Youth in the Humanities Grant

Overview

About

The DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) documents, preserves, and celebrates the lived experiences of all Washington, DC residents and communities through oral history. The Collaborative accomplishes this by providing training, mentorship, resources, programs, and funding to current and aspiring oral historians.

Grant Opportunity

This grant opportunity provides general operating support funding to humanities-focused organizations that work primarily with young people ages 11 to 19. Funding doesn’t have to be spent on a specific program, but rather can be put towards general operations. We are interested in organizations that use the humanities as a tool to help young people explore issues that they identify as important to themselves and their communities.

This opportunity is part of the Humanities Grant Program supported with funding from the District of Columbia Government through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Funding Scope

This general operating support grant can be used for any purpose identified by the applicant. Applicants do not have to identify a specific project but will be asked how they expect to use the grant funds.

Eligibility

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Application Details

2024 Youth in the Humanities Grant
Request for Proposals (RFP)
RFP Issued: March 4, 2024
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024, at 5:59 PM
Project Period: July 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025. Funds must be spent during the project
period (also known as the “grant period”).
Grant Type: Non-Program
Maximum Award Amount: $25,000
About HumanitiesDC
At HumanitiesDC, we connect curious people with bold questions to the powerful
stories of our vibrant city. Founded in 1980, HumanitiesDC is one of 56 state councils
supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities to ensure the humanities
are available to all. We believe the humanities (history, literature, language arts,
ethics, philosophy, culture, and arts appreciation) are a powerful tool to help all
Washingtonians, and others connected to the District of Columbia, deepen their
relationships with the city and each other through the sharing of unique and universal
stories, the fostering of intellectual stimulation, and the promotion of cross-cultural
understanding. By increasing understanding and appreciation, we help build more
equitable, thriving, and rich communities in Washington DC. Every year,
HumanitiesDC does this work by using community-informed grantmaking to invest in
local scholars, experts, and organizations, as well as engaging all residents through
partnership-based public programming.
Applicant Eligibility
Humanities-driven, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose primary
mission is to serve youth are eligible to apply. These organizations must have an
explicit mission and track record working in the humanities and serving youth
populations (age 11 to 24). Eligible non-profit organizations may include youth-
focused community & cultural heritage organizations, children's museums, and
education organizations with a significant humanities focus.
This does not include organizations that occasionally tackle or delve into humanities-
based themes or activities. Organizations with a primary mission of creating or
performing arts, or organizations focused on general education or tutoring are
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typically ineligible as well. We use the following definition of humanities: “The term
‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the
following: ‘language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history;
jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history,
criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of social sciences which have
humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application
of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our
diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the
current conditions of national life.’” (National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Applicants may apply for and receive only one non-program grant per year but could
also apply for and receive one program grant (i.e., Community Culture & Heritage,
DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC), DCOHC Extension, DCOHC Beyond the
Archives, or Visions – Projects & Events).
Organizations may not receive a General Operation Support grant from CAH (DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities) and this grant from HumanitiesDC within
the same fiscal year.
Summary
This grant opportunity provides general operating support funding to humanities-
focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington, DC that work primarily with young
people ages 11 to 24. We aim to support organizations that use the humanities as
a tool to help young people explore issues that they identify as important to
themselves and their communities. Funding need not be spent on a specific
program, but rather can be put toward general operations. This opportunity is part
of the Humanities Grant Program supported with funding from the District of
Columbia Government through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Application Accessibility
With equity as one of our Values, we are focused on broaden[ing] access,
inclusion, and diversity in all our work to create structures that share power and
core decision-making. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and
accessible organization where everyone can participate fully in our grantmaking
process. If you are unable to access any application materials on our website or
Foundant, please contact the staff member listed below.
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Staff Contact: Leah Gage, Community Grants Manager, grants@humanitiesdc.org,
202.770.3077 x815
Funding Scope
This general operating support grant can be used for any purpose identified by the
applicant. Applicants do not have to identify a specific project but will be asked how
they expect to use the grant funds.
Weighted Review Criteria
Applications are reviewed and weighted based on the criteria below. The review
process is explained in the Application Review Process section of this RFP.
Organization Profile (50% of total score)
• The applicant organization has an explicit mission and track record in the
humanities in DC.
• The applicant’s core audience is DC youth and young people ages 11 to 24.
The applicant demonstrates an understanding of those youth and engage
them in the humanities as a tool to explore issues that they identify as
important to themselves and their communities.
• The applicant’s programming is responsive to the needs and desires of its core
audience. They describe how they define and measure success and
demonstrate that their programming has been successful.
