The Commission on the Arts and Humanities (“CAH” or “the Agency”) seeks applications for the FY24 Capital Projects (“CP”) Program Grant. CP furthers CAH’s mission by encouraging progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia by supporting non-profit arts, humanities, arts education, and service organizations that significantly contribute to the District of Columbia as a world-class cultural capital. CP supports organizations that (1) own or rent facilities; (2) intend to own facilities; or (3) seek capital project support for permanent property, technology, equipment, or digital assets designed for the training, management, production, or presentation of performances or exhibitions of the arts or humanities. CP program goals are to:
- Promote the stability, sustainable growth, and longevity of the District’s arts and humanities organizations;
- Preserve and strengthen structures, systems, and infrastructure for District arts and humanities organizations, their constituents, and their collections;
- Enable and ensure access to high-quality physical spaces and equipment for the District’s arts and humanities organizations;
- Reduce the risk of organizational displacement; and
- Foster arts and humanities access for all District residents.
CP project proposals must align with one of the following three subcategories:
- Digital or Planning project: digital infrastructure projects (intangible) or research, modeling, design, or other projects to increase or sustain the organization’s infrastructure.
- Short-Term Capital project: eligible equipment.
- Long-Term Capital project: purchase of a facility or permanent improvement or stabilization of the organization’s physical space.
Eligible capital projects may include but are not limited to: facility plans, historic preservation plans, acquisition of production equipment, transition costs associated with database systems, website overhauls, archival projects, non-consumable personal protective equipment, building purchases, HVAC renovations, historic preservation, ADA elevator improvements, and new construction. Applicants who are unsure if their project may qualify for CP are encouraged to contact the CP grants manager.
A. Grant Activities
CP grantees will expend funds for allowable costs in support of the approved project.
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Examples of “Allowable Costs” Related to the Grant (must be project-supportive): |
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Digital and Planning Projects - Consultants’ fees and expenses to execute digital projects including website overhauls, digital archives, and database creation. - Consultants’ fees and expenses to develop plans for capital projects including preservation plans, master facility plans, facility acquisition plans and real estate studies, etc. - Direct costs associated with developing a plan or study (eg. focus groups or community engagement sessions) - Regulatory expenses (e.g., permitting, licenses, related fees) - Staff project administration not exceeding 25% of the grant award. |
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Short-Term Capital Projects - All allowable costs under Digital and Planning Projects - Portable, non-consumable, depreciable equipment over which the grantee maintains exclusive control (e.g., computers, servers, lighting consoles, sound mixers, large appliances, risers) - Improvements to bring a facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (up to $20,000) |
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Long-Term Capital Projects - All allowable costs under Short-Term Capital Projects - Direct costs associated with the purchase of eligible real estate occurring in CAH FY 2023 or FY 2024 (e.g., down payment, taxes, and broker’s fees) - Purchase, installation, and/or repair of non-consumable fixed equipment (e.g., storage systems, HVAC, fire suppression, and security systems) - Parts and labor for renovations and capital improvements to existing facilities (e.g., walls, flooring, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing) - Conservation, preservation, and restoration work (e.g., brick repointing, foundation repair, and lead paint abatement) - Costs related to the construction of a new facility |
Examples of “Unallowable Costs” Related to the Grant:
- Food and beverages.
- Tuition and scholarships.
- Expenses associated with an organization assuming the role of a fiscal agent for another organization.
- Costs related to special events, and fundraising/development activity and personnel.
- Debt reduction.
- Expenses unrelated to the execution of the scope of work.
- Operational reserve.
- Re-granting (also known as “sub-granting”).
- Funding to universities, foreign governments or DC government agencies, including DC public schools
- Recurring costs (e.g., rent, utilities, and software subscriptions)
- Non-depreciable/consumable equipment (e.g., medical gloves, paper, writing utensils, lightbulbs, and clothing)
- Digital and Planning Projects- depreciable equipment and equipment expenses exceeding 25% of the grant
- Short-Term Capital Projects- permanent facility alterations (except ADA improvements up to $20,000)
- Long-Term Capital Projects- purchase support for facilities purchased prior to October 1, 2022
B. Statutory Authority
Under D.C. Code §§ 39-201 – 206, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities and encourages the development of programs that promote progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia. CAH is supported by District government funds and, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts. As such, all applicable federal and District regulations, such as OMB Circulars A-102, A-133, 2 CFR 180, 2 CFR 225, 2 CFR 220, and 2 CFR 215 govern this grant.