Policies
Statutory Authority
Under D.C. Code §§ 39-201 – 206, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities and encourages the development of programs that promote progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia. CAH is supported by District government funds and, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts. As such, all applicable federal regulations, including OMB Circulars A-102, A-133, 2 CFR 180, 2 CFR 225, 2 CFR 220, and 2 CFR 215, and District regulations govern this grant. In particular, 1 DCMR §§ 3300-02; 3399 provides the District rules governing award amounts, funding, eligibility, and restrictions for this grant.
Nonprofit Fair Compensation Act of 2020
When making grant awards or contracts to non-profit organizations, the DC Government will honor an unexpired federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or a similar rate negotiated with another DC Government agency in the last two (2) years. If grantee organizations do not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, those grantees may assign 10% of all direct costs in their awards to indirect costs. Alternatively, grantees may elect to negotiate a new indirect cost rate with the DC government or seek out an independent DC Certified Public Accountant to calculate an indirect cost rate using the Office of Management and Budget guidelines. Applicants may include these indirect costs in their budget calculations and identify the basis for the calculation in supporting materials.
Financial Misconduct or Fraud Disclosure
Applicants must disclose in a sworn, written statement whether the applicant has been indicted or convicted of any crime or offense involving financial misconduct or fraud within the last three (3) years of the date of submitting the application. If the response is in the affirmative, the applicant will be required to describe the circumstances.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.)
CAH embraces a commitment to the philosophy of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.) and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.) in its work. CAH encourages applicants and grantees to be inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible in their work throughout the District of Columbia, beyond participants with disabilities. Successful applications will consider a broad definition of “accessibility” by addressing financial, geographic, demographic, cultural, and developmental access in their programming/projects. Please review Addressing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.) in Grant Applications in the Guide to Grants for full details.
Applicant Restrictions
- Applicants may submit one (1) Large Capital Projects (LCP) grant application per CAH fiscal year cycle. Organizations that receive a grant under this program are ineligible for an LCP grant for two subsequent fiscal years (e.g., an organization receiving the LCP grant in FY26 may not apply to the FY26 and FY27 cycles of the same grant.)
- Should an organization apply for multiple grant opportunities in FY26, there must be no project scope overlap between different program applications.
- The following entities are ineligible to apply for a Large Capital Project grant:
- Individuals.
- Arts and humanities organizations with fifty-one percent (51%) of the organization’s activities occurring outside of the District of Columbia.
- Organizations proposing project(s) with overlapping scope from a prior capital projects cycle.
- Tax-Exempt organizations other than 501(c)(3) designated entities.
- Organizations that require “fiscal agents”, for-profit organizations, private foundations, political organizations, colleges, universities, foreign governments, federal government entities, public charter schools, Parent Teacher Organizations/Associations, and other District of Columbia government agencies, including DC Public Schools.
- Private clubs and organizations that prohibit membership based upon race, gender, color, religion, or any other classes identified in the District of Columbia Human Rights Act.
- Organizations applying whose content is combined with the application of another organization. Proposed projects must be “stand-alone” projects.
- Organizations headquartered outside of the District of Columbia.
- Prospective applicants debarred from procurements by the federal government, the Government of the District of Columbia or any governmental entity.
- Organizations which, at the time of application, do not possess the minimum lease obligation for LCP projects.
Allowable Costs
Allowable costs are those the District government and CAH have determined as valid expenditures. As a District of Columbia agency, CAH must ensure that all award funds are expended in a fiscally responsible manner, consequently, all awarded funds are subject to audit and Performance Monitoring. Grantees will be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Interim and/or Final Reports. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact the LCP grant program manager. The Agency shall not be liable for any costs incurred in the preparation of applications in response to the RFA. Applicant agrees that all costs incurred in developing the application are the applicant’s sole responsibility.
Examples of Allowable Costs (must be project-supportive):
- Consultants’ fees and expenses to develop plans for Large Capital Projects, including preservation plans, master facility plans, facility acquisition plans, real estate studies, etc.
- Direct costs associated with the purchase of eligible real estate occurring in CAH FY 2026 or FY 2027 by the organization currently in a lease of that building (e.g., down payment, taxes, and broker’s fees)
- Parts and labor for renovations and capital improvements to existing facilities (e.g., walls, flooring, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing)
- Conservation, preservation, and restoration work (e.g., brick repointing, foundation repair, and lead paint abatement)
Examples of Unallowable Costs:
- Food and beverages
- Tuition and scholarships
- Expenses associated with an organization assuming the role of a fiscal agent for another organization
- Cots related to special events, and fundraising/development activity and personnel
- Debt reduction
- Expenses unrelated to the execution of the scope of work
- Operational reserve
- Re-granting (also known as “sub-granting”)
- Funding to universities, foreign governments, or DC government agencies (including DC Public Schools)
- Recurring costs (e.g. rent, utilities, and subscriptions)
- Non-depreciable or consumable equipment (e.g. medical gloves, paper, writing utensils, lightbulbs, clothing, etc.)
- Costs associated with Small Capital Projects (Digital and Planning Projects): consultants’ fees and expenses to execute digital projects including website overhauls, digital archives, and database creation; direct costs associated with developing a plan or study (e.g. focus group or community engagement sessions; regulatory expenses (e.g. permitting, licensing, related fees); and staff project administration exceeding 25% of the grant
- Costs associated with Small Capital Projects (Short- and Long-Term Projects): portable, non-consumable, depreciable equipment over which the grantee maintains exclusive control (e.g. computers, servers, lighting consoles, sound mixers, large appliances, risers, etc.),
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