Eligible Applicants
CAP Funding is available to tax-exempt organizations with the primary mission, as reflected in their Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 and/or in its foundational legal documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Formation, or Charter) centered on one or more of the disciplines of the arts or humanities as defined above. Eligible organizations may submit one (1) CAP grant application per CAH fiscal year cycle. Organizations may apply for both Large Capital Projects (LCP) and Small Capital Projects (CAP) in FY27. Should an organization be awarded both grants within the same cycle, the award amount of the CAP grant will be subtracted from the award amount of the LCP grant. Projects proposed by CAP applicants eligible for or receiving CAH grant funding for other programs must have no project scope overlap with non-CAP projects or programs. Organizations may apply for both Large Capital Projects (LCP) and Small Capital Projects (CAP) in FY27. Should an organization be awarded both grants within the same cycle, the award amount of the CAP grant will be subtracted from the award amount of the LCP grant.
The list below details the minimum eligibility requirements for CAP grant funding. All eligibility requirements must be met upon application submission. Applicants must:
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Be an arts- or humanities-identifying organization and 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.
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Be registered with, and authorized to do business in, the District as either a “Domestic” entity (an entity that was incorporated in the District) or a “Foreign” entity (an entity that was incorporated in another state).
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Have its principal physical business office address located in the District of Columbia, subject to an on-site visit.
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Ensure that at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the organization’s activities occur within the District of Columbia.
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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.
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Possess the minimum lease obligation for Short- and Long-Term Capital Projects, respectively. A short-Term Capital Project applicant must have at least one (1) year remaining on its co-signed lease or occupancy agreement; a Long-Term Capital Project applicant must either own its facility or have at least seven (7) years remaining on its co-signed lease or occupancy agreement.
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Have an active Board of Directors.
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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).
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Obtain a certificate of “Certificate of Clean Hands” (CCH) from the District of Columbia Office of Taxation and Revenue within thirty (30) days of the application deadline.
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Be in good standing with CAH by having satisfied all requirements related to any previously awarded CAH grants.
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Propose a project at a facility primarily used for training, management, production, or the presentation of performances, exhibitions, or other programs of the arts or humanities.
Ineligible Applicants
Prospective applicants ineligible for CAP include:
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Individuals.
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Organizations proposing project(s) with overlapping scope from a prior Capital Project or Facilities and Buildings cycle.
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Tax-Exempt organizations other than 501(c)(3) designated entities.
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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.
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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 (D.C. Code §§ 2-1401 et seq.)
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Applicants proposing projects involving another CAP applicant.
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Organizations debarred from procurements by the Federal government, the Government of the District of Columbia, or any governmental entity.
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Organizations without the requisite lease obligation at the time of application.
Cost Sharing or Match
For CAP applications seeking grant awards of $100,000 or less, there is no matching requirement.
CAP applications and grants for awards exceeding $100,000 require a 1:1 cash match for every dollar over $100,000. For example, a request of $130,000 would need to detail an additional $30,000 in matching funds, resulting in a total project budget of $160,000.
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CAP award amount: |
$130,000 |
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Match required: |
+ $30,000 |
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Total project budget: |
$160,000 |
Neither in-kind contributions nor other CAH funds may be used to satisfy the match requirement of this grant. Projects pursuing a facility or land purchase may use the related mortgage as a match.
View Award Information <— | —> View Application and Submission Information