HumanitiesDC Visions Projects & Events Grant Workshop

Visions Projects + Events Grant Workshop February 8, 2023 February 22, 2023

Outline Introductions Purpose of this workshop About HumanitiesDC Visions Projects + Events Grants The Application Q&A

Workshop Purpose Provide more detail about the grant program Highlight key aspects of the application Give prospective applicants the opportunity to discuss their ideas Does not include all requirements and necessary information

Tell us a Little About Yourself Name Organization Affiliation (if any) 30 seconds on your project idea and your interest in it

About HumanitiesDC The Humanities Council of DC, affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities helps 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 community-informed grantmaking to invest in local scholars, experts, and organizations, as well as engaging all residents through partnership-based public programming

Overview Public humanities programs: Innovative interpretations of humanities scholarship Possible projects: documentary films, planning or executing an event or performance, publications and curricula, tours and exhibits, websites and other digital humanities projects, and archives... Includes documentaries and events, which were separate grant programs last year Up to $25,000 per award 2022: 23 grants, $642,429 2023 planned: 16 grants, $400,000

Examples A documentary following the romantic lives of five men and women struggling with housing instability. Homelessly in Love A documentary following three seniors as they emerge as leaders, knock on doors, and attempt to organize their community of elders. Project SING A youth-directed festival in the DC area, organized and held in the Anacostia neighborhood. Anacostia Youth Film and Media Festival A citywide lineup of concerts, readings, panels, and symposiums reflecting on the life and legacy of Emmett Till. Till Trilogy Reflection Series

Examples (cont.) An interactive multimedia website exhibit featuring Doo-Wop vocal groups and solo artists from DC whose harmonies ushered in the sounds and performance styles of early Rhythm and Blues from 1948-1960. The Nation s Capital: Doo-Wop From the Street Corner to the Stage-2 A series of events dedicated to memorializing the generations of people who lived in and were displaced from the Barry Farm-Hillsdale neighborhood. DC Legacy Project: Barry Farm-Hillsdale A program features poetry, music, and narration to highlight the life and contributions of Todd Duncan, a DC native and the first Porgy in Gershwin s famous opera Porgy and Bess. Todd Duncan: A Program of Poetry and Music A public-facing online resource geared towards educating K-12 and undergraduate students about the Middle Ages through DC-based sites, objects, and events. Digital Guide to Medieval DC

Applicant Eligibility DC-based Nonprofit Organizations Interested individuals must apply through a fiscal sponsor Must have closed prior HumanitiesDC grants before submission

Fiscal Sponsorship A 501(c)3 nonprofit that assumes all financial and legal obligations of the grant award No more than 10% of the grant award may be used to pay a fiscal sponsor Applicants applying through fiscal sponsors must use the fiscal sponsor s organization account within Foundant, our grants portal

Grant Requirements Valid EIN and UEI numbers A physical address located in Washington, DC Document all grant expenditures Changes to scope of approved grant or budget must be requested in writing Submission of an interim and final report Note: Documentary films will be screened in a HumanitiesDC sponsored event and be made available for non-commercial, educational use

Details Up to $25,000 award Full grant awarded at the beginning of the project period Project Period: May 1, 2023 March 1, 2024

Your Application Incorporate scholarship informed by one or more of the humanities disciplines: anthropology; archaeology; art history/criticism/appreciation comparative religion; ethics; history; jurisprudence language; linguistics; literature; philosophy; preservation Have an advisor, partner or team member knowledgeable about the subject matter Demonstrate a connection to Washington, DC

Your Application (cont.) Be innovative, unique, and of strong educational interest to a wide public audience Be publicly accessible Events: Be open to the public and include some portion of free or affordable programming

Some Required Elements Organization Profile to demonstrate your connection to proposed project Description of activities to show how you will accomplish your goal Key personnel to ensure that project will be successful

Some Required Elements (cont.) A project timeline to show how you will accomplish your goals during the project period A project budget and budget narrative based on allowable costs sufficient to carry out project Measuring success what does success mean to you and how will you know you've achieved it?

Project Costs 100% of awarded grant funds must be applied to direct program costs The grant CANNOT fund: Indirect costs, overhead, rent, utilities, or administrative fees General office supplies Refreshments/hospitality/parties Costs related to fundraisers and special events Expenses unrelated to the execution of the project The grant CAN fund: Project supplies and equipment Virtual presenting platforms. Space rental Honoraria/wages/stipends Project transportation Project publicity & promotion

Strategies for Successful Applications Break down the categories on the budget sheet into individual expenses on the budget narrative Clearly state the goal of your project and how it will be achieved Make clear the benefit your project will have on DC residents Anticipate and answer questions reviewers might have Have someone unconnected to the project provide feedback on your proposal before submitting it Do not include letters of support from organizations or individuals not directly involved in the project

Applicant Resources Live workshops, workshop recordings and presentations RFP (Request for Proposals) and application questions FAQ and Tips on using Foundant (the application portal) Office hours (one-on-one 30-minute assistance calls)

Key Links & Contacts https://humanitiesdc.org/grant-opportunities/ http://grantapplication.wdchumanities.org Eli Yussuf, Community Grants Manager: eyussuf@humanitiesdc.org Lois Nembhard, Director of Grantmaking & Programs: lnembhard@humanitiesdc.org

How to Submit the Application When you are ready to begin your application go to http://grantapplication.wdchumanities.org (note the slightly different domain) Create a new profile for you and your organization if this is your first time applying for a HumanitiesDC grant. Click on Apply when you are at your Applicant Dashboard. Be sure to select the correct grant opportunity from the list (several are similarly named).

Q&A