2. Who are we? Private, nonprofit organization Funds and conducts humanities- based cultural and educational programs for all 8 wards. An affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) but is not a Federal or District agency

3. Our Mission The mission of the Humanities Council is to : enrich the quality of life, foster intellectual stimulation, promote cross-cultural understanding and promote appreciation of local history in all neighborhoods of the District through humanities programs and grants. The Humanities Council believes that in-depth consideration of the issues that affect us as individuals in a society can make a positive impact on our lives, and believes each citizen can participate in our vision to “transform lives through the power of the humanities.”

4. What are the Humanities? The Humanities tell us what it means to be human. They help us understand… Our story’s past: history, anthropology, archaeology; Our story’s expressions: literature, linguistics, languages, arts history, theory and criticism; Our story’s values: ethics, philosophy, comparative religion, law.

5. Soul of the City Grant The Humanities Council of Washington, DC (HCWDC) is seeking applications for three grants to provide humanities programs for youth ages 14-19 in the District of Columbia, based on HCWDC’s successful Soul of the City (SOTC) Program. HCWDC has presented SOTC for almost a decade to hundreds of young people. It emphasizes one of the Council’s core beliefs that effective leadership can be cultivated through a curriculum that combines humanities concepts with skill building. SOTC encourages young people to view their city, their country and their world in new ways and prepares them for leadership. Each grant is $10,000 and the HCWDC is providing a prospectus that will help potential grantees design a high quality humanities program that will: 1.Use humanities ideas, disciplines and concepts to help youth understand themselves and the human experience. 2.Provide tools to encourage youth to improve themselves and the world in which they live. 3.Create confident, service-oriented leaders with increased communications and critical thinking skills. Funding for these grants is provided by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

6. Soul of the City Grant Cycle Soul of the City Grant Application Due May 9th Committee Review Session Late May Grant Period June 15 th – October 15 th Final Report Product Due November 15 th

7. What do we fund? HCWDC grants fund:  Project supplies  Space rental for project event  Honoraria  Project Transportation  A/V Rental for project  Project Publicity and Promotion HCWDC grants do not fund:  General office supplies  Rent, Overhead, Restoration  Refreshments/Hospitality/P arties  Creative/Performing Arts projects  Membership--i.e. members only—outreach

8. Qualifying Questions Is your organization or its sponsor a 501 c 3 non-profit? Is your project humanities based? Is your project a benefit to the people of the District of Columbia? Are previous HCWDC grants held by you or your sponsoring organization closed satisfactorily? Will your program fall within the term of the grant cycle?

9. Application Roles Organizational Sponsor – The president of the non-profit organization. Project Director – The person that will guide the daily operations of the project. Humanities Scholar – The person that guides the scholarly research of your project. Project Bookkeeper – The person that tracks the grant funds expended for the project.

10. The Humanities Scholar All Humanities Council funded programs must include a Humanities Scholar. The humanities scholar has qualifications related to the project content, and will be an active participant in the development and execution of the program. The Humanities Scholar will complete the Scholar Evaluation at the reporting stage. This person should provide advise on the scholarly foundations and methodologies of your project.

11. Application Narrative Narrative should include: a clear description of the program and program goals; how you will achieve the goals; the timeline of your project; how you will utilize your humanities scholar; how you will promote the program's student produced final product; impact on the citizens of the District of Columbia.

12. Application Narrative Program Description Provide a detailed description of specific activities and projects that students will participate in as part of your program. A minimum of 20 participants is preferred.

13. Application Narrative Humanities Theme Please explain how the students will use humanities themes to better understand themselves and the human experience. Incorporate specific humanities disciplines where appropriate. History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Literature, Language, Linguistics, Art History/Criticism, Philosophy, Ethics, Comparative Religion, Jurisprudence, Preservation

14. Application Narrative Local, National and International Component How will your program help its students understand Washington, DC's local, national and international dimensions?

15. Application Narrative Skills Development List the communication and critical thinking skills the students will learn as part of the program, and describe how those skills will encourage self improvement, civic engagement and technical expertise.

