A. Eligible Applicants
The list below details the minimum eligibility requirements for AHEP. All eligibility requirements must be met upon application submission. Applicants must:
- 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 as either a “Domestic” entity (that is, an entity that was incorporated in the District) or a “Foreign” entity (that is, an entity that was incorporated in another state).
- Ensure that proposed planning and implementation is fully carried out in the District of Columbia.
- Have an active Board of Directors.
- Register and comply with the regulatory requirements of pertinent government agencies, including (but not limited to): DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs’ (DCRA), DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), DC Department of Employment Services (DOES); and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Be current on all taxes and liabilities owed to the District or have an approved plan to resolve such taxes and liabilities as demonstrated by a certification of “Citywide Clean Hands” (CCH) from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
- Be in good standing with CAH.
- Have a 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).
Arts and Humanities Education Project (AHEP) grant program applicants may apply for other project-based grants in FY 2027 but if awarded multiple, they must pick only one from East Arts (EA), Field Trip Experiences (FTE), Public Art Building Community (PABC), or Projects, Events, or Festivals (PEF). Note: grant recipients of an FY 2027 General Operating Support (GOS) grant are ineligible for FY 2027 PEF funding.[mr1]
B. 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.
C. Cost Sharing or Match
There is no matching requirement or cost sharing for AHEP grants.
D. Other
Applicants may submit one (1) AHEP application per fiscal year cycle.
Those ineligible to receive an AHEP grant include:
- Recipients (or successful applicants) of a CAH FY 2027 General Operating Support (GOS) grant who do not dedicate the majority of their programming services and organizational budget to children and youth.
- Individuals.
- Arts and humanities organizations with a majority of their constituents who reside outside of the District of Columbia.
- Tax-Exempt organizations other than 501(c)(3) designated entities.
- 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 that require “fiscal agents”; for-profit organizations; private foundations, political organizations; colleges; universities; foreign governments; federal government entities; and other District of Columbia government agencies, including DC Public Schools.
- Organizations submitting an application whose content is combined with the application of another organization. Proposed projects must be “stand-alone” projects.
- Prospective applicants debarred from procurements by the federal government, the Government of the District of Columbia or any governmental entity.
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