St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (SCF) is pleased to announce the formal launch of the Healing Humanities Cultural Place-Keeping Grant, made possible through a transformative investment from the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program. This grant program, totaling $534,000, will fund St. Croix-based nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving arts, culture, heritage, and the natural environment.
Beginning March 21, 2025, eligible nonprofits are invited to apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000, with an average award of $40,000. Funding will support projects that strengthen St. Croix’s cultural landscape, ensuring that local traditions, spaces, and histories remain accessible and relevant across generations.
Grant Program Objectives
The Healing Humanities Cultural Place-Keeping Grant is designed to:
- Support multi-generational projects that promote and preserve arts, culture, heritage, and the natural environment—rooted in St. Croix’s rich history.
- Nourish and embolden St. Croix’s cultural institutions by providing operational support and project-based funding.
- Foster diverse initiatives that elevate community narratives, artistic expression, and cultural sustainability.
Eligibility & Application Process
Nonprofit organizations based on St. Croix or territory-wide organizations providing services on St. Croix are eligible to apply. Applications open March 21, 2025, and must be submitted by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM AST.
Key Dates:
- March 25, 2025, 10:00 AM AST – Virtual Information Session #1 (Register Here)
- April 10, 2025, 9:00 AM AST – Virtual Information Session #2 (Register Here)
- April 25, 2025, 11:59 PM AST – Application Deadline
- May 23, 2025 – Award Announcements
- June 1, 2025 – Grant Performance Period Begins
Interested applicants should visit SCF’s Grant Portal to read the full Request for Proposals for all eligibility details and submission guidelines. Questions may be directed to Paloma McGregor, SCF Program Officer [Grantmaking] Humanities & Culture, at grants@stxfoundation.org.
A Commitment to Cultural Place-Keeping
As we launch this grant cycle, we reaffirm our commitment to place-keeping—preserving and celebrating the cultural and historical identity of St. Croix,” said Deanna James, President & CEO of St. Croix Foundation. “With the Mellon Foundation’s support, we are empowering local nonprofits to amplify cultural narratives and mobilize the humanities as a force for healing and transformation in our community.”
SCF invites all eligible nonprofits to apply and encourages community members to spread the word. Together, we will nurture St. Croix’s vibrant cultural legacy and foster lasting impact through the arts.
Apply now! Visit SCF’s website for more details.
About St. Croix Foundation for Community Development
Founded in 1990, St. Croix Foundation is a place-based philanthropic organization committed to holistic community development. As a trusted fiscal sponsor, grantmaker, and community convener, SCF has directed over $50 million in investments into the U.S. Virgin Islands, focusing on community revitalization, nonprofit capacity building, education, economic development, and cultural preservation.
About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Since 1969, the Foundation has been guided by its core belief that the humanities and arts are essential to human understanding. The Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. Learn more at mellon.org