Minigrants Program

The West Virginia Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, administers a range of grant programs designed to support public humanities initiatives across West Virginia. The Council’s mission centers on advancing understanding of the humanities, defined broadly to include disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, law, linguistics, archaeology, religion, ethics, and the critical study of the arts. Through its grantmaking, the Council aims to foster public engagement with these disciplines and to encourage thoughtful exploration of cultural heritage, contemporary society, and the human experience. Among its offerings, the Minigrants program is designed to provide modest financial support for smaller-scale humanities projects. These grants fund initiatives that bring humanities content to public audiences in accessible formats, such as lectures, workshops, exhibits, and educational programming. The program is particularly suited for organizations seeking to pilot ideas, conduct planning activities, or execute discrete events that do not require large-scale funding. By supporting early-stage or limited-scope projects, the Council enables organizations to build capacity and potentially develop larger proposals in the future. Minigrants provide funding of up to 2000 dollars per project. Supported activities include single events, lecture series, small museum exhibits, brochures, consultations, and planning efforts for more complex initiatives. Eligible expenses generally align with humanities programming needs, such as honoraria for scholars, travel, materials, and publicity costs. However, projects must clearly demonstrate a strong humanities focus and involve qualified scholars or practitioners who contribute subject-matter expertise and interpretive guidance. Eligibility for these grants requires that projects be sponsored by nonprofit organizations and be accessible to public audiences within West Virginia. Applicants must ensure that their proposals are rooted in one or more humanities disciplines and include participation from a humanities scholar. Additionally, applicants are expected to present realistic budgets, outline clear project plans, and comply with Council guidelines, including nondiscrimination requirements. While matching funds are typically required for larger grants, the Minigrants program maintains more flexible requirements due to its smaller funding scale. The application process requires prospective applicants to review general grant guidelines and application instructions prior to submission. Applicants are encouraged to consult with the Grants Administrator to discuss project eligibility and alignment with program priorities. The application includes sections such as project summary, narrative, schedule of activities, scholar involvement, and budget details. Proposals are evaluated based on their humanities content, clarity of objectives, feasibility, public impact, and the qualifications of involved scholars. The deadline for Minigrants applications is August 1, 2026. Applicants must allow approximately six weeks between the submission deadline and the proposed start date of grant-funded activities to accommodate review and award processing. While specific award notification timelines are not explicitly stated, this lead time implies a structured review cycle. The program appears to recur annually, given the fixed annual deadline. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact Erin Riebe, the Grants Administrator, via phone or email. Direct communication with program staff is strongly encouraged to ensure that proposed projects meet eligibility criteria and align with the Council’s mission. Overall, the Minigrants program serves as an accessible entry point for organizations seeking to deliver meaningful humanities programming to communities throughout West Virginia.

Contact the grants administrator before applying and ensure strong humanities content with scholar involvement