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

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.”

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.

2014 Funding Opportunities Major Grant Small Grant Commemoration & Remembrance Grant Abraham Lincoln Schimel & Beatrice Schimel Lead In Awards

2014 Cycle I Major Grant The Major Grant is intended for larger projects from $1,501 to $5,000. Preliminary applications are due by February 7, If your organization has not submitted this preliminary application you will not be considered by the Board of Directors.

2014 Cycle I Small Grant The Small Grant is intended for smaller projects or that are a component of a larger project. This grant funds projects up to $1,500, applications are due on March 7, Please note that the Cycle I Major and Small grant cycle will be the only initiatives offered in 2014 without a prescribed funding preference..

2014 Commemoration & Remembrance Grant The city of Washington, DC is an international monument to representative democracy, emancipation from slavery, political activism, and republican government. People come from around the world to witness the past crystallized as marble and stone; to walk where their heroes once walked, and to remember. Annual commemorations of anniversaries, inaugurations, protests, and other major historical events bring even more people to the city to participate in collective remembering and observance. Like other major urban centers, the true story of the city’s past is in the important people, places, and events remembered by its communities. The Humanities Council of Washington, DC in conjunction with the DC Commission for Arts and Humanities will offer grants of up to $2000 to groups interested in bringing back long forgotten commemorations, supporting current ceremonies, and starting new traditions. Examples of projects supported may include: Organizing a local ceremony or event commemorating an important piece of your community’s past Researching the meaning of commemorations in your community such as street names, place names, festivals, statues, public art Organizing a local commemoration of an event significant to the entire District of Columbia Applications due on March 7, 2014.

The Abraham Lincoln Schimel & Beatrice Schimel Lead In Awards The Humanities Council of Washington, DC (HCWDC) and The Schimel Lode will accept nominations that describe innovative approaches currently in use, or yet to be put into practice. Teachers may either nominate themselves or be nominated by other teachers, students, and administrators. However, all nominees must be currently employed as full time high school teachers in Washington, DC. Applications must describe the approach, how it uses humanities disciplines to integrate learning leadership capacities, and why it deserves recognition and dissemination. Each ALSBS Lead In award recipient will work with a provided educational consultant and videographer to document their approach with a video, lesson plans, worksheets, and a case study. This “curriculum packet” will be published online and promoted to high school educators around the world. Awardee Responsibilities and Professional Development Opportunities: All awardees will work with an educational consultant and a videographer, retained by the HCWDC and The Schimel Lode, to create a curriculum packet consisting of a short film, lesson plans, worksheets, and a case study. Each curriculum packet will be made part of the HCWDC’s DC Digital Museum where it will be freely available to other educators and students. Award Amount: Awardees will receive $1250 as a personal award and another $1250 to participate in the development of a “curriculum packet.” Applications are due on February 7, 2014.

2014 Grant Cycle Deadlines Major Grant Preliminary Application Due February 7 th Lead In Award Application Due February 7 th Major, Small & Commemoration Final Applications Due March 7 th Grant Period May 1, 2014 – April 31, 2015 Final Report and Product Due May 31, 2015 INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

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?

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.

The Humanities Scholar All Humanities Council funded programs must include a Humanities Scholar. The Humanities Scholar should be someone keyed into the discipline and topic of your program. The Humanities Scholar will be completing the Scholar Evaluation at the reporting stage. This person should also work in the capacity of advising the scholarly foundations and methodologies of your project.

Application Narrative Narrative should include: a clear description of the program; program goals; how you will achieve the goals; the timeline of your project; how you will utilize your humanities scholar; who your audience is; your outreach strategy; your distribution strategy.

Project Formats Audience Discussion Book Discussion Conference Curriculum Development Debate Discussion Guide Exhibit Film Discussion Film/Video Production Oral Histories Panel Discussion Radio Production Seminars Site Interpretation/Tour Teacher’s Institute/Seminar Workshop Website Developed Content Cultural Festival

Application Budget Sheet Project Budget Sheet CategoryHCWDC 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: ______________________________________________________________

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 Humanities Council funded projects require a 1 to 1 match up to $5,000

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

Consider these Questions  Is my project Humanities based?  How does my project highlight, enrich, and/or bring about a greater awareness of Washington, D.C. history, neighborhoods, and residents?  What is the story I want to tell? Why is it important?  Is my budget realistic?

Consider these Questions  What can be accomplished with the funds I receive from the HCWDC? Are my goals and timeline realistic?  Do I have a capable and compatible scholar to guide this project?  Who is the audience? What is the size of the audience?  What is my distribution strategy?  What is my outreach and promotion strategy?

What do I Submit? Applications are available online through the Humanities Council of Washington, DC website. Please enter our website at Click Grants Click Apply for a Grant

Online Grant Application

Board Evaluation Form

Do’s and Don’ts  Do break down your items listed on the budget sheet on your 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.

“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 $$$ *In the unfortunate event that you cannot complete the proposed project  TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COUNCIL, NO EQUIVOCATION!

Humanities Council of Washington, DC 925 U Street NW Washington, DC