The West Virginia Humanities Council is a nonprofit organization governed by its board of directors. Our mission is to promote a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia.
The West Virginia Humanities Council Inc supports public humanities work across West Virginia through matching grants and a Folklife Program that documents and supports traditional arts and culture. Its recent awards show a consistent emphasis on projects that connect humanities programming to museums, universities, theaters, broadcasting, and heritage organizations serving West Virginia audiences. Among the larger recent grants, Wv Mine Wars Museum in Matewan received $29,644 in 2024 to support the organization’s projects, and West Virginia University Research Corporation in Morgantown received $28,675 in 2025 for the same purpose. Other sizable awards went to Shepherd University Foundation in Shepherdstown, Wv Public Broadcasting Foundation in Charleston, and Alchemy Theatre Troupe Inc in Huntington, showing a mix of cultural presentation, research, and public media. The grant list also includes organizations tied to music, film, heritage, and civic education, which aligns with the council’s statewide humanities mission. The foundation’s grants are directed to nonprofit organizations rather than individuals, and the recent record shows project support as the prevailing grant purpose. Its giving pattern suggests a role as a statewide humanities intermediary, supporting institutions that produce public-facing programming and preserve West Virginia’s cultural and historical life.
History and heritage are central to the council’s grantmaking. It gave $29,644 to Wv Mine Wars Museum in Matewan in 2024 and $11,077 to National Coal Heritage Area Authority in Oak Hill in 2023, both tied to projects that connect directly to West Virginia’s industrial and labor history. Theatre and performance also appear repeatedly. The council awarded $28,000 to Contermporary American Theather Festival Inc in Shepherdstown in 2023, $20,000 to Alchemy Theatre Troupe Inc in Huntington in 2023, and additional project support to the same troupe in later years. Public broadcasting and music are another strand of support. Wv Public Broadcasting Foundation in Charleston received $25,678 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2023, while Wv Music Hall of Fame in Charleston received $18,000 in 2025 and additional grants in 2023 and 2024. The portfolio also includes folklife-oriented institutions such as Augusta Heritage Center.
$204K
$2.7M
$1.6M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $19K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$19K
ERIC WAGGONER
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Typical awards cluster in a relatively narrow band: the p25 grant size is $9,262, the median is $12,500, and the p75 is $18,832. The recent record shows repeat funding to the same recipients across multiple years, including West Virginia University Research Corporation, Shepherd University Foundation, Wv Public Broadcasting Foundation, Alchemy Theatre Troupe Inc, Marshall University Research Corp, and Wv Music Hall of Fame. The council gives to nonprofit organizations and does not fund individuals. It also operates a named matching-grants program that accepts unsolicited applications, alongside a Folklife Program with apprenticeship activity that does not accept unsolicited requests.
Grantmaking is entirely in West Virginia: 100% of grants in the recent data went to recipients in WV. The strongest clusters appear in Charleston, Shepherdstown, Huntington, Morgantown, and Elkins, with additional awards in Matewan, Thomas, Marlington, Martinsburg, and Oak Hill. The recipient list shows a statewide spread rather than a single-city pattern, but the council’s awards stay within its local geographic scope.
It funds nonprofit organizations that provide public humanities programming for West Virginia audiences. Recent recipients include museums, universities, theater groups, public broadcasting, heritage organizations, and music institutions.
Its Humanities Council Matching Grants program accepts unsolicited applications, with applicants directed to review the grant guidelines and follow the How to Apply instructions. The Folklife Apprenticeship program does not accept unsolicited requests.
Recent grants cluster around a median of $12,500, with the middle half ranging from $9,262 at the 25th percentile to $18,832 at the 75th percentile.
Its recent grant record is entirely in West Virginia. The recipient cities include Charleston, Shepherdstown, Huntington, Morgantown, Elkins, Matewan, Thomas, Marlington, Martinsburg, and Oak Hill.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including West Virginia University Research Corporation, Shepherd University Foundation, Wv Public Broadcasting Foundation, Alchemy Theatre Troupe Inc, Marshall University Research Corp, and Wv Music Hall of Fame.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from West Virginia Humanities Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must be rooted in one or more humanities disciplines. Sponsoring organizations must be nonprofits and, if awarded, have a federal Employer Identification Number, an active Unique Entity ID in SAM.gov, and full SAM registration. Applicants should confirm eligibility with the grants administrator.
