efforts when most beneficiaries live within the foundation’s service area.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on mental health and substance use disorder programs, including those in Virginia, can apply for Elevance Health Foundation’s Behavioral Health Grant to expand treatment, prevention, and early intervention services. Grants support scalable, culturally relevant initiatives that reduce risks, improve access to care, and decrease loneliness among affected individuals nationwide.

Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, municipalities, and federally recognized tribes can apply for Health Resources in Action’s Jeffress Trust Awards, offering US $150,000 over two years for planning collaborative, action-oriented research on health equity. Projects may analyze policies, systems, environments, or community programs, which can include historically informed studies of social and structural determinants of health in Virginia.

Nonprofit organizations in Virginia can seek one-year program or general operating support for history preservation, arts and culture, education, basic services, environment, workforce, or health care access projects. With a mission rooted in Virginia’s heritage, Richard Gwathmey And Caroline T Gwathmey Memorial Trust offers US $5,000 - US $60,000 for established organizations with clear outcomes and diverse funding.

Museums, libraries, archives, and historical societies in Virginia’s Rappahannock River Region can seek funding to preserve and share documentary history. Focused on historic preservation and archival records, the Community Foundation of Rappahannock River Region supports projects in Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg that safeguard and provide access to local history.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, higher education institutions, and tribal governments in Virginia can receive US $3,500 - US $15,000 for public humanities projects exploring history, literature, and culture. Virginia Humanities supports community history initiatives, exhibitions, media projects, K–12 resources, and other programs that engage Virginia audiences with the state’s historical and cultural heritage.

Virginia 501(c)(3) organizations seeking support for arts, children’s programs, or environmental initiatives can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $20,000. Grants from Freeman Family Foundation help community-focused nonprofits, including those with history-related or educational projects that intersect with these priorities, strengthen quality of life across the state.

501(c)(3) organizations with history-related programs in Virginia can apply for the Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Foundation’s grants, which range from US $5,000 - US $150,000. Funding supports work in history alongside arts, education, environment, health, and humanity, with priority for projects connected to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Nonprofits, public agencies, Tribal, and faith-based organizations in Virginia can seek planning support to design new AmeriCorps programs addressing education, health, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, or veterans’ services. With a mission to expand national service, Serve Virginia provides resources and technical assistance to develop competitive AmeriCorps State program proposals.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running food-as-medicine or nutrition programs in Virginia and nationwide can use this grant to improve clinical outcomes for people with diet-related conditions and increase access to nutritious foods. Grants from Elevance Health Foundation help evidence-based, scalable initiatives that serve populations facing high social risk and food or nutrition insecurity.

Virginia history and historic preservation nonprofits serving Shenandoah County can access funding through Shenandoah Community Foundation for projects in civic affairs, education, environment, health, arts, and social welfare. 501(c)(3) organizations, including some serving the wider Shenandoah Valley, may receive US $250 - US $10,000 to strengthen community programs and address local needs.

Virginia nonprofits and eligible organizations planning public humanities and history projects in Virginia can access Rapid Grants to support smaller, short-term efforts. Grants from Virginia Humanities help fund community history projects, forums, exhibits, media, K–12 curriculum resources, teacher institutes, and related public programs, with awards up to US $3,500 for projects lasting up to nine months.

Virginia performing arts presenters that regularly book touring artists can access funding through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Jazz Touring Network, with awards up to US $3,000 to support jazz presentations. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations or government units in the mid-Atlantic region seeking to start, expand, or enhance jazz programming and touring performances.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on food, shelter, education, arts, health, community, or youth programs can access funding through the United Company Foundation. Organizations in Bristol, VA, Bristol, TN, and Southwest Virginia may be eligible for project support that strengthens local communities rather than ongoing operating budgets.