Best Cycling Grants in Virginia

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Hampton Roads communities in Virginia and nearby North Carolina can seek up to US $25,000 for small, time-limited projects. Focused on basic needs, opportunity, and a healthy environment, The Blocker Foundation invites programs that may include biking or active transportation as part of broader community well-being efforts.

Virginia biking and outdoor-focused nonprofits and community groups can access funding for civic engagement programs that activate local residents in rural communities. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, through the Trust for Civic Life’s Civic Experiment Grant, offers up to US $25,000 for nonpartisan, community-led projects that build long-lasting civic participation infrastructure in rural regions of the U.S.

Virginia Humanities offers Community Action Grants to support local organizations in enhancing public humanities engagement through festivals and events. These grants, with a maximum funding of $1,500, aim to lower barriers for participation and encourage first-time applicants. Rolling applications are accepted, with funding decisions made every two months. Successful projects will foster dialogue and shared learning, connecting Virginians with their rich history and culture.

The Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative Grant supports crucial conservation efforts for shorebirds during their migration along the Atlantic Flyway. This initiative addresses threats such as human disturbance, habitat loss, and hunting in critical areas from the U.S. Atlantic coast to the Caribbean and South America. By promoting coordinated research and management, the initiative aims to ensure the survival of species like the American oystercatcher and red knot, fostering healthy migratory pathways.

Virginia arts-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Virginia can receive up to US $2,000 to address specific accessibility needs in their arts spaces, facilities, or programming. Virginia Commission for the Arts provides these microgrants with a 10% cash match requirement, which may help organizations improve access for participants in activities like biking-related arts events.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government units in Virginia serving Loudoun County residents can apply for Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ 100WomenStrong grants to support shelter, health, hunger, and education. Funding may cover general operations, activities, projects, or programs running from May 2025 through April 2026, which may include cycling-related services.

Virginia biking and community organizations can access funding through Southeast Virginia Community Foundation for projects that address pressing community needs and improve quality of life in southeast Virginia. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain government entities serving this region, with priority for innovative, cost-effective efforts that reach broad populations and encourage collaboration and additional support.

Virginia Humanities offers Opportunity Grants to support cultural nonprofits in Virginia for public humanities projects. With funding of up to $5,000, these grants are designed for projects with a shorter timeline and scope, awarded twice a year. The grants aim to encourage community engagement and storytelling, allowing organizations to implement initiatives quickly. Eligibility includes 501(c)(3) nonprofits and similar entities, while funding excludes advocacy, certain arts, and international travel.

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 research advancing health equity. Funding supports planning and partnership-building around policy, systems, environmental change, and community-based program or general research that may benefit biking and active transportation initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Virginia can seek funding for programs and projects in education, environment, community development, arts, and health and human services. Focused on broad community needs, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation invites eligible groups, including those with biking or outdoor equity initiatives, to apply for US $1,000 - US $15,000 during its spring and fall cycles.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education. As an entity of the Commonwealth of Virginia government, SCHEV exists to serve the public interest and to assist the state’s system of higher education.

Our Mission: To advocate and promote the development of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education in Virginia.

Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program

In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated funding to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to stimulate public colleges and universities to develop partnerships to provide innovative paid internship opportunities for their students. In 2019, the effort was expanded and enacted into law as the Innovative Internship Fund and Program. In 2020, through a partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the program was rebranded as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Purpose

The program aims to expand high-quality, paid, and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers. The program comprises institutional grants and a statewide initiative to facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

Transforming Federal Work-Study and On-Campus Jobs Program

Recognizing the diversity of Virginia’s higher education institutions and the fact that institutions are at various stages in the process, the intent of this call for applications is to support institutions wherever they are at in their journey to transform federal work-study (FWS) jobs and/or on-campus jobs to be internships/more internship-like while adhering to federal policy requirements for FWS.

The grants can be used for implementation planning, piloting or scaling transformed FWS programs and/or on-campus jobs, depending on where an institution is in the process.

Three competitive grant tracks for funding will be offered to meet an institution wherever they are at in the process; the tracks are summarized below. Institutions do not have to start at the beginning (implementation planning) unless necessary; otherwise they apply for the stage they are in or about to undertake.

Institutions that operate Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs must prioritize transforming their FWS positions but may also propose broader transformations of other on-campus jobs. Institutions without FWS programs may submit proposals under the tracks below focused on transforming on-campus positions to be more internship-like.

• Implementation Planning
• Piloting the Transformation
• Scaling the Transformation

Implementation Planning Grant

One-year award.

This track applies to institutions just starting to think about (or in the midst of) aligning key offices, functions, positions and shoring up leadership support for the transformation. This stage is predominately institution/internally-focused. 

Virginia-based research institutions and organizations conducting health equity research can apply for the Thomas F. & Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust’s Jeffress Trust Awards Program, with awards up to US $600,000. Projects analyzing policy, systems, environmental change, or programs that may intersect with biking, active transportation, or related community health initiatives could be competitive.

With a mission to prevent underage and high-risk drinking, organizations in Virginia such as nonprofits, schools, colleges, law enforcement, and community coalitions can receive up to US $10,000 for alcohol education and prevention projects. Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority funds planning, development, and implementation costs, which may benefit cycling-related safety or youth programs that address alcohol misuse.

Organizations such as community coalitions, law enforcement, nonprofits, schools, colleges, universities, and faith-based or prevention groups in Virginia can receive funding to prevent underage and high-risk drinking. Grants from Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority help Virginia organizations address underage drinking, social hosting, and other alcohol-related community safety concerns with projects up to $10,000.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with capital projects or proven programs serving Accomack or Northampton County residents in Virginia can seek up to US $50,000 for community, arts, education, health, environment, and basic needs initiatives. Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation supports projects that create long-term benefits and demonstrate successful outcomes; cycling-related efforts may be eligible if they fit these priorities.

Virginia biking and cycling nonprofits focused on community development, health, or human services can access funding through Thompson Charitable Foundation for matching funds and capital projects. Eligible organizations must serve Buchanan or Tazewell Counties and work in areas such as health, education and workforce development, community and economic development, or quality of life.

Virginia Humanities at WHRO Grants supports public humanities projects across Hampton Roads, offering up to $6,000 for initiatives that connect local communities with their cultural heritage. The grants aim to engage broad audiences through community forums, exhibitions, and media projects, fostering dialogue and understanding. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits within the WHRO service area. The program emphasizes inclusivity, preserving local stories, and enhancing public access to humanities resources.

Rural, community-based 501(c)(3) organizations in Virginia and other Southeastern states can seek general or project support for grassroots organizing, leadership development, and justice-focused advocacy. Focused on social, economic, and environmental justice, Southern Partners Fund invites small-budget rural groups using organizing strategies to strengthen communities, including those whose work may intersect with biking or active transportation issues.

Nonprofits, mission-oriented for-profits, and eligible housing entities with scalable affordable housing innovations can apply for Enterprise Community Partners’ national Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge, including applicants in Virginia, to receive US $2,000,000 for proven solutions in design and construction, finance, or service delivery. Grants from Enterprise Community Partners help U.S. organizations expand housing choice and access for lower-income residents.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits running emotional, occupational, or nutritional health programs can apply for grants from The Rosendin Foundation. Focused on community health, the foundation invites eligible organizations in its Virginia service areas to request up to US $100,000 to support community-focused services that align with its mission.

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.

Nonprofit organizations in Virginia working on firearm violence intervention and community public safety can apply for funding from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. With a mission to reduce violent crime, this program provides US $25,000 - US $250,000 to support sustainable, community-based intervention and prevention efforts that interrupt local cycles of violence.

The Herndon Foundation, established in 1965, supports diverse local causes in the metro Richmond area, focusing on education, health, and cultural preservation. They prioritize programs that ensure educational advancement, meet basic human needs, and enhance access to arts and culture. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation particularly favors programmatic support that demonstrates a significant impact. Grant requests submitted through their website are given priority.

Virginia Humanities offers Major Grants to support cultural nonprofits in Virginia that develop public humanities projects. These grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, are awarded biannually and aim to engage audiences with history, literature, and culture. Projects can include community forums, exhibitions, and curriculum resources, fostering dialogue and expanding access to the humanities. With a focus on immediate implementation, these grants are pivotal in enhancing cultural understanding across the state.

Virginia agricultural and forest producers seeking to improve land, soil, water, and wildlife habitat can receive multi-year conservation payments to enhance working lands. Focused on environmental stewardship, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Virginia invites eligible operations to enroll their entire farm or forest in customized conservation plans that strengthen both resource health and long-term productivity.

VA 250 Grants

The VA250 Commission offers grant programs to support local commemorative events, programs, and activities. Local VA250 committees whose local governing body has passed a resolution of support are encouraged to apply. Funding for VA250 Grants is provided by the VA250 Commission. Projects should be focused on content on the American Revolution.

Applicants may apply for up to $10,000, and a 1:1 match is required. Grants will be managed as subawards through the University of Virginia.

The Commission prefers that the local committees choose one project per grant cycle to support.