Transcript Who are we? • Private, nonprofit organization • Funds and conducts humanitiesbased cultural and educational programs for all 8 wards. • An affiliate of.

Who are we?
• Private, nonprofit organization
• Funds and conducts humanitiesbased 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 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.”
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.
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.
Who’s a Washingtonian Grant
1. 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
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
culture and trade them with one another upon completion.
history and
•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
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)
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
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?
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
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.
Please note that the Project Bookkeeper can not hold any other
role in the project, i.e. Project Director or Sponsoring Org. Official
Application Budget
Project Budget Sheet
Catergory
HCWDC Funds
Sponsoring Cost
Share
Requested*
Cash+
Total Project Budget
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
wages. The budget sheet should reflect;
and
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
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/P
arties
Creative/Performing Arts
projects
Membership--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.org
Click Grants
Click Apply for a Grant
Online Grant Application
Online Grant Application
Online Grant Application
Online Grant Application
Online Grant Application
Committee Evaluation Form
Committee Evaluation Form
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.
“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!
Humanities Council
of Washington, DC
925 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.387.8391
[email protected]
[email protected]