FY26 CP Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package 

CAH utilizes the CAH Grant Application Portal to receive all CAP grant applications. Incomplete, incorrect, or late applications may be deemed ineligible for review and funding. 

 

2. 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. 

   

3. 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 Grant Application Live Chats. Interested artists and humanities practitioners may register for workshops via Eventbrite 

 

Workshop	Time		Virtual Office Hours	Time
Monday, June 2nd	12:00 – 1:30 PM EST		Friday, June 6th	12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Thursday June 5th	10:00 – 11:30 AM EST		Friday, June 13th	2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
Wednesday June 11th	2:00 – 3:30 PM EST		Friday June 20th	11:00AM – 12:00 PM EST
Monday, June 16tth	10:00 – 1:30 PM EST		Monday, June 23rd	11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Wednesday, June 18th	12:00 – 1:30 PM EST

 

4. Application Forms and Content 

 Each application shall: 

 

1. 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; 

2. Demonstrate the critical nature of the project, both to the organization and to the District; 

3. Articulate an understanding of the project relative to the long-term success of the organization; 

4. Develop and detail a feasible project timeline not exceeding the grant period; 

5. Provide details of the planning process, including participants and experts engaged; 

6. Provide complete and thorough budgets with line-item detail; 

7. Propose a project at a facility that is either currently Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, or that shall aid in bringing the facility into compliance; and 

8. 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 shall submit supplemental documents with the CP application. Documents shall be uploaded in PDF format via the CAH Grant Application Portal prior to the application deadline. Templates and instructions for compliance documents are available in Resources for Grant Applicants. 

 

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.  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.
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 shall 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   (Rev. March 2024)	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 (PASS), and in the DC Vendor Portal. The March 2024 version of the form shall be used and have the same date as the application submission.
16	Statement of Certification	This document declares the authorized negotiator(s) for the organization. The form shall 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	Insurance shall 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 (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. 

 

5. Grant Application Process 

 

1. Read the Guide to Grants.  

2. Read the RFA guidelines (for the desired grant program) and determine eligibility.  

3. 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).  

4. Upon registration, applicants select the desired grant program(s).  

5. Complete the application questions, budget, and budget narrative data.  

6. Upload required documents, supplementary material, and work samples.  

7. Review the application for thoroughness, clarity, and typographical errors.  

8. Submit the application by 10:00 PM ET on the grant program’s deadline date.  

9. Ensure receipt of grant submission confirmation email, auto generated by the online portal, by the application deadline.  

 

6. Submission Dates and Times 

Complete CP applications shall be submitted online via the CAH  Grant Application Portal l by 10:00 PM EST on Tuesday, June 17, 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, 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.  

 

7. 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 shall be responsible for demonstrating expenses in Interim and/or Final Reports. Grantees with questions regarding allowable costs may contact the CP grant program manager. 

 

8. Nonprofit Fair Compensation Act of 2020 

When making grant awards or contracts to non-profit organizations, the DC Government shall 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 

 

 

1. 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. 

 

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