West Virginia Humanities Major Grants

The West Virginia Humanities Council administers the Major Grants program to support significant humanities-based public programming throughout the state. These grants are designed for nonprofit organizations planning multifaceted, high-impact projects that engage diverse audiences and contribute to public understanding of the humanities in West Virginia communities. Major Grants provide awards of up to $20,000 and are offered twice annually, with deadlines on February 1 and September 1. Applicants are advised to allow at least twelve weeks between the deadline and the project start date to accommodate the Council’s review and approval timeline. The program is open to West Virginia-based nonprofit organizations that actively contribute to the project’s design and content. Sponsoring organizations may not act solely as fiscal agents. Eligible activities include lectures, reading and discussion series, school projects, panel discussions, symposiums, exhibits, conferences, public reenactments, and other public-facing educational events. Projects must be rooted in a humanities discipline such as literature, philosophy, history, law, archaeology, or cultural studies, and must include qualified scholars in planning or presentation roles. All funded activities must comply with federal nondiscrimination standards and be accessible to the general public. Applicants must secure a 1:1 match for requested funds. For grant requests over $2,000, at least 25% of the match must be in cash. Allowable expenses include honoraria, travel, promotional materials, equipment rentals, and project-specific supplies. Ineligible uses include food, entertainment, or any activities that occur before grant approval. A complete application includes a detailed project narrative, humanities content justification, budget, evaluation plan, timeline, and documentation of participating scholars. The Council has supported a wide array of initiatives under this program, including the Ohio River Festival of Books, permanent historical exhibits at Weston State Hospital, archaeology digs in Wood and Greenbrier counties, humanities programs at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and interpretive signage along the Kanawha Valley Rivers to Ridges Trail. Applications must be submitted through the Council’s Formstack portal and include certification from the sponsoring organization’s CEO. Grantees are required to be fully registered with SAM.gov and supply a UEI, DUNS, and FEIN if selected for funding. The program is recurring, with strong competition expected at each deadline. Applicants are encouraged to prepare proposals well in advance and confirm alignment with the Council’s grant criteria prior to submission.

Begin project no earlier than 12 weeks after the deadline. Ensure strong humanities integration and qualified scholar participation. Align your program with Council priorities for public engagement and educational depth.