FY26 CP Large Description of Funding Opportunity

Large Capital Project Program Overview and Goals

The Commission on the Arts and Humanities (“CAH” or “the Agency”) seeks applications for the FY26 Large Capital Projects (“LCP”) Program Grant. LCP furthers CAH’s mission by encouraging progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia by supporting non-profit arts, humanities, arts education, and service organizations that significantly contribute to the District of Columbia as a world-class cultural capital. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis for the purpose of supporting either improvements or purchase of a facility located in the District of Columbia whose primary function centers on the training, management, production, or presentation of performances or exhibitions of the arts or humanities. To qualify for this grant, applicants must either own or have at least seven years remaining on an existing 30-year lease of the facility in question. Additional criteria are outlined below.

LCP program goals are to:

• Promote the stability, sustainable growth, and longevity of the District’s arts and humanities organizations.
• Preserve and strengthen structures, systems, and infrastructure for District arts and humanities organizations, their constituents, and their collections.
• Reduce the risk of organizational displacement.
• Foster arts and humanities access for all District residents.

Award Information

Please see the table below for the LCP award information.

Funding for this award is contingent on availability of funding to CAH. This RFA does not commit the Agency to make an award. The Agency may enter negotiations with an applicant and adopt a firm funding amount or other revision of the applicant’s proposal that may result from negotiations. The Agency reserves the right to issue addenda and/or amendments after the issuance of this RFA, or to rescind this RFA. The Agency reserves the right to accept or deny any or all applications if the Agency determines it is in the best interest of the Agency to do so. The Agency may suspend or terminate an outstanding RFA pursuant to its own grantmaking rule(s) or any applicable federal regulation or requirement.

Recipients of FY26 Small Capital Projects’ (CAP) grants may apply for FY26 Large Capital Projects’ (LCP) grants. Should an organization be awarded both grants within the FY26 cycle, the amount of the smaller CAP grant will be deducted from the total award amount of the larger LCP grant. See example:

• FY26 Large Capital Projects Grant Awarded        = $1,000,000
• FY26 Small Capital Projects Grant Awarded        = $    300,000
• LCP less CAP                                                      = $    700,000
• Total FY26 LCP Payment                                      = $    700,000

Award Eligibility

Project and Facility Eligibility

Large Capital Project Program grants are awarded on a competitive basis for the purpose of either:

• Improvements of a facility located in the District of Columbia with a tax valuation of at least $1,000,000 or
• The purchase of a facility located in the District of Columbia with a tax valuation of at least $1,000,000 by an applicant with a thirty-year lease on that facility.

The facility under consideration for improvement or purchase must be designed for and have as its primary function the training, management, production, or presentation of performances, exhibitions, or other programs of the arts or humanities.

If committed by a thirty-year lease, at least seven years of that lease must remain at the time of application. The thirty-year lease criteria include:

• Occupancy history and lease extensions; and,
• Other legally bound terms of occupation or possession such as residence by Congressional mandate, by Federal/District government agreement, or by similar mandates.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements at the time of application:

• Be incorporated as a nonprofit with a federally designated tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code, as evidenced by an IRS determination letter that is dated at least one year prior to the application deadline date.
• Be registered with, and authorized to do business in, the District of Columbia.
• Have its principal business office address located in the District of Columbia, subject to an on-site visit. (Note: CAH will not allow post office boxes or the addresses of board members or volunteers as evidence of the principal business address).
• Must have a primary mission focus in at least one discipline of the arts or humanities and have a history of actively providing arts and humanities programs in the District of Columbia for at least one year prior to the grant application deadline.
• Must reflect a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access at all levels of its organization. Applicants will be required to demonstrate how a large capital grant will measurably improve inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for the organization and its constituents, staff, and board.
• The grant funded project must increase access for historically marginalized communities in the District and increase the availability of arts and humanities residences or workspaces.
• Ensure that at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the organization’s activities occur within the District of Columbia.
• Register and comply with the regulatory requirements of pertinent government agencies, including Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP); DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO); DC Department of Employment Services (DOES); and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Obtain a certificate of “Citywide Clean Hands” (CCH) from the District of Columbia Office of Taxation and Revenue.
• Be in “good standing” with CAH. (Note: A CAH grant applicant who has failed to comply with all applicable CAH-related mandates (e.g., failed to submit to CAH required reports related to prior CAH funding), is not in “good standing” with CAH and, accordingly, is ineligible to receive additional funds from CAH in FY 2026.
• Applicants must either own the facility to be improved or possess at least a thirty (30) year lease on the same facility with at least seven (7) years remaining on the lease. Lease extensions must be submitted under Lease/Deeds/MOUs documentation at the time of application.
• Ensure that one hundred percent (100%) of the grant award dollars are used to support District of Columbia programming, inclusive of direct and indirect costs.
• Have an active Board of Directors.

—> View Policies and Restrictions

View CP Grant Main Page