Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society, based in Richmond, Virginia, is a public charity established in 1831. Through the Commonwealth History Fund, it supports history education and preservation projects across Virginia, providing grants to eligible organizations and local government agencies.
Virginia Historical Society at a glance
In short: Virginia Historical Society gave $552K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Virginia. 100% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $551,500
- +39.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,958
- +62.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $176,801,404
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (12 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Virginia Historical Society
- How to Apply
-
The FY2027 application cycle is closed. The application materials identify eligible applicant types and request project information and narrative responses; the guidelines set project eligibility and restrictions.
- Review Cycle
- The FY2027 application period was September 1–30, 2026, a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The FY2027 application period was September 1–30, 2026, a past cycle.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7311, Richmond, VA 23221
Phone: (804) 340-1800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Virginia Historical Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Historic Alexandria ($75K). Together the top 10 received $517K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 48 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Commonwealth History Fund supports projects throughout Virginia, and the application requires the project to be in Virginia. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Virginia Historical Society open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 12 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $46K. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $396K (2024) to $552K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $552K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Alexandria Alexandria, VA | General Purpose | $75,000 |
| The JXN Project Richmond, VA | General Purpose | $75,000 |
| Virginia Tribal Education Consortium Inc Ashland, VA | General Purpose | $75,000 |
| Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center Inc Fredericksburg, VA | General Purpose | $60,000 |
| WRHO Public Media Norfolk, VA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Pamunkey Indian Tribe King William, VA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Virginia Association of Museums Richmond, VA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Monacan Nation Cultural Foundation Amherst, VA | General Purpose | $31,500 |
| Historic Staunton Foundation Staunton, VA | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Historical Society of Western Virginia Roanoke, VA | General Purpose | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $176,801,404 | $14,914,040 | $15,894,525 | $551,500 | 12 | $1,752,953 |
| 2024 | $169,140,015 | $24,615,073 | $14,020,028 | $396,000 | 14 | $1,815,589 |
| 2023 | $152,887,234 | $11,743,419 | $12,745,939 | $401,206 | 11 | $2,818,846 |
| 2022 | $153,035,924 | $15,255,895 | $14,383,203 | $397,500 | 11 | $1,533,128 |
| 2021 | $152,846,402 | $30,481,870 | $8,361,790 | — | — | $-1,464,182 |
| 2020 | $107,731,441 | $13,121,703 | $8,502,174 | — | — | $2,002,174 |
| 2019 | $103,432,116 | $8,784,369 | $9,207,755 | — | — | $2,129,811 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Society’s mission is to connect people to America’s past through Virginia’s story by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth’s history, linking past with present and inspiring future generations.
The Commonwealth History Fund supports history education and preservation. Eligible project activities include preservation, restoration and rehabilitation, research and documentation, publications, conservation, acquisitions, educational programs and outreach, digitization, and website projects. The Fund’s guidelines exclude endowment support, general operating support, and advertising or promotion, except where some such costs are part of a larger eligible project.
Eligible applicants include Virginia nonprofit tax-exempt organizations, state- or federally recognized American Indian tribes, and local government agencies. Political or partisan organizations, religious-purpose projects, and lobbying are ineligible. Applicants awarded a Fund grant within the preceding 12 months are also ineligible.
Grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The JXN Project describes its work as reparative preservation and restorative truth-telling focused on Richmond’s Jackson Ward and the Black American experience. The Virginia Tribal Education Consortium says it works to improve educational outcomes for Virginia Indian students, especially in history, culture, and language. The Virginia Association of Museums describes itself as a statewide network serving the museum community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Society reported 12 grants totaling $551,500. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $75,000, with a median of $50,000. Notable recipients included Historic Alexandria and The JXN Project ($75,000 each), the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium ($75,000), the Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center ($60,000), and WRHO Public Media, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, and the Virginia Association of Museums ($50,000 each). The reported purpose for these grants was general purpose.
The Commonwealth History Fund guidelines describe awards ranging from $5,000 to $75,000. The application requests project and applicant information, a project summary, schedule and milestones, a statement of need, organizational background and mission, project narrative, communities served, key relationships, sustainability plans, and other project details.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following trustees: Makola M Abdullah, B Marc Allen, Neil Amin, Victor K Branch, Charles Cabell, Victor O Cardwell, Herbert A Claiborne III, Richard P Cullen, William C Davis, and Melanie Trent De Schutter.
