Who are we?

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 MissionThe 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, 2014. 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, 2014.

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 AwardsThe 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 7th

Lead In Award Application DueFebruary 7th

Major, Small & Commemoration Final Applications Due March 7th

Grant Period May 1, 2014 – April 31, 2015

Final Report and Product DueMay 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

Category HCWDC 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: ______________________________________________________________

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/WagesProject Director – 20 estimated hours x $50 per hour = $1,000Videographer – 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.

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

http://www.bls.gov/ro3/ncswb.htm

What do we fund?HCWDC grants fund:Project suppliesSpace rental for project eventHonorariaProject TransportationA/V Rental for projectProject Publicity and Promotion

HCWDC grants do not fund:General office suppliesRent, Overhead, RestorationRefreshments/Hospitality/PartiesCreative/Performing Arts projectsMembership--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 www.wdchumanities.orgClick GrantsClick Apply for a Grant

http://www.wdchumanities.org/

Online Grant Application





Board Evaluation Form

Board Evaluation Form

Do’s and Don’tsDo 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 moneyLegally binding documentOrganization 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 projectTOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COUNCIL, NO EQUIVOCATION!

Humanities Council of Washington, DC

925 U Street NWWashington, DC 20001

202.387.8391 [email protected]@wdchumanities.org

Documents

Who are we?