A calendar of grants, resources, and funding opportunities listed by application or inquiry due date and tagged in various categories. For more information about grant, foundation, and other resources contact Laura Hennighausen at lhennighausen@purposepossible.com.
HumanitiesDC Youth in the Humanities Grant
Youth in the Humanities grants provide general operating support to humanities-focused organizations that work primarily with young people ages 11 to 19.
Eligibility: DC-based humanities-focused, youth-serving nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Grant Period Begins: July 1, 2024
Grant Period Ends: April 30, 2025
Humanities DC Capacity Building Grant
The Capacity Building Grants fund capacity building projects that help humanities-focused nonprofit organizations advance their mission and serve DC’s communities.
Applicants will propose distinct capacity building projects, such as identifying a communications strategy, improving volunteer recruitment, ensuring thoughtful leadership succession, updating a nonprofit’s technology, or improving how it measures its outcomes, that will build the capacity of their organization to effectively deliver its mission.
Eligibility: non-profit organizations with a humanities-focused mission and annual budgets of less than $2 million
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Grant Period Begins: July 1, 2024
Grant Period Ends: April 30, 2025
TD Charitable Foundation: Regional Grants
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a bimonthly basis; upcoming deadlines are December 22, 2023, and February 16, 2024.
Geographic scope: Communities TD Bank serves
Grant amount: The minimum amount is $5,000.
The TD Charitable Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in the communities TD Bank serves, which include specific counties of CT, DE, DC, FL, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VT, and VA. (A list of eligible counties is available in the online application.)
The Foundation primarily funds programs aligned to one or more of the following areas: better health, with a focus on research, technology, and innovative solutions that improve access to care for all; connected communities, with a focus on increasing access to the opportunities people need to participate and feel a sense of belonging in their community, including arts and culture; financial security, including early learning, income stability, financial literacy, and affordable housing; and vibrant planet, including clean economic growth that supports the transition to a low-carbon economy and activating green spaces.
Special consideration will be given to organizations delivering programs that support diverse and historically underserved communities and to programs that support low- to moderate-income individuals with services that improve the quality of life.
Many Hands
Geographic scope: Washington, DC, area
Grant amount: One $100,000 Impact Grant and three Partner Grants, the value of which depends on annual fundraising, are provided.
Many Hands leverages the power of collective giving to support nonprofit organizations serving and empowering Washington, DC, area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need. Funds must be used to serve residents of one or more of the following areas: the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, MD; Arlington and Fairfax counties, VA; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church, VA.
Four grants are made each year, including one in each of four focus areas: economic empowerment, education, health, and housing. Many Hands provides unrestricted funding which may be used for operating, program, or capital expenses.
HumanitiesDC Visions - Projects + Events
The Vision grant funds the creation of innovative interpretations of the humanities for public audiences. (Includes the former Festivals & Gatherings and DC DOCS grant programs).
The 2024 DCOHC Visions Request for Proposal is now available, and the application is open.
Eligibility: DC-based nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: February 20, 2024
Project May Begin: May 1, 2024
Project Must be Completed by: April 30, 2025
Early Literacy Intervention Initiative Grant
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)invites nonprofit, community-based organization that provides early literacy services for students in the District of Columbia or districts with similar demographics as the District of Columbia to apply for the Early Literacy Intervention Initiative Grant. The purpose of this grant is to implement evidence-based early literacy interventions to increase proficiency of District students in the early grades. The overall goal of the Early Literacy Intervention Grant is to provide resources that will enable the grantee to partner with local education agencies (“LEAs”) in which they would provide direct, developmentally appropriate, evidence-based reading programs to students in grades Pre-K through 3. The application deadline is January 18, 2024
Safe Commercial Corridors Grant Program
Commercial corridors serve as public gathering places to meet and interact with neighbors; these locations provide local services, generate jobs for residents, and create a sense of neighborhood identity. Additionally, these neighborhood commercial areas provide a significant source of revenue as they are destinations for retail and commerce. Increased teleworking has kept large numbers of office workers, residents, and visitors away from major commercial corridors; concerns about safety have also impacted the cohesiveness of commercial corridors in the District. As a result, a reduction in foot traffic in these areas has disrupted retail, hospitality, and arts and entertainment venues as well as safe community interactions.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ) announces the availability of FY 2024 grant funds for the Safe Commercial Corridors Grant Program. This program is designed to promote public safety and public health through evidence-based activities for residents, workers, and visitors within the Downtown, Shaw, or Adams Morgan commercial corridors.
Request for Partners: NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, Resilience Hub Network Coordination
The Department of Energy and Environment (the Department) seeks eligible entities through a Request for Partners (RFP) to be included in the Department’s response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC). NOAA encourages the inclusion of community organizations in their applications. The deadline for the NOAA grant is February 13, 2024. This RFP seeks applications for the following related activities:
1. Conducting outreach to potential resilience hub organizations.
2. Assisting at least three organizations to take on the role of resilience hub, one in each of Wards 6, 7, and 8.
3. Coordinating a network of resilience hub partners.
The Department anticipates applying for approximately $65,000,000 from NOAA, of which up to $550,000 will be available for the above listed activities.
