Grants - $5,000 or $10,000 Benefiting Organizations:

Smithfield VA Events donates proceeds back to the community a variety of ways.  One way is that we select Benefiting Organizations for $5000 or $10,000 grants from each festival. Grant applications are taken from May thru August each year, with announcements made usually in mid-November for festivals held the next calendar year. Non-profit organizations that support citizens or programs in Smithfield or Isle of Wight Virginia are eligible to apply. 

Past Grant Recipients

Other Ways to Raise Funds

Currently accepting grant applications for 2027 festivals. DEADLINE: AUG 31, 2026. 
If you received a $5,000 or $10,000 grant in calendar year 2025 or 2026 you are not eligible for the 2027 grant cycle. If you are not sure if you received a grant, please click on the Past Grant Recipients button above. 

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Grant Application Documents: 

It is recommended that you review all of the grant documents prior to filling out the application. Click on the buttons below to download the 2027 grant cycle documents. 

If you have questions, or would prefer we email you the  grant documents contact us at:  [email protected]. 

Grant Info & Instructions

Grant Application

If you received a grant in the past, you need to complete the PAST GRANT REPORT within 30 days of spending the funds or within 6 months if you have not expended the funds, please give us an update. 

Post Grant Report

FAQ's for GRANTS: 

Who is Eligible to apply: 

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• Organizations that have received grants are not eligible to re-apply for two calendar years. For example, if you received a grant in 2025 or 2026 you are not eligible for this 2027 grant cycle. 

 

• The organization must be an identifiable non-profit/charitable organization and TAX ID # and type of charitable/non-profit organization will need to be provided in the application. Grants can be given to organizations, including but not restricted to community/social/civic groups, service clubs, churches, school organizations, parent/teacher groups, booster clubs, cultural groups, community-based sports leagues, and environmental organizations.

 

• The organization should demonstrate the ability to sustain future leadership and operation.

 

• The grant should demonstrate that it will have significant financial impact on the organization.

 

• The organization should serve, or provide a significant benefit to, Smithfield, VA and/or Isle of Wight County. The organization may be located outside the local area and may serve other communities but should demonstrate a substantial benefit to residents of Smithfield, VA and/or Isle of Wight County.

 

• The organization should show significant impact on the affected community that the grant-funded project, program, or service is providing to them.

 

• The organization should have definitive stated plans for the funds to be used for their own organization.

 

• The grant can be used for new or expanding projects or programs, equipment, program supplies or in support of programs and services with an identifiable benefit for the targeted community. Capital projects will be considered. The project must have a demonstrated impact and must be sustainable by the organization. 

 

• Grant funding cannot be used for individual scholarships.

 

• Grant funding cannot be used for projects, programs, or services that solely benefit a single individual, family, or exclusive/selective group. For example, grant funding cannot fund an exclusive sports team, but funding can be for open to the public recreational sports leagues.

 

• The grant cannot be used as a direct “pass-thru” for donations to another organization or person. For example, we will not accept applications requesting funds to be used directly for scholarships or for another organization’s project or service that your organization is not actually implementing.

 

• The grant cannot be used for annual operating expenses, lobbying the government, or engagement in legislative or political activity.

GENERAL INFO about grants: 

​The purpose of selecting benefiting organizations by Smithfield VA Events (SVAE) is to help local organizations improve, expand and/or initiate programs and/or services that benefit the Smithfield VA & Isle of Wight County communities.  
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The Board determined the $5,000 or $10,000 grant amounts with several thoughts in mind.  They wanted it to have a significant impact on the organization. They felt like these amounts would be a nice boost to an organization. It is enough to make a difference, but also allows SVAE to be able to make multiple grants annually.

When you apply, you will need to let us know if you are applying for a $5,000 or a $10,000 grant. 

The SVAE Board will determine the number of annual recipients and from which festival the donation will be made. Although the intended amount is to be $5,000 or $10,000, the final amount to each organization is dependent on the financial success of the event.

timeline for grants: 

May - Aug: Submissions accepted via email only in the requested format only. DEADLINE: Aug 31st each year. 
 
September: Board initially reviews applications and if any supplemental info is needed organization is contacted. 
 
October: Board reviews applications and completes scoresheets. 
 
November: Board makes final selections and organizations are notified.  

Grants recipients are recognized at the festival they are receiving funds from and also at the End-Of-Season Reception held in May each year. 

SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS: 

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT BY EMAIL ONLY:  August 31st
1) Before completing the application, review the Info & Instructions document. 

​2) Complete your application by typing in your answers and saving your document as a WORD document, and email it in per the instructions to [email protected] by the Aug 31st deadline. ​

3) Optional, but if you want to submit a short video explaining what you want grant funds for or to tell us additional info please email it by the deadline. 

SELECTION PROCESS:

​SVAE Board members will evaluate all applications using a scoring sheet based on the application criteria. Once applications are scored and tallied, the Board will meet and make final selections. 

WHAT IS A POST-Grant Report?

Within (30) days of expending your grant funds, you will need to complete the Post Grant Report and return it via email.  If within (6) months of receiving your grant, you have not expended all the funds, you will need to complete Question #1 and update us on your status. When you finish your project, you will need to resubmit a fully completed Post Grant Report. ​​

QUESTIONS or NEED HELP WITH DOCUMENTS?

Have questions or need help with getting the forms? Preferred method is for you to send an email to [email protected] or call Bailey at 571-521-9789. ​

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