FY27 CP Application and Submission Information

Address to Request Application Package 

CAH utilizes Submittable, an online grant management system, to receive grant applications. The CAP application may be found online in the CAH Grant Application Portal available at https://dccommissionontheartshumanities.submittable.com/submit. Incomplete, incorrect, or late applications may be deemed ineligible for review and funding. 

Technical Assistance 

CAH staff are available to assist grant applicants during group or individual technical assistance sessions. CAH staff will not write applications for applicants. CAH staff members are available to review draft applications during a thirty (30) minute appointment, on government business days up to one (1) week prior to the grant application deadline. To schedule a meeting, applicants may contact the CAH staff listed in the CAH Contacts section of this document. Applicants must prepare their full draft application in the CAH Grants Application Portal along with any questions in advance of scheduling a meeting for technical assistance.   

Workshops 

To improve the strength of applications, CAH strongly recommends participating in one of the virtual workshops listed below. All workshops are virtual, free, and open to the public. More information about workshops may be found at www.dcarts.dc.gov under Grant Writing Assistance, or by calling the CAH Contacts listed in this document. Workshops and Live Chats may be accessed by visiting https://dcarts.dc.gov/page/live-chat-dccah-grants-specialist. Applicants may register for workshops via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dc-commission-on-the-arts-and-humanities-cah-1252966799. 

Workshop	Time
Thursday, June 11	4:00-5:00 PM ET
Monday, June 15	2:00-3:00 PM ET
Monday, July 6	10:00-11:00 AM ET

Application Forms and Content 

CAH utilizes Submittable, an online grant management system, to receive grant applications and related documents.  

Narrative Content 

Each application narrative shall: 

1. Provide an overview of the organization’s general programming, articulating the relationship of the proposed project to the organization’s mission and programs, and the needs of the community. 

2. Demonstrate the critical nature of the project, both to the organization and to the District. 

3. Articulate an understanding of the project relative to the long-term success of the organization. 

4. Develop and detail a feasible project timeline not exceeding the relevant CAH fiscal year. 

5. Provide details of the planning process, including participants and experts engaged. 

6. Provide complete and thorough budgets with line-item detail. 

7. Propose a project at a facility that is either currently compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or will aid in bringing the facility into compliance. 

8. Present one distinct project.  

Required Supplemental Documents 

In addition to the required narrative questions, applicants must submit supplemental documents. Supplemental Documents must be uploaded in PDF format via the CAH Grants Application Portal (https://dccommissionontheartshumanities.submittable.com/submit) prior to the application deadline. Templates and instructions for compliance documents are available on the CAH Resources for Grant Applicants webpage (https://dcarts.dc.gov/page/resources-grant-applicants). 

Required Supplemental Documents
Required Document	Description
Work Samples	Work samples must be no more than three (3) years old from the date of submission. CAH recommends reviewing the Work Sample Addendum (found within the Guide to Grants) to determine materials that would best support the application.
Project Imagery	May include architectural sketches, renderings, and/or site or equipment imagery. At least one (1) referential image is required. Short-Term Capital Projects should attach archival, placement, and/or stock imagery for intended equipment.
Support Materials	Up to three (3) additional documents to support the application (e.g., letters of support, awards, programs, publicity, etc.).
Résumés of Key Personnel	Résumés of project and organizational leadership. Examples include directors or lead contractors. Share role, areas of responsibility, and District ward or other state of residence.
Current Board of Directors	List current board members and the corresponding roles, responsibilities, and District wards of residence.
Lease/Deed/MOU	Applications for a non-equipment-based Digital or Planning Project may but are not required to submit an active lease/deed/MOU is optional. All other applications must include a fully executed, legally binding agreement demonstrating Applicant’s exclusive control over the site, reflecting the relevant lease obligation as specified in the Eligibility requirements above.
Financial Quotes	At least one (1) quote supporting the requested funding amount is required; three (3) quotes are recommended. Quotes can be sourced from contractor proposals, invoices, and/or merchant price sheets or similar documents.
Organizational Budget	The organizational budget approved by the organization’s Board of Directors for the organization’s current fiscal year.
Profit and Loss Statement	From the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
Balance Sheet	From the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
IRS Form 990	The most-recently filed version with any accompanying cover sheets and signatures. If applicant submitted a 990-N e-Postcard, a screenshot of IRS confirmation can fulfill this requirement.
Most Recently Completed Audit	If the applicant has an annual budget less than $1,250,000, attach a document stating “N/A”; otherwise, attach the full audit.
IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination	Original or duplicate. This is not the same document as a DC Business License.
Signed IRS Form W9	Must be the March 2024 revised version of the form; earlier versions will not be accepted. Post office boxes are prohibited. The applicant’s address on this form must match the address in the Grant Portal (Submittable) and the business address in the District Integrated Financial System (DIFS).
Statement of Certification	This document declares the authorized negotiator(s) and signatory for the organization. The Statement of Certification date must match the CAP application submission date.
Certificate of Clean Hands	Issued within thirty (30) days of the CAP application deadline. Applicants may visit the following site to obtain more information: https://mytax.dc.gov/
Certificate of Insurance	General Liability Insurance must be active as of the date of the CAP application submission. Include only the certificate.

Applicants are fully responsible for the content of their application materials. An automated confirmation of an applicant’s submission does not guarantee an applicant’s eligibility and therefore review by the advisory review panel (see below, “Review Process”). CAH staff are not permitted to make corrections to applications on behalf of applicants. CAH staff reviews applications for completeness and contacts applicants for any incomplete documents. Applicants are then responsible for updating their application within five (5) business days of CAH’s notification. Failure to do so will disqualify the application. 

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. 

Highlighting Culture and Community 

CAH is empowered to promote universal access to the arts and humanities for District residents across all Wards. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to CAH’s community-centered framework throughout the application process. Please see Highlighting Culture and Community in Your Grant Application to review this framework.  This may include highlighting the following:  

• Including plans that address fiscal, audio, visual, physical, geographical, educational, and language-based barriers. 

• Providing examples of how the work highlights the District’s historical, linguistic, and cultural makeup.  

Grant Application Process 

1. Read the CAH FY27 Guide to Grants. 

2. Read this Request for Applications (“RFA”) in its entirety and determine eligibility.  

3. Go to Apply for Grants and select Grant Application Portal to register as a user.  

4. Upon registration, applicants select the desired grant program(s).  

5. Complete the application questions, budget, and budget narrative data.  

6. Upload required documents, supplementary material, and work samples.  

7. Double-check the application for thoroughness, clarity, and typographical errors.  

8. Submit the application by 5:00 PM ET on the grant program’s deadline date.  

9. Ensure receipt of CAH grant submission confirmation email, auto-generated by the online portal, by the application deadline.  

Submission Dates and Times 

Complete CAP applications must be submitted online via the CAH Grants Application Portal by 5:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 9, 2026. CAH does not accept mailed, emailed, or hand-delivered copies of grant applications or required attachments. Technical issues or failure to receive a confirmation email should be immediately brought to the attention of the CAH Contacts listed in this document. Incomplete, incorrect, or late applications are deemed ineligible for review and funding.  

To request reasonable accommodations or more information about accessibility at CAH, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at [email protected] or call the main office at (202) 724-5613. 

Funding Restrictions 

As a District of Columbia agency, CAH must ensure all award funds are expended in a fiscally responsible manner; all awarded funds are subject to audit and Performance Monitoring. Allowable costs are those that the District government and CAH have determined as valid expenditures. Grantees will be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Interim and/or Final Reports. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact their CAP grant program manager. 

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. 

Other Submission Requirements 

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. 

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