Providing Older Workers Employment Senior Work Readiness Program Grant
DOES, through its Office of Workforce & Federal Programs, is requesting applications from qualified organizations wo can effectively and efficiently development and implement an innovative training program to serve worker 50+ years of age as they transition into the workforce, specifically in one or more of the District’s six high demand industries, construction, infrastructure (transportation, energy utilities and energy efficient technologies), hospitality, law enforcement, healthcare and information technology (IT). The program should offer a broad range of career and supportive services and credential-based workforce readiness training.
HumanitiesDC Oral History Collaborative + Extensions
DC Oral History Collaborative Grants support oral history projects that explore Washington, DC’s life, history, and culture through interviews with the people who have lived it. There will be an opportunity to request additional funds for translation of interview transcripts, as well as extensions of successfully completed oral history projects previously funded by HumanitiesDC.
The 2024 DCOHC Request for Proposal is now available, and the application is open.
Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $8,000
Application Deadline: February 20, 2024
Project May Begin: May 1, 2024
Project Must be Completed by: December 31, 2024
Herb Block Foundation Pathways Out of Poverty Grant
The Herb Block Foundation seeks proposals for its Pathways Out of Poverty program which focus on improving student achievement and healthy development of young people. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations working to help young people in the greater Washington, DC region gain a quality education. Letters of intent are due no later than Thursday, February 1, 2024.
HumanitiesDC Community Culture and Heritage Grant
Community Culture and Heritage Grants fund projects that capture the culture and narratives of DC’s communities for public audiences. These projects are showcased together in an annual culminating public event.
The 2024 Community Culture and Heritage Request for Proposal is now available, and the application is open.
Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Application Deadline: February 20, 2024
Project May Begin: May 1, 2024
Project Must be Completed by: April 30, 2025
HumanitiesDC Oral History Collaborative Beyond the Archives
Beyond the Archive Grants fund projects that bring existing oral history interviews about Washington, DC’s life, history, and culture out of libraries, archives, and personal collections, and into the public view.
The 2024 DCOHC Beyond the Archive Request for Proposal is now available, and the application is open.
Eligibility: DC-based Individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $12,000
Application Deadline: February 20, 2024
Project May Begin: May 1, 2024
Project Must be Completed by: April 30, 2025
Meyer Foundation Fund for Black-led Change
This Fund acknowledges the historic philanthropic divestment from Black communities and people, and makes explicit our commitment to resourcing local, Black-led organizations and their leadership as they grow their organizations; build enduring and sustainable infrastructure; grow deeper, wider bases of support and power; and advocate for better and just systems that will benefit all people.
In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:
Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
Organizing & Base Building
Advocacy
Coalition Building
Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in Greater Washington.
Meyer Foundation Fund for Black-led Change
This Fund acknowledges the historic philanthropic divestment from Black communities and people, and makes explicit our commitment to resourcing local, Black-led organizations and their leadership as they grow their organizations; build enduring and sustainable infrastructure; grow deeper, wider bases of support and power; and advocate for better and just systems that will benefit all people.
In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:
Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
Organizing & Base Building
Advocacy
Coalition Building
Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in Greater Washington.
Meyer Foundation Fund for Black-led Change
This Fund acknowledges the historic philanthropic divestment from Black communities and people, and makes explicit our commitment to resourcing local, Black-led organizations and their leadership as they grow their organizations; build enduring and sustainable infrastructure; grow deeper, wider bases of support and power; and advocate for better and just systems that will benefit all people.
In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:
Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
Organizing & Base Building
Advocacy
Coalition Building
Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in Greater Washington.
Youth in the Humanities
(Formerly Soul of the CIty) Youth in the Humanities grants provide general operating support to humanities-focused organizations that work primarily with young people ages 11 to 19.
Eligibility: DC-based humanities-focused, youth-serving nonprofit organizations
Award Amount: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: March 14, 2023
Project May Begin: May 1, 2023
Project Must be Completed by: March 1, 2024
Public Welfare Foundation (Rolling)
The Public Welfare Foundation supports efforts to advance justice and opportunity for people in need. The Foundation's grants support nonprofits in the United States that are advancing a new, transformative system of justice with the core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all. Current focus areas include 1) developing innovative, transformative approaches to youth and adult criminal justice reform in the states of Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, and Louisiana, the cities of Jackson, MS, and Milwaukee, WI, and the district of Washington, DC; 2) community-based solutions that reduce the over-reliance on mass incarceration; and 3) reframing the narrative and fostering greater transparency and urgency around the U.S. criminal justice system through storytelling, journalism, and other targeted efforts. For Fiscal Year 2023, the Foundation is also exploring investments focused on dismantling the incarceration of women and women-aligned people, reducing harm and violence using community-centered interventions, and supporting the development of formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted leaders in the field. Letters of inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis from nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Guidelines for submitting the online letter of inquiry are available on the Foundation's website.
LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis.