A. Address to Request Application Package
CAH utilizes an online grant portal to receive grant applications. The AHFP application may be found online in the CAH Grant Application Portal, available at https://jlweb.co/prod1/portal/portal.jsp?c=4193775&p=6947885&g=6947905. Incomplete, incorrect, or late applications may be deemed ineligible for review and funding.
B. Technical Assistance
CAH staff is available to assist grant applicants during group or individual technical assistance sessions. Applicants may also request review of draft applications during a thirty (30) minute appointment during business hours scheduled no later than seven calendar days in advance of the grant application deadline. CAH staff will not write applications for applicants. To schedule a meeting, applicants may contact the CAH staff listed in Section VII below. 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.
C. Workshops
To improve the strength of applications, CAH strongly recommends participating in one of the following virtual workshops listed below. All workshops are virtual, free, and open to the public. More information about workshops may be found at dcarts.dc.gov under Grant Writing Assistance, or by calling the CAH Point of Contact listed in Section VII: CAH Contacts. Workshops and Live Chats may be accessed by visiting https://dcarts.dc.gov/page/live-chat-dccah-grants-specialist. Interested artists and humanities practitioners may register for workshops via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dc-commission-on-the-arts-and-humanities-cah-1252966799.
| Workshop | Time | Live Chats | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, May 11 | Noon to 1 pm EST | View Recording | Friday, May 12 | 2 to 3:30 pm EST | RSVP Here |
| Monday, May 15 | 4 to 5 pm EST | N/A | Friday, May 19 | 2 to 3:30 pm EST | RSVP Here |
| Wednesday, May 17 | 10 to 11 am EST | View Recording | Friday, May 26 | 2 to 3:30 pm EST | RSVP Here |
| Tuesday, May 23 | 6 to 7 pm EST | N/A | Friday, June 2 | 2 to 3:30 pm EST | RSVP Here |
| Thursday, June 1 | Noon to 1 pm EST | RSVP Here | Friday, June 9 | 2 to 3:30 pm EST | RSVP Here |
D. Application Forms and Content
CAH utilizes an online portal to receive grant applications. Each application shall:
- Demonstrate experience and proficiency in the applicant’s selected discipline.
- Include a statement describing the applicant’s mission— why the applicant does what they do, and what drives their work.
- Include a statement describing the applicant’s artistic community, and commitment to the District of Columbia.
- Convey an understanding of the applicant’s work in context of the applicant’s community/communities in the District.
- Include work samples created within three (3) years of the time of application submission which clarify, demonstrate, or unite the applicant’s mission and/or processes. Work samples are broadly recommended as one of the following:
- 10 still-images with an accompanying works list;
- 2-3 video or audio files with the recommended viewing/listening times articulated for panelists;
or - 10-15 pages of written materials.
In addition to the required narrative questions within the online application, applicants must submit additional documents with the AHFP application. Documents must be uploaded in PDF form through CAH Grants Application Portal prior to the application deadline. Templates and instructions for compliance documents are available in Grantee Resources.
Mandatory Documents
| 1 | Work Samples |
CAH recommends reviewing the Work Sample Addendum (found within the Guide to Grants) to determine materials that would best support the application. Work samples must be no more than three (3) years old from the date of submission. Submitting older work samples may render the application ineligible for funding consideration. |
| 2 | Support Materials | Up to three (3) additional items (e.g., letters of support, awards, programs, publicity, etc.). |
| 3 | Applicant's Resume | With content primarily addressing the applicant’s artistry or humanities practices. |
| 4 | Proof of Residency | If a valid driver’s license or DC Residency ID are unavailable, please submit two (2) other documents demonstrating proof of residency. |
| 5 | Certificate of Clean Hands | Issued within 30 days of the application deadline. Applicants may visit the following site to obtain more information: https://mytax.dc.gov/ |
| 6 | Statement of Certification | Date must match that of the AHFP application submission |
| 7 | Signed IRS Form W-9 | Post office boxes are prohibited. The applicant’s address must match the address in the grants portal, the address on file in the DC Government’s vendor registration system (PASS), and in the DC Vendor Portal. The October 2018 version of the form must be used and have the same date as the AHFP application submission. |
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 is not permitted to make corrections to applications on behalf of applicants. CAH staff reviews applications for completeness and contacts applicants for any incomplete documents within five (5) business days of the deadline. 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.
E. Grant Application Process
- Read the Guide to Grants.
- Read the RFA guidelines (for the desired grant program) and determine eligibility.
- Go to Apply for Grants and select Grant Application Portal to register as a user.
(Note: To reset a user password either select “Forgot your password?” or click here). - Upon registration, applicants select the desired grant program(s).
- Complete the application questions, budget and budget narrative data.
- Upload required documents, supplementary material and work samples.
- Double-check the application for thoroughness, clarity and typographical errors.
- Submit the application by 10:00 PM ET on the grant program’s deadline date.
- Ensure receipt of grant submission confirmation email, auto generated by the online portal, by the application deadline.
F. Submission Dates and Times
Complete AHFP applications must be submitted online via the CAH Grants Application Portal by 10:00 PM EST on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. 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 staff listed in Section VII below. Incomplete, incorrect, or late applications are deemed ineligible for review and funding.
CAH accepts reasonable accommodation requests from applicants with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for application submission, contact Travis Marcus, Grant Management Specialist at [email protected] and await request approval. Reasonable accommodation requests must be made no later than seven calendar days before the AHFP application deadline.
G. Technical Assistance
CAH staff is available to assist grant applicants during group or individual technical assistance sessions. Applicants may also request review of draft applications during a thirty (30) minute appointment during business hours scheduled no later than seven calendar days in advance of the grant application deadline. CAH staff will not write applications for applicants. To schedule a meeting, applicants may contact the CAH staff listed in Section VII below. 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.
H. Funding Restrictions
As a District of Columbia agency, CAH must ensure that 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. AHFP grantees should consider “salary for the applicant artist or humanities practitioner” as the sole or primary program cost. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact their grant program manager. Grantees will be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Final Reports.
I. 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.
View Eligibility Information <— | —> View Application and Review Information
View FY24 AHFP Grant Main Page