16. Application Narrative Final Product The students of each Soul of the City grant project must produce a tangible product. Please describe the final product to be produced by the students participating in your project.

17. Application Budget Sheet Project Budget Sheet CatergoryHCWDC Funds Sponsoring Cost Share Total Project Budget Requested*Cash+In-KindBudget Honoraria $ - Salary/wages $ - Travel $ - Supplies $ - Publicity, promotion, printing $ - Postage, telephone $ - Facilities rental $ - Evaluation $ - Total $ - *Total requested must not exceed 50 percent of the total project budget. + Source of cash contributions: Organization’s own funds $_________ Other sources $_________ List other sources: ______________________________________________________________

18. Budget Narrative The budget narrative is a break out of the items listed in the Budget Sheet for funds requested. For example if there was $2,000 listed in the budget sheet for salaries and wages. The budget narrative should reflect; Salary/Wages Project Director – 20 estimated hours x $50 per hour = $1,000 Videographer – 40 estimated hours x $25 per hour = $1,000 Average salaries that can be used for in-kind donations can be found at the Department of Labor and Statistics website at http://www.bls.gov/ro3/ncswb.htm.http://www.bls.gov/ro3/ncswb.htm Humanities Council funded projects require a 1 to 1 match up to $10,000

19. Final Product Formats Book Discussion Conference Curriculum Development Podcast Discussion Guide Exhibit Film Discussion Film/Video Production Oral Histories Panel Discussion Radio Production Book Publishing Site Interpretation/Tour Mobile Application Development Workshop Website Developed Content

20. Final Product  Applicants funded by the DC Community Heritage Project must include a tangible final product. The final product produced will be uploaded into DC Digital Museum, therefore all Deed of Gift forms must be submitted with the completed work. HCWDC grants do not fund:  General office supplies  Rent, Overhead, Restoration  Refreshments/Hospitality/P arties  Creative/Performing Arts projects  Membership--i.e. members only—outreach

21. What do I Submit? Applications are available online through the Humanities Council of Washington, DC website. Please enter our website at www.grantapplication.wdchumanities.orgwww.grantapplication.wdchumanities.org

22. Online Grant Application

28. Committee Evaluation Form

33. Consider these Questions  Is my project Humanities based?  Does the project use humanities ideas, disciplines and concepts to help youth understand themselves and the human experience.  Does the project provide real-world knowledge and skills to encourage youth to improve themselves and the world in which they live.  Will students leave the program as confident, service-oriented leaders with increased communications and critical thinking skills.  Is my budget realistic?

34. Consider these Questions  What can be accomplished with the funds I receive from the HCWDC? Are my goals and timeline realistic?  Does the humanities scholar have qualifications related to the project content, and will be an active participant in the development and execution of the program?  Will the program serve the preferred minimum of 20 participants?  Will the proposed project help students gain skills that will help them become effective leaders, communicators and technically efficient? Is the final product is tangible and accessible to the general public?.

35. Do’s and Don’ts  Do break down your budget sheet items on the budget narrative.  Do state clearly the goal of your project and how you will achieve it.  Do state clearly how this will benefit the people of D.C.  Do try to anticipate and answer reviewer questions  Do include letters from partner organizations acknowledging the partnership.  Do have a friend read over your application.  Don’t include letters of support from organizations or individuals not involved directly in the program.

36. “SPECIAL” “ANNOUNCEMENT” GRANTS CONDITIONS: In the event that you do get awarded a grant, sign your contract and accept the money  Legally binding document  Organization becomes liable/ responsible for all aspects of grant; success and failure of project.  Must commit to spending totality of grant $$$  All projects funded by this grant will carry the “Soul of the City” title and include the HCWDC and SOTC logos. *In the unfortunate event that you cannot complete the proposed project  TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COUNCIL, NO EQUIVOCATION!

37. Humanities Council of Washington, DC 925 U Street NW Washington, DC 20001 202.387.8391 grants@wdchumanities.org msmith@wdchumanities.org