Federal grants in Virginia
Federal agencies awarded $135 billion in grants to recipients in Virginia from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $68 billion.
- Virginia ranks 14th of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Virginia rose from $27 billion in fiscal 2021 to $29 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 84%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 51%.
Grants in Virginia by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Virginia
- Grants for nonprofits in Virginia
- Grants for colleges and universities in Virginia
- Grants for businesses in Virginia
- Grants for small businesses in Virginia
- Grants for tribes in Virginia
- Grants for individuals in Virginia
Private foundations based in Virginia: 1,906 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Virginia
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $91 billion in Virginia, 67% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $25 billion to recipients in Virginia. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Virginia
Largest grant recipients in Virginia
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA Department of Medical Assistance Service | State and local governments | 21 | $70 billion |
| Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Education | State and local governments | 180 | $12 billion |
| Virginia Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 4,520 | $5.7 billion |
| Virginia Department of Social Services | State and local governments | 201 | $4.7 billion |
| Housing & Community Development Virginia Department of | State and local governments | 66 | $2.2 billion |
| VA Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 1,748 | $1.7 billion |
| Emergency Mgmt Department of | State and local governments | 81 | $1.6 billion |
| Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia | Colleges and universities | 1,600 | $1.5 billion |
| The National Board for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program | State and local governments | 9 | $1.5 billion |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc. | Nonprofits | 69 | $1.4 billion |
| State Corporation Commission | State and local governments | 2 | $1.3 billion |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Colleges and universities | 1,781 | $1.2 billion |
| Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Health | State and local governments | 35 | $1.1 billion |
| VA State Board of Health | State and local governments | 121 | $960 million |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Colleges and universities | 844 | $855 million |
| Virginia Passenger Rail Authority | State and local governments | 3 | $737 million |
| Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services | State and local governments | 137 | $669 million |
| Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services | State and local governments | 44 | $646 million |
| The Virginia Department of Energy | State and local governments | 56 | $634 million |
| Associated Universities Inc | Other | 19 | $626 million |
Browse all 961 federal grant recipients in Virginia
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Virginia came to $131 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| City of Richmond | 1,538 | $12 billion |
| Fairfax County | 1,347 | $3.1 billion |
| Henrico County | 390 | $2.2 billion |
| City of Alexandria | 408 | $2.0 billion |
| Arlington County | 709 | $1.9 billion |
| City of Norfolk | 687 | $1.6 billion |
| Montgomery County | 1,360 | $1.4 billion |
| City of Charlottesville | 1,216 | $1.1 billion |
| Loudoun County | 281 | $792 million |
| Chesterfield County | 379 | $592 million |
| City of Hampton | 327 | $432 million |
| City of Roanoke | 343 | $396 million |
| Prince William County | 260 | $386 million |
| City of Virginia Beach | 273 | $366 million |
| City of Lynchburg | 191 | $358 million |