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FY27 PEF Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

The list below details the minimum eligibility requirements for PEF. All eligibility requirements must be met upon application submission. Applicants must:

Individuals

  1. be an artist, arts professional and/or humanities practitioner at least 18 years of age.
  2. be a District of Columbia resident for at least one (1) year prior to the submission deadline.
  3. have a permanent District of Columbia address, as listed on government issued identification or tax returns. Post office boxes may not be used as a permanent address. If the applicant is experiencing homelessness, the applicant may contact the grant manager listed below to discuss eligibility.
  4. maintain District of Columbia residency during the entire granting fiscal year period (October 2026-September 2027).
  5. proposed planning and implementation fully carried out in the District of Columbia.
  6. be in good standing with CAH including but not limited to reporting requirements.
  7. 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.
  8. if an individual has any affiliation with an arts organization (CEO, founder, employee, etc.), funded projects must not be a part of the organization's season of work.

Organization

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. proposed planning and implementation fully carried out in the District of Columbia.
  4. have an active Board of Directors.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. be in good standing with CAH.
  8. 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).

Festivals (Individuals and Organizaitons

  1. Anticipated festival numbers must align with District-mandated guidelines for public gatherings; A minimum of six (6) hours of the festival must be dedicated to artistic programming.
  2. Festival events programs must be publicly advertised and open to the general public.
  3. The festival may not be a block party, fundraiser or charity benefit.
  4. Funding may be used for project expenses only, which includes support for salaries and operations directly related to the festival events and programs. Funding may not be used for food, beverages, capital costs, building renovations/improvements, cash prizes, gifts, security, items for sale (for example, t-shirts and posters) or an organization’s operational costs associated with the administrative office (such as staff salaries, office rent and utilities, office equipment, office supplies, etc.).
  5. All festival activities must comply with District of Columbia permits, policies and safety.

Grant Categories and Definitions

For FY27, The Projects, Events, or Festivals (PEF) grant program included three (3) Distinct grant categories: Projects, Events, and Festivals. Applicants must select one category that best aligns with the scope, scale, and outcomes of the proposed activity. Applications will be reviewed within category-specific tracks to ensure equitable evaluation.

  1. Project: A time-bound artistic or humanities initiative that produces a specific goal, outcome or deliverable.
    1. Characteristics:
      1. Multi-step process
      2. May include creation, research, or development of new work.
      3. Can occur over multiple dates
    2. Examples:
      1. A photography series with public exhibition
      2. A research-based arts initiative
      3. A literary anthology featuring local writers
      4. A documentary film project focused on DC history
    3. Expected outcomes:
      1. A clearly defined product, service, or program delivered to DC residents
      2.  Measurable community engagement or impact
  2. Event: A single-day or short-duration public activity or presentation for DC residents.
    1. Characteristics:
      1. Happens at a specific moment or over a short period of time
      2. Primarily attendance-based
      3. Focus on participation or experience
    2. Examples:
      1. Public readings
      2. Book talks
      3. A one-night performance
      4. A community storytelling night
      5. A cultural lecture or panel discussion
    3. Expected outcomes:
      1. Audience engagement/ Audience tracking
      2. Community access
      3. Short-term impact (e.g., tracking, surveys, cultural exposure, celebration, education)
  3. Festival: A large-scale, multi-component celebration occurring over one or more days with multiple artists, partners, or activities. 
    1. Characteristics:
      1. Multi-disciplinary or multi-stage
      2. Often outdoors or serving large audiences
      3. Involves partnerships, vendors, and/or multiple performers
    2. Examples:
      1. Multi-day neighborhood festivals
      2. Cultural heritage festivals
      3. Seasonal or holiday community festivals
      4. A film festival featuring diverse screenings and panels
    3. Expected outcomes:
      1. Broad public participation
      2. Multi-faceted community impact
      3. Economic uplift (vendors, small businesses, tourism)
      4. Tracking & Survey (community/ attendance)

Highlighting Culture and Community

CAH encourages all applicants to demonstrate their commitment to our community-centered framework of equality, cultural awareness, universal access, and community engagement throughout the application process. This may include highlighting the following:

  • Addressing how the project factors in the varying access, engagement, and economic needs of the DC residents expected to interact with the work.
  • Including plans that address fiscal, audio, visual, physical, geographical, educational, and language-based barriers.
  • Supplying evidence of community benefit like letters from community-centered stakeholders, work samples that highlight the community’s response to the work.
  • Providing examples of how the work highlights DC's distinct historical, linguistic, and cultural makeup.
  • Describing ways DC’s unique communities will be authentically represented, positively impacted, and thoroughly celebrated through the work, along with other relevant considerations.

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.

Cost Sharing or Match

There is no matching requirement or cost sharing for PEF grants.

Other

Applicants may submit one (1) Projects, Events, Festivals Grant application per fiscal year cycle.

Ineligible Applicants

The following individuals and organizations are ineligible for the PEF grant program:

Individuals

  • Individuals employed by CAH within the last three (3) years.
  • Applicants are prohibited from submitting PEF applications for projects that feature temporary or permanent public art projects.

For more information on public art projects, review the Public Art Building Communities (PABC) grant program.

  • Applicants are prohibited from submitting PEF applications for projects that provide activities solely for children or youth.
    For more information on funding projects and activities for children or youth, review the Arts or Humanities Education Project (AHEP) or East Arts (EA) grant program guidelines.
  • Eligible projects by individuals must work independently of the applicant’s affiliated organization.
  • Individuals who are staff of a non-profit organization may not apply for funding for projects that are part of that organization’s programming.
  • Individuals who are staff or proprietors of a for-profit company may not apply for funding for projects that are a product or service of that company.
  • Individuals applying with an EIN number.
  • Individuals who reside outside of the District of Columbia.
  • Individuals who use or require fiscal agents.
  • Prospective applicants debarred from procurements by the federal government, the Government of the District of Columbia, or any governmental entity

Organizations

  • Organizations awarded funds in the FY 2027 GOS Generalist and GOS Service grants (cannot receive PEF for FY 2027).
  • Arts and humanities organizations with a majority of their constituents residing outside of the District of Columbia.
  • Tax-exempt organizations other than 501(c)(3) designated entities.
  • Private clubs and organizations that prohibit membership based on 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 another organization’s application. Proposed projects must be stand-alone projects.
  • Organizations employed by CAH within the last three (3) years.
  • Applicants are prohibited from submitting PEF applications for projects that feature temporary or permanent public art projects. For more information on public art projects, review the Public Art Building Communities (PABC) grant program.
  • Applicants are prohibited from submitting PEF applications for projects, events, and festivals that provide activities solely for children or youth. For more information on funding projects and activities for children or youth, review the Arts or Humanities Education Project (AHEP) or East Arts (EA) grant program guidelines.

View Award Information <— | —> View Application and Submission Guidelines

View PEF Grant Main Page