Community Outreach, Access, and Inclusion (50%)
• The applicant clearly defines and demonstrates an understanding of the
community they serve.
• The applicant has programming and services that are inclusive and accessible.
This includes, but isn’t limited to, financial, geographic, demographic, cultural,
and physical inclusion and accessibility.
• The applicant’s leadership and staff that represent its core audience and the
community it serves, or the applicant describes a reasonable plan for doing so.
• The applicant describes effective methods to reach and engage its target
community.
Cash Match Requirement
There is no matching requirement for this grant program. Applicants may describe
other secured or planned funding sources in the Budget Narrative section.
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Eligibility Requirements
Applicants applying for this grant must:
• Be incorporated as a nonprofit with a federally designated tax exempt status
under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
code, as evidenced by an IRS determination letter.
• Be registered with, and authorized to do business in, the District as either a
“Domestic” entity (that is, an entity that was incorporated in the District) or a
“Foreign” entity (that is, an entity that was incorporated in another state).
• Have a physical mailing address in the District. DC residents should comprise
most of its constituents.
• Register and comply with the regulatory requirements of the following
agencies:
o District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer
Protection (DLCP)
o District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Tax
and Revenue (OTR).
o District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES).
o United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Obtain a certification of “Citywide Clean Hands” from the District of
Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue. This is required if the applicant is
chosen for funding, but all applicants are encouraged to get this before
submitting an application. The certification must be dated no more
than 30 days before it is sent to HumanitiesDC.
• Not appear on the DC Government’s Excluded Parties List per the DC
Office of Contracting and Procurement.
• Must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). UEI is a number issued by
the System for Award Management (SAM) to identify businesses and other
entities that do business with the federal government. The UEI has replaced
the DUNS number as the authorized identifier for the federal government.
Click here for more information on UEI.
• Be in good standing with HumanitiesDC (no delinquent reports). Any
current grantees who wish to apply for new funding must complete their
project before receiving any new funds, and they must contact the staff
contact listed above before submitting a new application. Be able to
provide proof of eligibility at any time during the grant period. Any
awardees found ineligible after the award date must return all grant funds
to HumanitiesDC.
• Agree that by signing the conditions document and accepting the funds,
they will comply with: (a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which
provides that grant recipients must take adequate steps to ensure that
people with limited English proficiency receive the language assistance
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necessary to afford them meaningful access to grant-related programs,
activities and services); (b) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin); (c)
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex); (d) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973; (e) the Americans with Disabilities Act (which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of disabilities); (f) the Age Discrimination Act of
1973 (which prohibits discrimination against those 40 years or older); (g)
the Labor Standards under Sections 5i and 7g of the National Foundation
of the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965; and (h) the regulations issued
pursuant thereto by the National Endowment for the Humanities (Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 45, Chapter XI).”
• Apply to only one grant opportunity in Cycle I. Cycle I applicants and
grantees may also apply for one grant in Cycle II.
• Have the primary mission focus in one or more of the humanities disciplines
such that the majority of its activities and/or services are concentrated on
and devoted to the humanities. Please refer to the “Applicant Eligibility”
section for our definition of the term “humanities.”
• Have a primary target audience of youth and young people aged 11-24.
Applicants may be asked at any time during the grant period to provide proof of
eligibility. Any awardees found ineligible after the award date must return all grant
funds to HumanitiesDC.
Prohibited applicants include private clubs and organizations that prohibit
membership based upon race, gender, color, religion, or any other classes identified
in the District of Columbia Human Rights Act; for-profit (commercial) entities; political
organizations; foreign governments; federal government entities; and District of
Columbia government agencies.
Fiscal Sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship arrangements are prohibited for this grant. All applicants
must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.
Allowable Costs
This grant is intended to support general operating expenses, which may
include salary, consulting fees, rent, utilities, information technology,
administrative fees, or an operating reserve fund. Prohibited costs include food
and beverages, entertainment, social activities, tuition and scholarships, debt
reduction, re-granting, costs related to fundraisers and special events, expenses
unrelated to the execution of the project, and funding to foreign or domestic
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government agencies. Grantees will be required to document, through
materials such as receipts, paid invoices, credit card or bank statements,
payroll reports, and cancelled checks, all expenses paid with HumanitiesDC
funds in their final reports.
ADA Compliance and Accessibility:
All organizational applicants must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990. The ADA provides civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities in the
areas of employment, services rendered by state and local government, places of
public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunication services.
Organizations funded by HumanitiesDC must make reasonable accommodations to
ensure that people with disabilities have equal physical and communications access
as defined by federal law.
Applicant organizations with 15 or more full time employees and/or that are applying
for funding for public events must provide the following information in their
