FY24 CP Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

CAH utilizes an online grant portal to receive grant applications. The CP 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 are 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 www.dcarts.dc.gov under Grant Writing Assistance, or by calling the CAH Point of Contact listed in Section VII. 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		Virtual Office Hours	Time
Recording	N/A	View here
Wednesday, July 19	Noon to 1:30 PM EST		Friday, July 21	Noon to 1 PM EST
Tuesday, July 25	10 to 11:30 AM EST		Friday, July 28	2 to 3 PM EST
Thursday, August 3	2 to 3:30 PM EST		Friday, August 4	2 to 3 PM EST
Wednesday, August 9	Noon to 1:30 PM EST		Friday, August 11	2 to 3 PM EST
Monday, August 14	3 to 4:30 PM EST	RSVP	Friday, August 18	2 to 3 PM EST	RSVP

D. Application Forms and Content

CAH utilizes an online portal to receive grant applications. Each application shall:

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;
Demonstrate the critical nature of the project, both to the organization and to the District;
Articulate an understanding of the project relative to the long-term success of the organization;
Develop and detail a feasible project timeline not exceeding CAH’s fiscal year;
Provide details of the planning process, including participants and experts engaged;
Provide complete and thorough budgets with line-item detail;
Propose a project at a facility that is either currently Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, or that will aid in bringing the facility into compliance; and
Present one distinct project. It is not recommended that applicants include multiple projects in one application.

In addition to the required narrative questions within the online application, applicants must submit supplemental documents with the CP application. Documents must be uploaded in PDF format via the 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	Project Imagery (architectural sketches; renderings; site or equipment imagery)	At least one referential image is required. Short-Term Capital Projects and similar should attach archival, placement, and/or stock imagery for intended equipment.
3	Support Materials	Up to three (3) additional items (e.g., letters of support, awards, programs, publicity, etc.).
4	Résumés of Key Personnel	Project and/or organizational leadership. Examples include managing/executive/artistic directors; lead contractors etc. Share role, areas of responsibility, and DC ward or state of residence.
5	Current Board of Directors	Provide board roles (e.g., president, treasurer, etc.), responsibilities, and DC wards.
6	Lease/Deed/MOU	If organization is applying for a non-equipment-based Digital or Planning Project, an active lease/deed/MOU is optional. For all other applications, attached document must be co-signed, legally binding and demonstrate exclusive control over the site.
7	Financial Quotes	At least one quote is required. Three quotes are recommended. Depending on project scope, quotes can be sourced from contractor proposals, invoices, and/or merchant price sheets or similar.
8	Organizational Budget	Approved by the organization’s Board of Directors and for the current organization fiscal year as of the date of the CP application submission.
9	Profit and Loss Statement	From the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
10	Balance Sheet from Most Recently Completed Fiscal Year	From the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
11	IRS Form 990	The most-recently filed version with any accompanying cover sheets and signatures. If applicant submitted a “Postcard” 990-N, a screenshot confirmation can fulfill this requirement.
12	Most Recently Completed Audit	If organization has an annual budget less than $1,250,000, attach a document stating “N/A.” Otherwise, attach the full audit.
14	IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination	Original or duplicate; this is not the same document as a DC Business License
15	Signed IRS Form W9 (2018 Form)	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) · the address in the DC Vendor Portal. The form must have the same date as the CP application submission.
16	Statement of Certification	This document declares the authorized negotiator(s) for the organization. The form must have the same date as the CP application submission.
17	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/
18	Certificate of Insurance	General Liability Insurance must be active as of the date of the CP 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 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. 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.

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.

Submission Dates and Times

Complete CP applications must be submitted online via the CAH Grants Application Portal by 10:00 PM EST on Monday, August 21, 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 CP application deadline.

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. Grantees will be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Interim and/or Final Reports. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact the CP 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 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.

View Eligibility Information <— | —> View Application and Review Information

View FY24 CP Grant Main Page