Events DC Community Grant Program
Grant applications timeline:
Applications for cycle 2 of the Fiscal Year 2025 will open soon.
Events DC FY2025 Community Grant Guidelines (PDF)
Events DC FY 2025 Community Grant Checklist (PDF)
Community Grant Application (For reference- Not for submission)
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered:
- Be a DC-based non-profit organization certified as tax exempt in accordance with criteria set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code and granted an exemption from District of Columbia income and franchise taxes, pursuant to DC Code § 47-1802.01;
- Utilize grant funding for programs or projects that support youth-focused sports, performing or cultural arts in the District of Columbia;
- Present a copy of an annual financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant for the organization’s most recent fiscal year; or if the organization has not conducted an annual financial audit, a copy of the organization’s IRS Form 990 for the most recent tax year; and
- A copy of an active business license issued by the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) formerly DCRA – Corporations Division (indicating an “active” business license at the time of application and agreeing to maintain such status throughout the grant period) Please see grant guidelines for an explanation on active business licenses.
FY25 Cycle 2 Virtual Informational Sessions:
Virtual Informational Sessions for the FY25 Cycle 2 will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January beginning January 7, 2025. Registration is required.
- Tuesday, January 7, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 7, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 9, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 9, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 14, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 14, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 16, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 16, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 21, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 21, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 23, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 23, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 28, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 30, 12:00 pm: Register here
- Thursday, January 30, 6:00 pm: Register here
FY23 - Cycle 2 Grantees
An Open Book Foundation
An Open Book Foundation exists to provide literacy service to students and has offered more than 12,000 books to nearly 10,000 students from Title I schools. Adding to its plethora of work, the organization seeks to ensure representation by authors and illustrators that are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) by inviting them to participate in interactive workshops and book shares with the students.
Learn more about An Open Book Foundation
Beacon House
Beacon House offers intensive support to Edgewood residents by providing services to improve academic and personal development. The organization serves more than 400 children and youth between the ages of 5-18 years old through its after-school and summer education programs.
Capitol Movement Inc. (CMI)
CMI is committed to offering dance classes which uplift Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). The three primary objectives of the program are to ensure excellence, develop next generation dancers and serve the residents of DC.
Children's Legacy Theatre
The Children's Legacy Theatre theatrical productions incorporate classical and historical plays to encourage teenagers to dream about who they wish to become in life by focusing on positive attributes. During its time of operations, CLT has strived to remain inclusive of youth from all walks of life while providing a safe environment where youth can learn and grow together.
Latin American Youth Center
Latin American Youth Center helps youth to achieve a successful transition into adulthood by providing them with ESL courses, employment opportunities and cultural training. Since its launch, the organization has opened a teen drop-in center, multicultural facility and a case management program.
Live It Learn It
Live It Learn It offers support to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders from Title I schools by encouraging them to learn and grow in various areas of their lives.
Multi-Media Training Institute
Multi-Media Training Institute engages youth and young adults, ages 14-21 years old by offering them a unique opportunity to work on media art productions such as videography, radio broadcasting, technical theater support, journalism and digital marketing.
The MusicianShip
The MusicianShip exists to change lives through music. To achieve this goal, the organization serves more than 1,200 students annually through its Youth Development Program.
Peace Thru Culture, Inc.
Peace Thru Culture, Inc. has provided support to more than 2,000 youth ages 6-18 with programs centered around cultural arts, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), civic engagement and global exposure. The mission of the organization is to build respect, tolerance and understanding among diverse individuals through their programs.
Porchfest DC
Porchfest DC incorperates innovative ways to help community members explore local arts and culture. The program creates a space in which local artists can display their craft, businesses can gain exposure, cultural spaces can be uplifted and DC history can be taught to program attendees.
Sasha Bruce Youthwork
Sasha Bruce Youthwork offers services to over 15,000 homeless youth and their families and has discovered creative ways to bring hope and healing to everyone served. Through its music program, youth are provided with an opportunity to use music to address trauma and process their emotions.
Learn more about Sasha Bruce Youthwork
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts seeks to bring high-quality dramatic arts to youth and adults in the Washington metropolitan area. The program provides theatre education to all experience levels and has served more than 2,000 students through its programs.
Learn more about The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
The Washington Chorus
The Washington Chorus is a three-time nominated and two-time Grammy Award winner. Adding to its work, the organization has performed at the National Symphony Orchestra and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. It currently engages in regular partnership with DC Public Schools through DMV Sings, Side-by-Side high school program and DC Honor Chorus.
YAAY Me Inc.
YAAY Me Inc. provides mentorship, social development, educational support and job readiness to young adults and their families. Adding to its supportive services the organization offers opportunities for young adults to engage in leadership development through involvement in curriculum planning and program support.
Capital City Public Charter School
Capital City Public Charter School High School Soccer Program seeks to develop athletic skills, improve confidence and academic performances.
