A. Address to Request Application Package
CAH utilizes the CAH to receive all AHFP grant applications. 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 cannot complete applications for applicants. To schedule a meeting, applicants may contact the CAH staff listed in Section VII below. Applicants shall prepare their full draft application in the CAH along with any questions in advance of scheduling a meeting for technical assistance. For in-person workshops, photo identification is required to enter CAH offices. CAH also publishes answers to frequently asked questions to its website on a weekly basis.
C. Workshops
To improve the strength of applications, CAH strongly recommends participating in one of the virtual workshops listed below. All workshops are virtual, free, and open to the public. More information about workshops may be found on the CAH website under Grant Writing Assistance, or by calling the CAH Point of Contact listed in Section VII. Interested artists and humanities practitioners may register for workshops on Eventbrite.
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Workshop |
Time |
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Thursday, May 29 |
11 AM – 12 PM EST |
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Live Chats |
Time |
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Friday, May 30 |
2 PM – 3:30 PM EST |
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Friday, June 6 |
2 PM – 3:30 PM EST |
D. Application Forms and Content
Each application shall, where applicable:
- Provide a brief overview of the organization’s general programming but articulate the details of a unique project that is the focus of the project grant application.
- Demonstrate expertise in offering developmentally appropriate arts and/or humanities programming to students of diverse abilities.
- Articulate an understanding of curriculum design through the provision of syllabi, lesson plans, and assessment tools.
- Develop and detail programming that provides an immersive experience for participants.
- Provide evidence of an intentional and comprehensive plan for assessment and evaluation.
- Demonstrate that all project activities occur within the District of Columbia.
- Demonstrate experience in offering high-quality, impactful professional development for educators in order to enhance their skills in an arts discipline or in the integration of standards-based arts and humanities instruction with non-arts academic content.
- Provide details on project activities, audience, and collaborators in implementing an older adult (50 years old or older) arts learning curriculum aimed at advancing creative aging in the District.
In addition to the required narrative questions within the online application, applicants shall submit additional documents with their AHEP application. Documents shall be uploaded in PDF form through the CAH Grant Application Portal prior to the application deadline. Templates and instructions for compliance documents are available in Resources for Grant Applicants.
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Mandatory Documents |
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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. Applicants shall include at least one (1) work sample no more than three (3) years old from the date of submission. Submitting older work samples may render the application ineligible for funding consideration. |
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2 |
Support Materials |
Up to three (3) additional items (e.g., letters of support, awards, programs, publicity, sample syllabi, lesson plans etc.). |
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3 |
Résumés of Key Personnel |
Examples include artistic/managing/executive directors; teaching artists; etc. Provide roles, areas of responsibility, and ward or state of residence. |
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4 |
Budget Form |
Detailed financial analysis of how grant funds will be spent, if awarded. |
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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/ |
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6 |
Statement of Certification |
Date shall match that of the AHEP application submission |
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7 |
Signed IRS Form W-9 |
Post office boxes are prohibited. The applicant’s address shall match the address in the grants portal, and the address on file in the District Integrated Financial System, (DIFS). The March 2024 version of the W-9 form shall be used and have the same date as the AHEP application submission. |
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8 |
Certificate of Liability Insurance (general coverage). |
Shall include a written waiver of subrogation. |
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9 |
Balance Sheet |
From most recently completed fiscal year. |
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10 |
Current Organizational Budget |
Approved by the organization’s Board of Directors. |
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11 |
IRS 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination. |
501(c)(3) letter of determination. |
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12 |
IRS Form 990 |
Most recently filed. |
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13 |
List of current Board of Directors |
Provide board roles (e.g. president, treasurer, etc.), responsibilities and home addresses/wards. |
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14 |
Profit and Loss Statement |
From most recently completed fiscal quarter. |
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 (see below, “Review Process”). CAH staff cannot make corrections to applications on behalf of applicants. CAH staff review applications for completeness and contact applicants for any incomplete documents within five (5) business days of the deadline. Applicants shall update their application within five (5) business days of CAH’s notification. Failure to do so shall 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 AHEP applications shall be submitted online via the CAH Grants Application Portal by 10:00 PM EST on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. 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 Jenna Kriegel, Arts Grants Coordinator at [email protected] and await request approval. Reasonable accommodation requests shall be made no later than seven (7) calendar days before the AHEP application deadline.
G. Funding Restrictions
As a District of Columbia agency, CAH shall 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 Final Reports.
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Examples of “Allowable Costs” Related to the Grant: |
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Salaries for arts and humanities professionals for nonprofit organizations. |
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Artists/humanities practitioners, or consultants. |
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Space rental and fees directly related to project implementation. |
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Travel and transportation directly related to project implementation. |
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Materials, supplies, and equipment purchases that are no more than 25% of the award and are directly related to the work of project implementation. |
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Overhead, maintenance, and administration not exceeding 35% of the grant award. |
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Examples of “Unallowable Costs” Related to the Grant: |
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Food and beverages. |
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Tuition and scholarships. |
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Expenses associated with an organization assuming the role of a fiscal agent for another organization. |
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Costs related to fundraisers and special events. |
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Debt reduction. |
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Expenses unrelated to the execution of the scope of work. |
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Operational reserve. |
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Temporary or permanent public art projects. |
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Re-granting (also known as “sub-granting”). |
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Funding to universities, foreign governments or DC government agencies, including DCPS. |
AHEP grant program applicants may apply for other project-based grants in FY 2026 but if awarded multiple, they shall only accept one grant from East Arts (EA), Field Trip Experiences (FTE), Public Art Building Community (PABC), or Projects, Events, or Festivals (PEF). Note: grant recipients of an FY 2026 General Operating Support (GOS) grant are ineligible for FY 2026 PEF funding.
The grantee will be responsible for demonstrating expenses, as applicable, in Interim and/or Final Reports. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact the AHEP grant program manager.
H. Other Submission Requirements
The Agency shall not be liable for any costs incurred in the preparation of applications in response to the RFA. The applicant agrees that all costs incurred in developing the application are the applicant’s sole responsibility.
View Eligibility Information <— | —> View Application and Review Information