Chapters 185 and 186 of the Acts of Assembly of the 2022 Session of the Virginia General Assembly established in Code the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund (BIPOC). The purpose of the legislation is to create a grant program to protect and support Virginia’s historically underserved and underrepresented communities and the cultural and historical sites associated with them. This fund will provide grants for the acquisition, protection, and rehabilitation of historic and archaeological sites of significance associated with Virginia’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Further details are included below and in the grant manual.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is implementing a new online grant management system called WebGrants for all its grant programs. WebGrants will enable DHR to more efficiently publish grant opportunities, administer projects, and process claims. You will need to register in WebGrants to apply for this grant opportunity. To do so, click this link.

An introduction video to the BIPOC Grant Fund can be found at this link and is located at the bottom of this webpage.

2026 GRANT TIMELINE

• Preapplication opens in WebGrants--February 2, 2026
• Preapplication closes-- May 1, 2026
• Full Application opens--May 11, 2026
• Full Application closes--July 2, 2026
• Review Period--July and August 2026
• Award Decisions--Late September 2026

GRANT MANUAL

The BIPOC Grant Manual is linked HERE. Please read through the document to become familiar with the grant requirements. This grant manual is subject to change.

The application scoresheet and review criteria are also available for review.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is implementing a new online grant management system called WebGrants for all its grant programs. WebGrants will enable DHR to more efficiently publish grant opportunities, administer projects, and process claims. You will need to register in WebGrants to apply for this grant opportunity. To do so, click this link.

The first step in the application process is the Preapplication in WebGrants. The form will help determine if the project meets minimum eligibility requirements as set out in the legislation and grant manual. We will let you know if your project is eligible for this grant fund and invite you to complete the full grant application in WebGrants. See the grant manual for further details.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• State-recognized or federally recognized Indian tribes
• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
• Virginia localities

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

• Purchase of a fee simple or protective interest in real property
• Rehabilitation of real property
• Stabilization of real property
• Data recovery (e.g. archaeological excavation) of any cultural or historical property associated with Black, Indigenous, or people of color communities
• Project properties must be listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a National Historic Landmark, or determined eligible for such listing by DHR.
• Grants may be awarded for acquisitions upon which the applicant has already completed the transaction, subject to the criteria outlined in Section E of the legislation.
• Grant award recommendations made by the Department will be presented to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources for approval.

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS

• Reconstructing historic properties (recreating all or a significant portion that no longer exists), moving historic properties, or work on moved historic properties that are no longer eligible for listing in the NRHP.
• Acquisition of collections, conservation of collections, or long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period.
• Projects involving establishment or enhancement of cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, fund-raising costs, lobbying or advocacy activities.
• Projects already completed or funded through other state or federal programs.
• Architectural survey projects for the sole purpose of listing an individual historic resource or district on the National Register of Historic Places (however, these expenses may be eligible if part of a larger eligible project/activity).