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.

Soul of the City GrantThe 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.

Soul of the City Grant Cycle

Soul of the City Grant Application DueMay 9th

Committee Review SessionLate May

Grant Period June 15th – October 15th

Final Report Product DueNovember 15th

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

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 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.

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.

Application NarrativeProgram DescriptionProvide 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.

Application NarrativeHumanities ThemePlease 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

Application NarrativeLocal, National and International

ComponentHow will your program help its students

understand Washington, DC's local, national and international dimensions?

Application NarrativeSkills DevelopmentList 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.

Application NarrativeFinal ProductThe 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.

Application Budget Sheet

Project Budget Sheet

Catergory 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 $10,000

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

Final ProductApplicants 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 suppliesRent, Overhead, RestorationRefreshments/Hospitality/PartiesCreative/Performing Arts projectsMembership--i.e. members only—outreach

What do I Submit?

Applications are available online through the Humanities Council of Washington, DC website.

Please enter our website at www.grantapplication.wdchumanities.org

Online Grant Application

Online Grant Application

Online Grant Application

Online Grant Application

Online Grant Application

Online Grant Application

Committee Evaluation Form

Committee Evaluation Form

Committee Evaluation Form

Committee Evaluation Form

Committee Evaluation Form

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?

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?.

Do’s and Don’tsDo 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.

“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 $$$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 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