About the Grants Process 

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Annual Grants Process. Once per year, the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission awards grants that range in size up to $4,000 to individuals, nonprofits, arts organizations, schools, and businesses.

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Successful Proposals. See summaries of successful past grant awards in the Grants & Projects tab above. Applications may be submitted by individuals or groups. Sister Cities Commissioners and sub-committee members may not apply.

 

Applications must be received by the specified deadline (this year: Jan 18, 2023) to receive consideration. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. Grant recipients will be notified of the Commission’s award decision within 45 days of the application deadline date.

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Reimbursement & Reporting. Funds will be available as reimbursements; expenses and requests for reimbursement must be made by May 31, 2024. Expenditures must be detailed in a year-end report made to the CSCC.

Four cities. Infinite possibilities. Find inspiration in these CSCC-sponsored projects.

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Community Radio (Winneba, Ghana). Charlottesville nonprofit radio station WTJU established a sister radio station relationship with Peace FM in Winneba, Ghana. Peace FM's station manager traveled from Winneba to Charlottesville. He was interviewed on WTJU, shared musical programming, met Charlottesville area residents at a public reception, and served as a guest lecturer in two different University of Virginia classes. The project achieved its aim of comparing experiences as community broadcasters, discussing strategies for serving their communities through media, and sharing programming between stations.  

 

Thomas Jefferson and Filippo Mazzei (Poggio a Caiano, Italy)

A 13-year-old boy researched and wrote a presentation about Charlottesville native Thomas Jefferson and Poggio a Caiano native Filippo Mazzei—how they became friends and how Mazzei impacted the culture of Charlottesville and the founding of the United States. He then traveled to Poggio a Caiano to present an interactive lesson with the help of his younger brother. In preparation, he conducted research at Monticello and the Jefferson Library and met with Monticello’s Education Department. to select items to use in his presentation.  ssisted by his younger brother, he presented the lesson to children in Poggio a Caiano.  Upon his return from Italy, he presented the lesson to elementary school students in Charlottesville. Children in both cities were invited to participate in a blog on our shared history.

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​A Tale of Two Cities: Sharing a Cultural Comparison (Besancon, France) Hailing from Montebeliard, France, Loic Mazet, 22,  received a Charlottesville Sister Cities grant to explore similarities and differences between our two cities and prepare video presentations to acquaint local residents with French culture. He found similarities in our mountain ranges, rich histories, and proximity to major cities: Drive 2.5 hours from Besançon and you'll arrive in Paris. Drive 2 hours north from Charlottesville, and arrive in Washington, D.C.

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Jackson Via & Clark Elementary School Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports Initiative (Besancon, Pleven, Poggio a Caiano, Winneba).

Designed to connect local elementary school students with students in all four Sister Cities, this program provides students and staff with cultural and educational experiences that enhance cultural understanding, promote unity through diversity, and foster positive relationships. This ongoing grant funds travel to cultural events, materials to create student passports, materials for promotional posters, food for a cultural food fair, and T-shirts. It also supports the Jackson-VIa Sister Cities Houses projects.

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View Previous Grants Summaries 

• View the 2018 Grants Summaries.

• View the 2019 Grants Summaries.

•  View the 2020 Grants Summaries. 

•  View the 2021 Grants Summaries.

• View the 2022 Grants Summaries.

• View the 2023 Grants Summaries.