CapoeiraDC
CapoeiraDC promotes Afro-Brazilian martial arts and empower youth and adults to grow together.
Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation (CHCTDC)
CHCTDC was founded for the purpose of improving the quality of life for DC residents in economically depressed areas by providing opportunities that would aid in the reduction of unemployment. The organization has aided in building up the Ward 8 community through multiple activities and projects in partnership with the DC Department of Small & Local Business Development.
Learn more about Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation
DC SCORES
DC Scores seeks to create a safe space for students to learn soccer while engaging in the art of poetry. For more than 30 years, the organization has served over 3,000 elementary and middle school students throughout DC. Each year, students participate in soccer matches along with poetry writing and performances.
Fight For Children
Fight For Children seeks to improve the lives of underserved youth in DC by providing them with access to high quality sports programs. In 2018, the organization turned its attention towards strengthening its Sports-Based Youth Development (SBYD) a division which aims to help youth participants create positive relationships with their peers, ignite social and emotional skills and improve performances in sports.
Grassroots Health
Grassroots Health uses sports as a pipeline to promote healthy lifestyle practices among middle school students through the development of health and wellness.
Horizons Greater Washington
Horizons Greater Washington advances educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning.
Metroball Youth Outreach
Metroball Youth Outreach regularly hosts sports camps, youth travel teams and mentoring programs. During its time of operation, the organization has supported more than 600 students between the ages of 7-18 years old.
NOMIS Youth Network
NOMIS Youth Network believes that children must be given access to opportunities that promote success, foster teamwork, support healthy self-esteem and self-discipline. Since its program started, the organization has supported at-risk youth between the ages of 5-24 years old from Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Open Goal Project
Open Goal Project provides support to low-income families through free soccer training programs along with health and education courses. The mission of the organization is to use soccer as a vehicle for growth for program participants by equipping them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in their lives.
Teens Run DC (TRDC)
TRDC has two fundamental beliefs which continue to shape the vision and direction of the organization: (1) positive change and growth occur within the context of long-term, caring relationships and a welcoming community; and (2) bolstering the physical, social, and emotional well-being of at-risk youth leads to lasting achievement in academics and beyond.
Over the last eleven years, TRDC has grown from a pilot project at one high school serving 19 students to a nationally recognized organization with innovative and research-driven programming, serving around 500 middle and high school students throughout the District of Columbia.
FY23 - Cycle 1 Grantees
Angels of Hope Ministries, Inc.
The Angels of Hope Ministries, Inc. incorporates a holistic approach to address the needs of the mind, body and soul. Created to strengthen academic reinforcement, life-skills and character-building programs, the organization has been serving youth and young adults between the ages of 15-30 in selected neighborhoods throughout Wards 7 and 8.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington
Help boys and girls of all backgrounds, especially those who need us most, build confidence, develop character, and acquire the skills needed to become productive, civic-minded, responsible adults.
Building Bridges Across the River
Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) provides residents East of the Anacostia River access to the best-in-class facilities, programs, and partnerships in arts and culture, economic opportunity, education, recreation, health, and well-being.
Dance Institute of Washington, Inc.
The Dance Institute of Washington, Inc. (DIW) was founded in 1987 in Columbia Heights.The organization has grown to become one of the District’s largest African American arts organizations and a cultural resource.
DC Way Academy
DC Way Academy is a Capitol Hill-based travel soccer club, founded in 2013. The organization is dedicated to impacting the development of youth in the community by providing soccer and life-enriching opportunities. The core values of the organization are family oriented, community, affordability, injury prevention, sportsmanship, growing individuals outside of the team and fostering balanced life off the field.
DC Youth Orchestra Program
DCYOP offers group lessons and ensemble training on all orchestral instruments for students ages 4 ½ to 18. More than 600 students participate in group classes, ensemble rehearsals, and performances each semester through DCYOP’s main-site programming at Takoma Education Campus as well as DCYOP’s school partnerships. All concerts are free and open to the public.
East of the River Boys & Girls Steelband, Inc.
East Of The River Boys & Girls Steel band is a music training, performing and touring program for youth 12 to 18 living east of DC's Anacostia River.
The Fishing School
Founded in 1990, The Fishing School (TFS) helps to prepare elementary and middle school students for high school success by improving their academic performance and life skills.
Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute
The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute (HTCMLI) was founded in 1995. The organization uses children martial arts, traditional Chinese lion dance and Dragon dance to help students stay in school, incorporate healthy practices and stay away from the criminal justice system. HTCMLI has taught more than 2,200 students between the ages of 5-18 and have seen child students transition
into adulthood.
Junior Tennis Champion Center (JTCC)
Founded in 1999, the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) provides high performance premier tennis instruction to motivated junior players in pursuit of college scholarships. In 2009, the organization started “Tennis for Everybody” a program which provides sports opportunities to participants regardless of age, skills and financial status.
Life Pieces to Masterpieces, Inc.
