| Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find information on federal government grants?
Competitive or discretionary grants are offered by dozens of federal government departments and agencies to states, local governments, institutions of higher learning, nonprofit organizations and other entities.
Grants.gov is the federal government's clearinghouse of grant opportunities. It is the single access point for all available federal grant programs, totaling more than 1,000.
For more information on federal grants for which DC-area organizations are eligible, review the weekly Funding Alert or search the Grants Information Data System (GIDS) online database. Both are produced by the Office of Partnerships and Grants Services (OPGS).
How can I find information on Homeland Security grants?
The District's Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ), acting as the State Administrative Agent for DC homeland security grants, formed a group to administer all homeland security grants awarded to the District. This group is known as the Office of Homeland Security and is located within DMPSJ.
How can I find information on DC government sub-grant opportunities?
OPGS is the clearinghouse for all District government grant notices. To view current grant notices and access application packets, visit the District Grants Clearinghouse.
Information on sub-grant opportunities may also be found by reviewing the Funding Alert publication or searching the GIDS. Both are produced by OPGS.
How do I incorporate my nonprofit organization in the District of Columbia?
Follow these instructions or contact the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Corporations Division at (202) 442-4432.
Where can I find the Common Grant Application Format (or Washington Grantmakers’ application) that some local funders require?
Go to the Washington Grantmakers’ site site to access the grant application form, as well as well as the Common Report and Common Letter of Intent formats.
How can I find grants for my small business?
Grants for business activities are extremely limited. Most foundations only support nonprofit organizations, specifically those that have qualified for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. OPGS is not aware of any sustained source of grant funds for small businesses in the District of Columbia.
All inquiries about small business development should be directed to the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development and its partner institutions, such as the Small Business Development Center Network.
Is it true there are "cash grants" for individuals?
A number of individuals are selling false information claiming there are large sums of government money available for home repairs, small business startups, and credit card debt. The truth is that cash grants for individuals are extremely limited.
However, there are real grants for individuals in the areas of research, education, general welfare, arts, and culture. For instance, scholarships for college could be considered grants. For scholarship information for DC students, contact the College Access Tuition Assistance Program at (202) 727-2824 or DC’s State Education Office at (202) 727-6436.
For more information about options for individuals seeking grants, see the Foundation Center's Frequently Asked Questions.
What should I consider when hiring a grant writer?
The DC Office of Partnerships and Grants Services (OPGS) has compiled some suggestions and resources to assist you in considering the benefits of hiring a professional writer, identifying prospective consultants, and, finally, working effectively with the grant writer.
What do you mean by partnerships? How can I become a partner?
A partnership is formed when it is clear that two or more groups can address an issue more effectively than one group alone. Partnerships can take many forms, depending on the needs of the organizations involved and the scope of the undertaking. They can range from informal, with verbal understandings, to formal contractual agreements.
Partnerships usually involve a few organizations coming together in pursuit of a common goal through a well-defined project of mutual interest. Though they may be unique, all partnerships share these characteristics:
- Active participation of representatives from various entities in pursuit of shared goals
- Contributions of time, expertise, and resources from each partner
- Sharing responsibilities for decision-making and management
OPGS facilitates these types of partnerships between the DC government and federal agencies, foundations, businesses, and residents. Becoming a partner requires identifying potential partners that share your vision, goals, and willingness to put forward resources.
For more information on partnerships, please visit Creating Partnerships. To partner with the DC government, please provide your contact information and specify “Creating Partnerships” as the Subject.
How can I subscribe to the Funding Alert?
The Funding Alert is a weekly publication that highlights grants and funds for which resident groups and nonprofit organizations can apply. The funds come from the federal government, District government and various foundations, and are available to support community programs and social services throughout the city.
If your organization provides services to the residents of the District, you are eligible for a free subscription to the weekly newsletter. To start your own online subscription to OPGS' Funding Alert, simply sign in at DCDOCS.
What other services are provided to nonprofit and faith-based organizations?
The Office of Partnerships and Grants Services is a point of contact in the DC government to address nonprofit and faith-based concerns. The following are a list of services provided to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, community groups, and residents:
- Capacity-building workshops for targeted audiences
- Presentations at coalition meetings about OPGS services
- Assistance with grant applications
- One-on-one consultations to discuss partnerships, fund-raising, and additional government programs and services
- Grants Information Resource Center
- Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI)
What is the annual Public-Private Partnership conference?
Since 1999, OPGS has sponsored an annual conference to promote multisector collaboration within the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area through meaningful and sustainable partnerships in which ideas, resources and talents are pooled to address public policy issues. The all-day event provides opportunities for District government agencies, neighboring county governments, federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, businesses and individuals to learn about tools for building and sustaining public-private partnerships that will support priority neighborhood issues in the Washington region.
The conference is announced through the Funding Alert newsletter.
How can I find out if the federal grant program I'm applying for requires an Intergovernmental Review?
OPGS is the Mayor's designee as the District’s State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." To learn more about this process and how to comply, go to OPGS' SPOC page.
What do I need to do to comply with the State Single Point of Contact's Intergovernmental Review?
OPGS is the Mayor's designee as the District’s State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." To learn more about this process and how to comply, go to OPGS' SPOC page.
Can I make a donation to the District government ? Yes, the Government of the District of Columbia does accept financial and in-kind donations. Please contact the Office of Partnerships and Grants Services at (202) 727-8900 for more information on how to make a financial or in-kind donation to the Government of the District of Columbia. You may also go to the Donation Reports page to view donation reports from current and prior fiscal years.
How can I find out about other DC government services?
The DC government’s main webpage is a great source of information about city services. In addition, specific requests may be made online via the Citizen Service Request Form or by calling the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at (202) 727-1000.
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