Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A welcomes applications from residents and eligible community-based organizations for grants to partially fund events and initiatives that significantly benefit residents of the neighborhood commission area. Under DC law, an ANC may award grants to organizations for public purposes. A grant award is funding provided from an ANC’s annual allotments, funded by taxpayer dollars, for specific programmatic purposes as part of an event or initiative that provides a significant public benefit to persons who reside or work within the ANC 1A area. ANC 1A reserves the right to fund or not fund any grant application at its sole discretion without explanation.
General Guidelines
- A grant request must provide goods and/or services that are public in nature and benefit persons who reside within the ANC 1A commission area.
- A grant may not replicate services already provided by the District government.
- Grant funds must be used for the purpose stated in the grant application/proposal.
- Grant funds cannot be issued:
- to individuals;
- to “for-profit” organizations;
- for political activities;
- for food, entertainment activities, or festivals.
- Grants can only be awarded to nonprofit organizations (incorporated or unincorporated).
- Review this important OANC General Guidance, which provides specifics on permissible types of grants and expenses that a grant may cover (OANC NO. 2023-006)
Application Process
- Grant requests must be made on a grant application form provided by the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC). Forms are available here. Grant applications will not be considered unless submitted using the approved application form.
- All applications must be electronically submitted to the Commission (1A@anc.dc.gov) and to the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (oancs@dc.gov). Contact the ANC here for further instructions on submitting your application.
- The OANC will review the request to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and rules. The OANC generally completes a review within 14 business days and issues an advice memo. You can see prior grant memoranda by OANC here (click “Advanced Search’ and change filter for ‘Document Type’ to “OANC Grant Reviews”).
- Grant applications must be submitted at least 30 business days (which includes the 14-business-day OANC review) prior to the next monthly Commission meeting. Requests will be considered by the Commission at a public meeting after the OANC advice memo has been issued. Visit the ANC 1A calendar for meeting dates and location information.
Accountability
Grant recipients must provide a final closeout report to the Commission on the status and use of grant funds no more than sixty (60) days following disbursement. The report should include the following information found on the ANC grant closeout form.
- Description of the use of grant funds
- Description of benefits derived from grants
- Copies of receipts, invoices, etc., to show/verify use of funds.