Deadline: To be determined; applicants should watch the grants page for updates.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION | MORGANTOWN, WV | $28,675 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $25,227 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WEST VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHARLESTON, WV | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME | CHARLESTON, WV | $18,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC | HUNTINGTON, WV | $18,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $13,041 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| AUGUSTA HERITAGE CENTER | ELKINS, WV | $12,061 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, WV | $11,516 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARTINSBURG BERKELEY COUNTY NAACP | MARTINSBURG, WV | $9,770 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| STEP BY STEP INC | CHARLESTON, WV | $8,685 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL | SHEPERDSTOWN, WV | $8,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| APPALACHIAN FORREST HERITAGE AREA | ELKINS, WV | $7,800 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF WV | ELKINS, WV | $6,799 | 2025 | " NAME, ADDRESS, AND AMOUNT FOR ANY CONTRIBUTORS/GRANTORS THAT GAVE MORE THAN $5,000 BETWEEN 11/1/23-10/31/24" FISCAL (11/1/23-10/31/24) AND CALENDAR (2023) WAGES, PENSION, AND OTHER BENEFITS PAID SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| ARTHURDALE HERITAGE | ARTHURDALE, WV | $6,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MINE WARS MUSEUM | MATEWAN, WV | $5,403 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $5,052 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MINE WARS MUSEUM | MATEWAN, WV | $29,644 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $26,078 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION | MORGANTOWN, WV | $25,888 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, WV | $25,678 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| FRIENDS OF BLACKWATER | THOMAS, WV | $19,665 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTSSUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC | HUNTINGTON, WV | $18,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $17,710 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| POCAHONTAS COUNTY OPERA HOUSE | MARLINGTON, WV | $15,240 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME | CHARLESTON, WV | $13,725 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WVU RESEARCH CORP | MORGANTOWN, WV | $9,999 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| STEP BY STEP INC | CHARLESTON, WV | $8,370 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL | SHEPERDSTOWN, WV | $8,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $7,736 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE | ELKINS, WV | $6,858 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| CONTERMPORARY AMERICAN THEATHER FESTIVAL INC | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $28,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, WV | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC | HUNTINGTON, WV | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| AUGUSTA HERITAGE CENTER OF DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE | ELKINS, WV | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | CHARLESTON, WV | $18,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MINE WARS MUSEUM | MATEWAN, WV | $17,820 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $13,148 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME | CHARLESTON, WV | $12,915 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $12,500 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| BERKELEY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | MARTINSBURG, WV | $11,470 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA AUTHORITY | OAK HILL, WV | $11,077 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| THE POCAHONTAS COUNTY OPERA HOUSE FOUNDATION | MARLINTON, WV | $11,050 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP | HUNTINGTON, WV | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WVU RESEARCH CORP | MORGANTOWN, WV | $9,999 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WV ARCHAEOLOGICL SOCIETY | CHARLESTON, WV | $9,486 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| FRIENDS OF BLACKWATER | THOMAS, WV | $9,300 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $9,225 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION | MORGANTOWN, WV | $8,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV | $7,080 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
| DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE | ELKINS, WV | $5,486 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS |
SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME
$18,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC
$18,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
MARTINSBURG BERKELEY COUNTY NAACP
$9,770SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
STEP BY STEP INC
$8,685SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL
$8,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
APPALACHIAN FORREST HERITAGE AREA
$7,800SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF WV
$6,799" NAME, ADDRESS, AND AMOUNT FOR ANY CONTRIBUTORS/GRANTORS THAT GAVE MORE THAN $5,000 BETWEEN 11/1/23-10/31/24" FISCAL (11/1/23-10/31/24) AND CALENDAR (2023) WAGES, PENSION, AND OTHER BENEFITS PAID SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
ARTHURDALE HERITAGE
$6,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MINE WARS MUSEUM
$5,403SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MINE WARS MUSEUM
$29,644SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTSSUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC
$18,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
POCAHONTAS COUNTY OPERA HOUSE
$15,240SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME
$13,725SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
STEP BY STEP INC
$8,370SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL
$8,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
CONTERMPORARY AMERICAN THEATHER FESTIVAL INC
$28,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
ALCHEMY THEATRE TROUPE INC
$20,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
$18,000SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MINE WARS MUSEUM
$17,820SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME
$12,915SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP
$12,500SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
BERKELEY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$11,470SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA AUTHORITY
$11,077SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
THE POCAHONTAS COUNTY OPERA HOUSE FOUNDATION
$11,050SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
WV ARCHAEOLOGICL SOCIETY
$9,486SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS
