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 five business 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 of this document. 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.
C. Workshops
To improve the strength of applications, CAH strongly recommends participating in one of the virtual workshops. 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.
Live chats may be accessed by visiting dcarts.dc.gov/page/grant-application-live-chats or by registering via: eventbrite.com/o/dc-commission-on-the-arts-and-humanities-cah-1252966799
Workshops and Live Chats may be accessed by visiting the CAH website.
D. Application Forms and Content
Each application shall:
- Demonstrate experience and proficiency in the applicant’s selected discipline.
- Include a statement describing the applicant’s artistic mission.
- Include a statement describing the applicant’s artistic community and commitment to the District of Columbia.
- Convey an understanding of the applicant’s work in context of the applicant’s community/communities in the District.
- Include work samples which clarify, demonstrate, or unite the applicant’s mission and/or processes. Work samples are broadly recommended as one of the following:
- Ten (10) still-images with an accompanying works list.
- Two (2) videos with recommended viewing times of five (5) minutes each.
- Three (3) audio files with run times of five (5) minutes each.
- Fifteen (15) pages of written materials.
- Include an artistic résumé, Curriculum Vitae (CV), or biography addressing the extent of the applicant’s arts or humanities practice. The artistic résumé or biography may include the applicant’s top arts or humanities projects that have occurred within the last three (3) years.
In addition to required narrative questions within the online application, applicants shall submit additional compliance 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. Work sample documents should be no more than fifteen (15) pages. Work samples can be ten (10) still images OR two (2) videos no more than five (5) minutes each OR three (3) audio files no more than five (5) minutes each. Please speak with your grant manager about options. |
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2 |
Support Materials |
Up to three (3) additional items collectively totaling no more than 10 pages (e.g., letters of support, awards, programs, publicity, peer review, etc.). |
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3 |
Artistic Résumé, Curriculum Vitae (CV), or Artist Biography |
Applicants may upload either a PDF document in the form of a résumé, CV, or biography. The artistic résumé or biography may include the applicant’s top arts or humanities projects that have occurred within the last three (3) years. |
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4 |
Proof of Residency |
An unexpired DC Driver’s License or District Residency ID card AND one (1) current utility bill/lease in the applicant’s name. If a valid license or Residency ID are unavailable, please contact a CAH staff member for guidance. Applicant’s experiencing homelessness are encouraged to reach out for guidance. |
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5 |
Certificate of Clean Hands |
Issued within thirty (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 |
Template may be found at: https://dcarts.dc.gov/publication/statement-certification. Please ensure relevant grant program is listed on the cover page. PDF only. |
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7 |
W9 |
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 PASS and DIFS systems, and the address registered in the DC Vendor Portal. Only the March 2024 version of the W9 form may be used and the form must be dated at the time of application submission: irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9. PDF only. |
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.
E. Grant Application Best Practices
- Read the Guide to Grants
- Read the RFA guidelines (for the desired grant program) and determine eligibility.
- Go to CAH Grants and select CAH Grant Application Portal to register as a user.
(Note: To reset a user password either select “Forgot your password?”).
- Upon registration, applicants select the desired grant program(s).
- Complete the application questions.
- Upload required documents, supplementary material, and work samples.
- Review the application for thoroughness, clarity, and typographical errors.
- Submit the application by 5:00 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 AHFP applications shall be submitted online via the CAH Grant Application Portal by 5:00 PM EST on July 7, 2026. 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 the Access Coordinator at [email protected] or 202-724-5613 and await request approval. Reasonable accommodation requests shall be made no later than seven (7) calendar days before the 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 in the form of mandatory reports. Allowable costs are those that the District government and CAH have determined as valid expenditures. Grantees shall be responsible for demonstrating grant activities through narrative documentation within all mandatory reports.[WK2] [FS3] [WK4] [MD5]
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 Review Process