As of 7/1/2022
Eligibility:
Can an organization receive CAH's GOS grant and FAB in the same year?
Yes! If an organization receives a GOS grant, in that same year, they can also apply for either FAB or LiftOff but not both.
If an organization receives a grant from another DC Government office, do they have to choose which one to accept?
If the organization receives a FAB grant in excess of $100k, they cannot use funds received from other DC agencies as the required CAH match funds. However, we are unaware of any conflicts between grants received from different DC government agencies.
Can you apply for a FAB planning grant to buy the space you are currently renting?
Yes. Some prior grantees have received funding for these specific projects. You cannot apply for the individual rent or mortgage payments, but you can apply for the purchase and related expenses of a property.
Can an organization apply for purchase support without having a property selected yet? If not, are there other avenues to get planning funds for the same project to cover different costs of a new phase?
Yes, you can, but it is not encouraged. All award funds need to be spent within the fiscal year. It is very challenging to do that in a competitive real-estate market without knowing the specific purchase location yet. It is also challenging to make a compelling case to a review panel without details on the intended space, the impact on the applicant's community, etc.
Applicants interested in pursuing a purchase should consider applying for a “planning grant” under this program, as opposed to “short term” or “long term”. Prior grantees of planning grants have used funds to assemble focus groups, retain real-estate consultants, engage legal advice for a capital campaign or property acquisition, start dialogues with landlords, and generally set the groundwork for a future purchase.
If your organization has already received a planning grant for this specific project, it cannot receive another planning grant for the same work. Any future application must fund something substantively different from prior proposals. If there are specific concerns, please reach out to your grant manager.
Eligible Expenses and Projects:
Would a computer be an eligible expense?
A computer is a depreciable piece of hardware that could be essential to several kinds of capital projects. In that way, it is an eligible expense. However, it is important to note that not every computer request has been funded. As they make their determinations, the panelists will consider the whole project request, and even if a specific item is eligible, the project may still be declined.
Would a software subscription be an eligible expense?
No. A subscription is a recurring expense. Other ineligible recurring expenses could include rent, insurance, cloud storage, equipment maintenance, etc. Eligible FAB projects are unified and limited in scope, but recurring expenses are ongoing.
Are program-specific non-consumable items eligible? For instance, creating a large print and braille library in a writing center. The books would be the purchase.
FAB is a capital projects grant, and the CAH definition of a "capital project" is pretty wide-ranging, focused on the assets and potential assets of an organization. It is hard to determine eligibility of program-specific equipment like this without greater detail. But as an example, a recent concert production grantee successfully applied for the purchase of a grand piano. For that and other equipment-focused proposals, it's important to consider the application from the perspective of the project.
Can an organization include $20K worth of accessibility upgrades (handrails) as part of a broader application for fixed equipment?
Yes. For applicants with LESS than seven years remaining on their lease (thus applying for a short-term project), they can apply for up to $20k specifically for ADA accessibility improvements.
Of course, if an applicant has GREATER than seven years on a lease (or owns the property), they can apply for larger permanent projects, including those that increase ADA accessibility.
If a piece of equipment is purchased on a credit card before October 1, but is paid starting October 1 (or later), it would not be eligible for this grant, is that correct?
The project (and expenses for that project) must take place during the fiscal year (October 1, 2022- September 30, 2023) to be eligible. If you hope to include expenses as eligible/reimbursable, it would be best to delay the project activity to October 1st (or later)..
While we know "kitchen sink" proposals are discouraged; our organization has a lot of competing priorities. Can we apply for a combined grant anyway?
Yes. The guidelines do not bar multi-faceted projects, so if all other eligibility criteria are met, the proposal will advance to panel for consideration. While these types of applications have been funded occasionally, panelists also sometimes look for clear organizational priorities, which may be a challenge in these kinds of proposals.
We're interested in applying, but are in a historically protected building with limited accessibility. Do we need to apply for an accessible project?
No, but you may want to keep in mind that if you, the applicant, has accessibility concerns, the panelists may as well. Panelists respond positively to applicants incorporating accessibility measures within their proposal, even if the project isn't solely accessibility-focused. Deliberate construction can require significant review and design, and may not even be possible within a single fiscal year, especially for historic structures, and especially for extensive accessibility projects like elevators. It's important to be honest with the panelists about the applicant's accessibility process and progress.
We have project costs of $150,000. Can we apply for $100k in order to avoid the 1:1 match?
You can apply for that amount however, you will still need to clarify the $50k in match funds required in order to complete the project. If awarded, those match funds will have to be reported just like other match funds mentioned in an application.
Application Questions:
In the question about the project partners (last question in the District Impact & Engagement section of the application), does this mean partners for designing/planning the project (architects, engineers, etc.) or artists that are part of the programs our organization does that will be impacted by the completion of our proposed capital project?
Either or both, depending on the project! Projects vary widely, so cite the partners most relevant to the specific project in your application.
Regarding the question, "how does the project address a critical need in the District?" Is there a specific list of needs we should reference for this answer? Is there a DoC plan? Mayor Initiative etc.?
No, there is not a specific plan this question references. The question is subject to the applicant's interpretation. Most applicants use this as an opportunity to educate the panelists to something they believe is a critical need.
Application Materials:
Can you submit fewer than three quotes for projects? If we have preferred vendors who have been involved historically in the construction of our center- do we still need to provide bids?
Three quotes are recommended, but there are reasons why some applicants may not be able to provide them. If the applicant is in a binding contract with a contractor, three quotes may not be possible. Please note that panelists use the three quotes to confirm accuracy of expenses and overall project feasibility. In the absence of three quotes, it would be important to provide other tools to answer those concerns.
In the request for application (RFA), there is a “COVID-19 Vaccination Certification Requirements” section. Can you please elaborate on the grantee requirements for fulfilling this? Do we need to submit anything with the application to prove compliance? The linked Mayor's Order was through January 2022. Is this requirement for grantees that grantees must follow any current Mayor's Orders for the pandemic?
To date, there have not yet been any additional requirements of CAH grantees regarding COVID reporting. The emergency order was extended through April 2022, and CAH is awaiting further instruction. We will share details as they become available.
Does CAH prefer to have Letters of Support for the project included with the application?
The Commission is ambivalent to Letters of Support, however at times panelists have found some value in them, depending on the content and relevance to the proposed project.
Do Planning Projects need 3 quotes?
Three quotes are generally requested as that is what panelists have indicated is reasonable to understand and weigh reasonable costs. If you were pursuing a physical project but weren’t able to secure three quotes, we'd generally encourage you to provide what you can and add that extra context in some way. Sometimes quotes for planning grants may not be wholly relevant. Submit what you feel is reasonable; if you have quotes, please include them. If you don’t, we'd encourage you to try and provide similar information to help the panelists attain the same knowledge.
Award Disbursement:
If awarded a grant, will funds be given out in one amount or multiple payments?
Any award greater than $12,500 will be issued in two installments. The first installment, generally half of the award, can be invoiced for upon the receipt and confirmation of all grant paperwork. The second installment can be invoiced for upon the approval of the interim report