The Humanities DC is excited to announce the DC Oral History Collaborative Beyond the Archives Grant.
Donor Name: HumanitiesDC
State: District of Columbia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/01/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Potential projects may focus on neighborhoods, social organizations, political history, labor, faith-based groups, cultural trends, historic events, or other themes that draw on one or more collections of oral histories. All projects must be thematically focused on Washington, DC and must benefit District residents. Potential projects may include exhibitions, performances, listening stations, written research, film/video, curricula for K-12 and higher education, websites, and computer applications based on and directly using existing oral history collections. Selected grantees will work with staff from the DC Oral History Collaborative throughout their projects.
Funding Information
Grants Up to $12,000.
Grant Period
July 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027.
Allowable Expenses
100% of awarded grant funds must be applied to direct program costs. This may include salary, consulting fees, honoraria/stipends, recording equipment/platforms, transcription services, space and equipment necessary to complete the project, and any other project or program-related expenses. Grantees will be allowed to update their budgets during the project period, and more guidance will be provided. Grantees are not permitted to use grant funds to collect new oral history interviews.
Eligibility Criteria
Individuals, community groups, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for this grant.
- Individuals applying for these grant opportunities must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a full-time resident of DC
- Provide proof of the above two requirements through a driver’s license, passport, or other documentation for proof of age and proof of residency (i.e., current utility bill or bank statement)
- Organizations applying for this grant must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is registered and authorized to do business in Washington, DC with a physical mailing address in the District. DC residents should comprise most of its constituents.
- The organization must be registered as either a “Domestic” entity (an entity that was incorporated in the District) or a “Foreign” entity (an entity that was incorporated in another state).
- The Organization must have its principal physical business office address located in the District of Columbia. Applicants shall not use Post Office boxes.
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is registered and authorized to do business in Washington, DC with a physical mailing address in the District. DC residents should comprise most of its constituents.
- Register and comply with the regulatory requirements of the following agencies:
- Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)
- District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR)
- District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES)
- United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- All applicants (organizations and individuals) applying for these grant opportunities must:
- Obtain a certification of “Citywide Clean Hands” from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue. Applicants are encouraged to review the requirements before applying to ensure they can get this certificate. If an applicant is chosen for funding, they must submit the certification alongside the Grant Agreement Form.
- The certification must be dated no more than 30 days before it is submitted, and must be submitted to HumanitiesDC within 2 weeks of their award notification.
- Not appear on the DC Government’s Excluded Parties List per the DC Office of Contracting and Procurement.
- Be in good standing with HumanitiesDC
- Note: a HumanitiesDC grantee that has failed to comply with HumanitiesDC policies (e.g., grant reporting) may not be in “good standing” and may be ineligible to receive additional funds.
- Not have been awarded a HumanitiesDC grant in Cycle I of 2026.
- Be able to provide proof of eligibility at any time during the grant period. Any awardees found ineligible after the award date must return all grant funds to HumanitiesDC.
- Submit the application through the grants portal.
For more information, visit HumanitiesDC.
