West Virginia Humanities Council’s Major Grants

The West Virginia Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides a variety of matching grants to nonprofit organizations that deliver public humanities programming for West Virginia audiences. The Council’s Major Grants program is designed to support significant humanities projects that engage the public and foster understanding of the human experience. The program aligns with the Council’s mission to make high-quality humanities content accessible to communities throughout the state. The Major Grants offer up to $20,000 per project and support a wide range of activities, including lectures, symposiums, panel discussions, reading and discussion series, exhibits, reenactments, and conferences. Previously funded projects include the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, permanent exhibits at historic sites, archaeological digs, book festivals, and interpretive signage for trails. The grant requires applicants to demonstrate that their projects are rooted in the humanities and to involve qualified humanities scholars or expert practitioners. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and the West Virginia Department of Education for certain grant types. All projects must be accessible to the public and must comply with federal nondiscrimination statutes. Applicants must secure a dollar-for-dollar match for the grant, with a minimum 25 percent cash match required for requests exceeding $2,000. Allowable costs include honoraria for scholars, travel, temporary staff, supplies, materials, publicity, and equipment rental. Regular staff salaries are not eligible for cash match and may only be used as in-kind match. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Grants Administrator Erin Riebe at riebe@wvhumanities.org or by phone at 304-346-8500 to discuss project ideas and confirm eligibility before applying. Applications must include a project narrative, budget narrative, and detailed schedule of activities. The Council gives preference to projects that foster community dialogue, demonstrate cooperation between organizations, and have the potential for sustained impact beyond the grant period. The Major Grants program operates on a recurring cycle with two annual deadlines, February 1 and September 1. Applicants should allow at least twelve weeks between the deadline and the start of any project activity. The next submission deadline is September 1, with the subsequent cycle opening in February 2026. Applications are currently being accepted.