General Operating Support Grant Program

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant Program offered by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) provides unrestricted general operating funding to arts, humanities, and arts education organizations operating within the District of Columbia. This program is designed to enhance the stability and long-term viability of eligible organizations, ensuring they can continue delivering accessible, community-rooted programming. For Fiscal Year 2027, CAH aims to encourage applications that demonstrate a strong commitment to DC’s cultural ecosystem, equity, and diverse engagement. CAH functions as the District’s official arts agency, receiving local government appropriations as well as partial support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The GOS program includes four application categories: Generalists, Service Organizations, Capacity Building, and Multi-Year. The Generalists and Service Organizations categories are for nonprofits whose core mission is either to present/provide arts and humanities programming or offer services to such organizations, respectively. Capacity Building is reserved for organizations that have never received a CAH competitive grant and are looking to strengthen infrastructure and programming access. The Multi-Year category offers continued support to organizations that have received funding through the GOS program in FY26 and for at least two other years between FY22 and FY25. These applicants are evaluated through internal compliance rather than external panel review and can receive funding levels comparable to their most recent award. Award amounts are based on an applicant’s prior year operating budget and other funding availability considerations. For organizations with operating budgets over $115,000, the maximum allowable award is capped at 50% of the annual operating budget, excluding other CAH funds. Allowable uses for grant funding include staff salaries, consultants, teaching artists, program-related travel, materials, and overhead. Unallowable expenses include food, scholarships, fundraising activities, and lobbying. Awarded funds must be used within DC's FY27 period: October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The application must be submitted electronically through the Submittable Grant Application Portal by May 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Applicants can only submit one GOS application per fiscal year cycle. Additional application restrictions apply if applicants are also applying to certain other project-based grants. For example, recipients in the Generalists and Service Organizations tracks may not also apply to the Projects, Events, or Festivals (PEF) Grant. The application process involves reading both the Guide to Grants and the full Request for Applications (RFA), registering with the Submittable portal, and uploading mandatory documents including financial statements, IRS Form 990, and work samples. Technical assistance is available via scheduled live chats and workshops throughout April 2026. The evaluation process includes review by advisory panelists based on artistic merit, organizational capacity, community access, and impact. Award notifications are expected on or after October 1, 2026. Final and interim reports are required post-award, depending on funding size, and failure to comply may render organizations ineligible for future funding. To be eligible, applicants must be incorporated as a nonprofit in DC, have federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, devote at least 51% of their programming and expenditures to arts and humanities activities, and conduct at least 51% of activities within the District. Applicants must have a principal business address in DC and be in good standing with relevant District agencies, including compliance with Citywide Clean Hands certification. All grant-funded work must support DC residents and be locally based. Contact information for inquiries includes Terrell Johnson (terrell.johnson@dc.gov), Kerry Kaleba (kerry.kaleba@dc.gov), and Kayla Williams (kayla.williams@dc.gov).

Ensure all required financial and compliance documents are uploaded and match portal records. Submit early to allow for CAH staff review and corrections if needed.