Virginia Historical Society is led by Jamie O. Bosket, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 7 of 46 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jamie O. Bosket
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$237K (2019) → $558K (2025)
Carlos Brown
Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2023
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Parris
Director of Collections Cataloging
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$134K (2025)
Charles L. Cabell
Trustee
Chairman → Past Chair, 2021
Past Chair → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald F. Jj Smith
Trustee
Trustee → Regional Vice Chair, 2022
Regional Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Herbert A. Claiborne III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanie D. Eiland
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Nelson Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin B. Osborne
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Makola M. Abdullah
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela K. Royall
Trustee
Vice Chairman → Chair, 2021
Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter F. Farrell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard P. Cullen
Trustee
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert D. Taylor
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Russell B. Harper
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor K. Branch
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward A. Mullen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth A. Seegar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil Amin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William C. Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Honorable Cn Jenkins Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor O. Cardwell
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria D. Harker
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Xavier R. Richardson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
B. Marc Allen
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Sargeant Reynolds Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Trent De Schutter
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul C. Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Y. Thomas
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Molly G. Hardie
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William S. Peebles IV
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy D. Schneider
Vice President Marketing & Communications
Vice President Marketing → Vice President Marketing & Communications, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$122K (2019) → $149K (2025)
Adam E. Scher
Vice President for Collections & Exhibitions
Vice President for Collections → Vice President for Collections & Exhibitions, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $127K (2025)
Anna E. Powers
Vice President Advancement
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$178K (2022) → $171K (2025)
David Kunnen
CFO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $135K (2025)
Michael Plumb
Vice President for Guest Engagement
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$108K (2023) → $118K (2025)
Austin Brockenbrough III
Honorary Vice Chair
Trustee → Honorary Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Conrad M. Hall
Honorary Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gen John P. Jumper
Regional Vice Chair
Trustee → Regional Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harry F. Byrd III
Honorary Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy H. Gottwald
Honorary Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan S. Goode
Regional Vice Chair
Trustee → Regional Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas G. Slater Jr.
Honorary Vice Chair
Trustee → Honorary Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa R. Moore
Regional Vice Chair
Trustee → Regional Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William H. Fralin Jr.
Regional Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Tracy Walker IV
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: G. Gilmer Minor III (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jeanette R. Cadwallender (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth A. McClanahan (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Landon Hilliard (2019–2023) — Regional Vice Chair
- Former: Linwood A. Lacy Jr. (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Richard S. Heiman (2019–2022) — CFO
- Former: Robert C. Sledd (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas G. Snead Jr. (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Donald M. Wilkinson (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Anna E. Von Gehr (2021) — Vice President Advancement
- Former: Allison P. Weinstein (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Anne R. Worrell (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Brenton S. Halsey (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: H. Furlong Baldwin (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: J. Harvie Wilkinson III (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $558K, to Jamie O Bosket (President and CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Historical Society
How much does Virginia Historical Society give each year?
Virginia Historical Society gave $552K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $396K across 14 grants.
What is Virginia Historical Society's typical grant size?
Virginia Historical Society's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $45,958, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Virginia Historical Society that year got $46K on average.
Where does Virginia Historical Society give grants?
Virginia Historical Society gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (3 grants).
Does Virginia Historical Society give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Virginia Historical Society's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Virginia Historical Society's largest grantees?
Virginia Historical Society's largest 2025 grantees include Historic Alexandria ($75,000), The JXN Project ($75,000) and Virginia Tribal Education Consortium Inc ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia Historical Society?
Virginia Historical Society reported $176.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.9M.
What does Virginia Historical Society fund?
The Society’s mission is to connect people to America’s past through Virginia’s story by collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth’s history, linking past with present and inspiring future generations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia Historical Society?
The FY2027 application cycle is closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Virginia Historical Society's EIN?
Virginia Historical Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0419452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 27, 2020)
Live grants for the work Virginia Historical Society funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Virginia Historical Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Virginia Historical Society funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/virginia-historical-society-morg_0e9b4cf5f7d34c03b2c3c8f70b821a08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_540419452_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Virginia Historical Society funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/virginia-historical-society-morg_0e9b4cf5f7d34c03b2c3c8f70b821a08},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Virginia Historical Society's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Virginia Historical Society down — hundreds of funders to go?