2. Who are we? Private, nonprofit organization
Fund and conduct humanities-based cultural and educational programs for all 8 wards
Not a federal or district agency, but an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

3. Our Mission The mission of HumanitiesDC 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.
HumanitiesDC 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. Defining 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. 2017 Soul of the City Grant
Soul of the City (SOTC) is HumanitiesDC’s youth leadership grant opportunity.
HumanitiesDC is seeking applications for three grants to provide humanities programs for youth ages in the District of Columbia, based on HumanitiesDC’s successful Soul of the City (SOTC) Program. It emphasizes one of the HumantiesDC’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 HumanitiesDC is providing a prospectus that will help potential grantees design a high quality humanities program that will:
Use humanities ideas, disciplines and concepts to help youth understand themselves and the human experience. Organizations will be required to create a program curriculum.
Provide tools to encourage youth to improve themselves and the world in which they live. Gain practical transferable skills.
Produce confident, service-oriented leaders with increased communications and critical thinking skills.
Funding for this grant is provided by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

6. Branding SOTC
Each program should have “Soul of the City” (SOTC) in the title of the program;
Must use the SOTC logo and the HumanitiesDC logo in all printed material;
By applying to the program your SOTC program will be branded extensively (it should look as closely as possible to our in-house SOTC program);

7. Elements of the program
Meets periodically with other SOTC program leaders and HumanitiesDC staff to one meeting in the developmental stage to determine how the students work together and the programs on-going work (might include: …);

8. Soul of the City Grant Cycle
No Preliminary Application
Final Application Due
March 3, 2017
Grant Period
May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018
INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

9. 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 HumanitiesDC grants held by you or your sponsoring organization closed satisfactorily?
Will your program fall within the term of the grant cycle?

10. Application Roles
Organizational Sponsor – The president of the non-profit organization.
Project Director – The person who will guide the daily operations of the project.
Humanities Scholar – The person who guides the scholarly research of your project.
Project Bookkeeper – The person who tracks the grant funds expended for the project.
Please note that the Project Bookkeeper cannot hold any other role in the project, i.e. Project Director or Sponsoring Org. Official.

11. The Humanities Scholar
All HumanitiesDC 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.

12. Application Narrative
Narrative should include:
a clear description of the program and its 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; and,
your distribution strategy.

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, Religion

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
Program Description
Provided 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Project 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

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

20. Publicity, promotion, printing
Application Budget
Project Budget Sheet
Category
HumanitiesDC Funds
Sponsoring Cost Share
Total Project Budget
Requested*
Cash+
In-Kind
Budget
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: ______________________________________________________________

21. 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 sheet 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
HumanitiesDC funded projects require at least a 1 to 1 match to $10,000.

22. How To Submit an Application
Applications are available online through the HumanitiesDC website.
Please enter our website at
Click on Grants
Click Apply for a Grant

23. Online Grant Application

24. First Time Applicant Registration/ Log-in

25. Online Grant Application

26. Online Grant Application The fields in this section should be filled out from the perspective of the 501©3 non-profit organization (fiscal sponsor) that would be fiscally responsible for the grant. This is the organization whose name will appear on the check as the fiscal agent organization and distribute the funds on behalf (partner) organization conducting the day-to-day business of the organization.

27. Online Grant Application

28. Online Grant Application Use the “Program Collaboration” section to describe your organization’s role as project manger and the fiscal sponsor as the sponsoring organization.

29. Committee Evaluation Form

30. Committee Evaluation Form

31. Committee Evaluation Form

32. Committee Evaluation Form

33. Consider the Questions
Is my project Humanities based?
Does this project use humanities ideas, disciplines, and concepts to help youth understand themselves and the human experience?
Does this 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?

34. Questions Continued
What can be accomplished with the funds I receive from the HumanitiesDC? Are my goals, timeline, and budget 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 tangible and accessible to the general public?

35. 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.
Do not include letters of support from organizations or individuals not involved directly in the program.

36. “Special Announcement”
Grants Conditions:
Sign a legally binding document.
Organization becomes liable/ responsible for all aspects of grant; success and failure of project.
Must commit to spending totality of grant money.
All projects funded by this grant will carry the “Soul of the City” title and include HumanitiesDC and SOTC logos.
**In the unfortunate event that you cannot complete the proposed project,
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MUST BE RETURNED TO HUMANITIESDC, NO EQUIVOCATION!

37. Louis Hicks Director of Grants and Special Projects 925 U Street, NW Washington, DC