A. Address to Request Application Package
CAH utilizes the CAH Grant Application Portal 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 Grant Application Portal 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.
Workshops and Live Chats may be accessed by visiting the CAH website. Live Chats are held online weekly on Fridays from 2:00-3:00 PM EST, From May 16 - June 13, 2025. Office Hours are held online weekly on Mondays from 10:00-11:30 AM EST, from May 19 – June 16, 2025.
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Workshop |
Time |
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Saturday, May 31 |
10 -11 AM EST |
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Thursday, June 5 |
3 - 4 PM EST |
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Tuesday, June 10 |
Noon -1 PM EST |
D. Application Forms and Content
Each application shall:
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Demonstrate experience and proficiency in the applicant’s selected discipline.
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Include a statement describing the applicant’s mission.
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Include a statement describing the applicant’s artistic community, and commitment to the District of Columbia.
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Convey an understanding of the applicant’s work in context of the applicant’s community/communities in the District.
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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:
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Ten (10) still-images with an accompanying works list.
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Two videos with recommended viewing times of five minutes each.
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Ten to fifteen (10-15) pages of written materials.
In addition to the required narrative questions within the online application, applicants shall submit additional documents with the AHFP 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, etc.). |
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3 |
Applicant’s Resume |
With content primarily addressing the applicant’s artistry or humanities practices. |
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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. |
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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 AHFP 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, the address on file in the DC Government’s vendor registration system (DIFS), and in the DC Vendor Portal. The March 2024 version of the form shall 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 (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
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Read the Guide to Grants
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Read the RFA guidelines (for the desired grant program) and determine eligibility.
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Go to Apply for Grants and select CAH 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).
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Complete the application questions, budget, and budget narrative data.
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Upload required documents, supplementary material, and work samples.
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Review the application for thoroughness, clarity, and typographical errors.
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Submit the application by 10:00 PM EST on the grant program’s deadline date.
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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 shall be submitted online via the CAH Grant Application Portal by 10:00 PM EST on June 17, 2025. CAH shall 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 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, Access Coordinator at [email protected] and await request approval. Reasonable accommodation requests shall be made no later than seven calendar days before the CP 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 with questions regarding allowable costs may contact their grant program manager. Grantees shall be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Final Reports.
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