application to demonstrate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
(42 U.S.C § § 12101 et seq.):
1. The process for formulating accessibility plans (e.g., creating an accessibility
advisory committee, board and staff disability rights training, budgeting for
reasonable accommodation requests, etc.).
2. The current process/status of an organization’s physical accessibility. If the
location is not barrier-free, include in the grant application a plan for
project/program modification that ensures access in a barrier-free
environment, when needed.
3. The current progress/status of the organization’s accessibility in presenting
activities – communications access (e.g., TDD, large print, or braille materials;
audio description or assistive listening devices, ASL interpreted programs, etc.)
and marketing/advertising.
Successful applications will consider a broad definition of “accessibility” by
addressing financial, geographic, demographic, cultural and developmental access.
For more information, applicants may access the complete text of the ADA here:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/12101. Note that neither HumanitiesDC
nor the District of Columbia government represent that this link leads to the latest
version of the subject law.
Technical Assistance for Potential Applicants
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HumanitiesDC has recorded general information sessions about all grant
opportunities, which are currently available on our website. HumanitiesDC will also
schedule a grant workshop that addresses the Youth in the Humanities opportunity
in greater detail. Office hours with staff will be available for more individualized
conversations. Details and frequently asked questions can be found in the Grant
Opportunities section of our website.
How to Apply
All HumanitiesDC grant applications are accepted via Foundant, our online grants
portal. Foundant can be accessed at http://grantapplication.wdchumanities.org.
Applications must be successfully submitted by 5:59 pm on the day of the deadline.
If you or your organization have applied for a HumanitiesDC grant before,
please do not create a new account. Instead, log into Foundant with your existing
account, with your email address serving as your username. Please reach out to
grants@humanitiesdc.org or the Grants Manager listed above if you need assistance
accessing your account. More detailed instructions about how to access Foundant are
found here.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email when their proposals are successfully
submitted. Applicants should contact the applicable HumanitiesDC staff member
immediately should they encounter any technical issues or if they do not receive a
confirmation email. Incomplete or late applications - or applications failing to meet
the guidelines or eligibility requirements - will not be considered for funding.
HumanitiesDC will consider reasonable accommodation requests from applicants
with disabilities to assist them in submitting grant applications via mail, email, or hand
delivery. This request must be made at least five business days before the application
deadline. To make a request for reasonable accommodation, please contact the
Grants Manager identified at the beginning of this document.
HumanitiesDC reserves the right to change or rescind grant opportunities if we do
not receive sufficient funds and/or if other unexpected situations occur.
HumanitiesDC may accept or deny all applications submitted for funding if that is
determined to be in the best interest of the organization.
Application Review Process
• HumanitiesDC staff review all submitted applications for eligibility. Ineligible
applicants are notified immediately and are allowed to appeal our decision.
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• Eligible applications are reviewed by community members who have
experience in humanities programming or scholarship in DC and understand
the role that HumanitiesDC plays in the city. Reviewers are trained by
HumanitiesDC staff. They read and evaluate their assigned applications and
convene for a group discussion. They then finalize their comments and
individual scores, which are collated and averaged. Applications are funded
based on the average scores they receive.
• Everyone involved in the review process is expected to remain impartial.
HumanitiesDC requires that reviewers recuse themselves from the review of
any application that presents a personal or professional conflict of interest.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in being a grant reviewer, please
complete the intake form on our website. You may be both an applicant and a grant
reviewer, but you will not review applications within the same grant program you
apply to.
Notification and Payment of Awards
HumanitiesDC will notify applicants of their status (approved or denied)
approximately eight weeks after the application deadline. Grant awards are
approved and certified in Foundant. Awards are disbursed via direct deposit.
Denied applicants may request a summary of panelist comments.
Grant Award Terms:
1. Recipients agree to document all grant expenditures.
2. Any changes to the scope, budget (greater than 25% in any one budget
category), or project period must be requested in writing in advance.
3. Awardees are required to submit an interim report as described below.
Failure to complete this report on time may result in intervention on the part
of HumanitiesDC up to and including a request to return disbursed funds.
4. Awardees are required to submit a final report as described below. Failure
to do so satisfactorily might affect eligibility for future grants.
5. To receive the grant award, approved applicants must sign and submit a
Grant Agreement Form that constitutes a legally binding contract between
HumanitiesDC and the applicant’s organization or fiscal sponsor. The
signatory will be legally obligated to complete the project under the terms
of the Grant Agreement Form.
Reporting:
The required interim and final reports are submitted through Foundant. Grants
managers will review reports and provide feedback within 30 days.
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• The interim report will be due November 15, 2024. This report includes an
explanation of funds spent and a brief overview of progress to date.
• The final report will be due May 30, 2025. This report includes an explanation
of funds spent, documentation of all expenditures, and a project evaluation.
Close Out: 
Grants are successfully closed once grants managers approve the submitted final
report. A complete final report notes that funds were spent, the project is completed,
and there are no outstanding issues to address. Any unspent funds are returned to
HumanitiesDC. Grantees risk losing eligibility for future grants if they fail to submit
their reports and achieve a successful grant closeout.
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