Who are we?

2. 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

3. 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.”

4. 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.

5. Who’s a Washingtonian Grant • The Humanities Council requests proposals for grant projects that actively seek to spark dialogue between groups of residents that have historically been isolated from one another either geographically or culturally. Using the humanities disciplines as lenses, these projects will help Washingtonians better understand the ties that bind them such as music, literature, history, religion, and language. • Each "Who's a Washingtonian?" grant proposal must feature the following three components... • 1. A clearly defined theme, explored through the humanities disciplines, that the two groups will explore collaboratively. • 2. A clearly articulated effort to link two geographic or cultural groups in the city that rarely come in contact with one another. • 3. A "civic reflection" component.

6. Who’s a Washingtonian Grant • A clearly defined theme, explored through the humanities disciplines, that the two groups will explore collaboratively. • Examples include: • The historic differences between Civic and Citizens Associations • Neighbors in the shadow of local stadiums • Dialogue between former and current students of a school

7. Who’s a Washingtonian Grant • 2. A clearly articulated effort to link two geographic or cultural groups in the city that rarely come in contact with one another. • Potential projects may include: • •Two geographically distant neighborhoods may simultaneously create traveling exhibits on their history and culture and trade them with one another upon completion. • •Long time residents and recently arrived residents may produce an oral history project through which they seek to examine one another’s goals, motivations, and cultures. • •Several religious organizations may host an interfaith conference during which they may discuss their perspectives on the challenges currently facing the DC community • •Book clubs from different neighborhoods may create a project wherein they celebrate their mutual appreciation of a particular work or genre

8. Who’s a Washingtonian Grant • 3. A "civic reflection" component. • Civic reflection discussions have three elements – a group of people, the civic activity they are involved in, and an object (usually a short reading, image or video). We begin by talking about the object in front of us, the thing we share and have in common, and gradually open up into larger questions of civic engagement, social justice, and the work we do in the world. • What makes civic reflection discussions different than other discussions you may have been involved in is that they are... • Reflective. We ask open-ended, exploratory questions that focus less on "When is this going to get done?" and more on "Why are we doing what we're doing?" and "What does it mean?" We value reflection for its own sake. • Deep. Civic reflection goes deeper to explore our values, choices, beliefs, assumptions and commitments. We focus on the challenges we face on a daily basis but that we rarely have the time to discuss deeply or complexly with one another. • Object-driven. The object, whether it is a reading or an image, a video or a song - serves as an anchor, as the thing that creates a shared experience. The object is thought-provoking, complex, and raises deeper questions about people's lives. • Questioning. We explore questions, together, in order to deepen understanding, build relationships, spur creativity and imagination, and get everyone involved. Reflective discussions can be a great thing to do before we make decisions or as we make them. But it's more about exploring tough questions together than coming to a simple answer. • Inclusive. We believe people are thoughtful by nature and want to be heard. But we rarely ask people to be thoughtful in public spaces. Civic reflection discussions are about listening to and learning from all voices, not just the experts. • - From the Center for Civic Reflection (civicreflection.org)

9. Who’s a Washingtonian Grant Cycle Final Application Due September 2nd Application Review Session October 5th Awards Ceremony October 24th Grant Period November 1, 2013 – October 31, 2014 • Final Report and Product Due • December 31, 2014 INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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. Please note that the Project Bookkeeper can not hold any other role in the project, i.e. Project Director or Sponsoring Org. Official

14. Application Budget

15. 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 http://www.bls.gov/ro3/ncswb.htm. • Humanities Council funded projects require a 1 to 1 match up to $5,000

16. 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/Parties • Creative/Performing Arts projects • Membership--i.e. members only—outreach

17. 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?

18. 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?

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

20. Online Grant Application

21. Online Grant Application

22. Online Grant Application

23. Online Grant Application

24. Online Grant Application

25. Committee Evaluation Form

26. Committee Evaluation Form

27. 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.

28. “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!

29. Humanities Council of Washington, DC • 925 U Street NW • Washington, DC 20001 • 202.387.8391 • grants@wdchumanities.org • msmith@wdchumanities.org