Life Pieces to Masterpieces (LPTM) was co-founded in 1996 by local artists Larry Quick and Mary Brown. The program first launched in the Ward 7 Lincoln Heights community and later established its afterschool home at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Ward 7. LPTM remains committed to its goal of preparing Black boys and young men to transform their lives and communities.
Mikva Challenge DC
Mikva Challenge DC develops youth to be empowered, informed and active community members. After its foundational start in 1998 at four Chicago schools, the program extended its mission to DC community members. Through partnership with teachers, the organization integrates action civics into classrooms and provides students with opportunities to engage in real-life democratic experiences outside of the classroom through initiatives such as Issues to Action, Project Soapbox, Elections in Action, Student Voice Council and Summer Fellowship Programs.
MOVEIUS Contemporary Ballet
The mission of MOVEIUS Contemporary Ballet, DBA Dance Loft on 14, is to catalyze new dance works and expand access to dance and the performing arts in Washington, DC. Founded in 2013, MOVEIUS began as a performance ensemble with successful presentations at the Kennedy Center, Atlas Performing Arts Center and Dance Place.
National Capital Fencers Club
The National Capital Fencers Club (NCFC) was founded in 2011 by coach G. Franklin King and has been competing in up to 10 local and national fencing tournament per year. NCFC uses the sport of fencing to enrich the lives of young people from underserved communities in the DC metropolitan area.
One World Education
The mission of One World Education is to transform students into writers with voice, knowledge and purpose. The organization impacts 5,000 middle school, high school and adult learners in 25 schools across DC. One World was started as the SEED Public Charter School in 2007 and has been an
impactful writing program.
Oye Palaver Hut
Founded in 2003, Oye Palaver Hut (OPH) has used stimulating performing arts activities to lead children and parents to realize their own value, talent and potential. The organization incorporates music, dance, history, literacy and health to address the whole child and family.
The PEN/Faulkner Foundation
The PEN/Faulkner was established in 1980 when National book award winner, Mary Lee Settle created the PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction. The organization celebrates literature and fosters connections between readers and writers.
Learn more about The PEN/Faulkner
Project Create
Founded in 1994, the mission of Project Create is to provide opportunities for creative youth development through accessible, multidisciplinary arts education. Serving community members in Ward 8, the organization strives to create a “home away from home” in which youth participants can attend afterschool programs, enjoy a prepared meal and engage in communication with caring adults-all while promoting creativity.
Shout Mouse Press
Shout Mouse Press is dedicated to centering and amplifying the voices of marginalized youth, ages 12 and older, through writing workshops, publications and public speaking. Founded in 2014, the organization has built a catalog of 51 diverse and inclusive books by 500 young authors between the ages of 12-24.
Sitar Arts Center
The Sitar Arts Center engages students in affordable, high-quality arts education and workforce development. The organization serves youthbetween the ages of 7-18 from low-income households throughout Wards 1-8.
Studio Acting Conservatory
Studio Acting Conservatory became an independent nonprofit organization in 2018 after its departure from Studio Theatre. Located in the Columbia Heights area, the organization believes that quality actor training should be accessible to all. Each year, the program supports between 250-300 students with expected increases each year.
Teatro de la Luna
Teatro de la Luna was founded in 1991 and has been providing DC residents with high quality theatre in both English and Spanish. The mission of the program is to promote Hispanic culture and foster cross-cultural discussions among participants.
Tech Turn Up
Tech Turn Up was created in response to the lack of mentors of color in the creative technology field. The organization has offered support to more than 40 under-resourced youth from ages 12-17 and have hosted workshops at Howard University, American University and George Mason University. The primary focus of the organization is to assist students with creative technology skills and promote a comprehensive STEM curriculum.
The Washington Ballet
Founded in 1944, the Washington Ballet is committed to its three-part mission to bring the joy of dance to the nation’s capital and the world stage through professional presentation of classic and contemporary ballet. The core objective of the organization is to foster an environment of equality and inclusion.
Washington Performing Arts
The first independent U.S. presenter to become a non-profit organization, Washington Performing Arts (WPA) is guided by its founder’s motto “Everybody in, nobody out.” Over the past 57 years, WPA has led as one of the first local organizations to present world-renowned and diverse artists to meaningful partnerships with DC area community institutions, performance venues and artists.
Words Beats & Life, Inc.
Words Beats & Life (WBL) is on a mission to transform lives and communities through Hip Hop culture in the forms of emceeing, deejaying, graffiti, street art, spoken word poetry, dance, beat production and knowledge of self. Over the last 20 years, WBL has developed a framework around four key principles-arts education, creative employment, cultural diplomacy and centering marginalized voices.
Young Playwrights' Theatre
The Young Playwrights Theater (YPT) inspires young people to realize the power of their own voices. The organizations believe that creative expression and theater are valuable tools for education, enrichment and self-actualization among young participants.