The Dupont Circle Citizens Association donates money to, and raises money for, projects and organizations that further its mission.

Statement of Purpose

The Dupont Circle Citizens Association (DCCA) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1922 to promote and protect the interests of the residents of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. DCCA donates money to and raises money for projects and organizations that further its mission. DCCA anticipates having $7,000-$15,000 available for grants each year, and expects that most applications will request less than $750, except for well-justified purposes. Examples of recent DCCA grants include those to neighborhood organizations that serve individuals who are homeless or have mental illness, such as Charlie’s Place and Green Door, grants to neighborhood organizations such as Dupont Circle Village and Dupont Festival for programs and events, and to the Ross Elementary School PTA for playground equipment.

Priority Categories

Priority categories for grants include the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Community Partnerships
• Education
• Historic Preservation
• Parks and Environment

Please contact the DCCA Board of Directors for additional information as needed.

Guidelines

Each fall DCCA’s Board of Directors will set goals and priorities for its grant giving.  Applications for grants to support an organization’s ongoing activities are due by December 1^st annually.  Each Committee Chairperson(s) will oversee grant applications relevant to his or her committee and provide funding recommendations to the Board.  The Board will act on these recommendations at its January meeting, with decisions provided by the 1^st week of February.  

Organizations may also submit grant applications for one-time events or needs throughout the year.  The Board will act on such applications on a rolling basis, with decisions typically provided in two months.

The Board will follow these guidelines with respect to its grants:

• DCCA grants are limited to organizations working primarily within the Association’s boundaries or partnering with DCCA.
• Grants will be made only to other nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Grants will not be made to individuals or for-profit businesses, or for religious or political purposes.
• Recipients must demonstrate that the activities for which they seek a grant promote and protect the interests of the residents of the neighborhood.
• No benefit or profit may inure to a DCCA member.
• Grants will not be given to advance the interests of any one individual, candidate for public office or any political cause that is a pending ballot issue.
• All promotional materials of the recipient organization must include a sentence stating that the activity or project was funded “with support from the Dupont Circle Citizens Association.”
• Grantee organizations will announce the grant via their social media channels.
• Recipients will provide a follow-up report to the DCCA Board of Directors outlining how funds were spent, the results of the project, and confirming that the grant was not used to advance a personal agenda or any political candidates or causes.

Grant Proposals

Interested organizations may submit requests for grants by completing the DCCA Grant Proposal Form, which

requests the information listed below. Proposals for grants for $750 or less require information specified in items    1-8. For requests of more than $750, the information in item 9 is required from organizations applying to DCCA for the first time. The information must be supplied by the proposing organization or the appropriate DCCA Committee Chairperson(s).

1. Name of the applicant organization;
   
2. Primary contact name and contact information;
   
3. Date and location of proposed project or activities;
   
4. Description of project or activities;
   
5. Description of how the grant will benefit the residents of the Dupont Circle neighborhood;
   
6. Description of how DCCA support will be publicized, and how the project or activities will be promoted (if applicable);
   
7. A proposed budget;
   
8. A list of other funding sources for the project or activities, if applicable; and
   
9. A list of the proposing organization's current board of directors, mission statement and bylaws, and a copy of the 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS.
   

Accountability by Recipient

If the funds are not used within the time frame envisioned in the proposal or a reasonable approximation thereof, or are used for purposes other than those specified in the grant recipient’s Grant Proposal Form, the recipient must reimburse DCCA for the funds.

Accountability by DCCA

DCCA will give an account of its grant giving activities as part of the Treasurer's report to membership at its annual meeting. The account of charitable activities will be published on DCCA’s web site, and may also be publicized in other DCCA announcements and publications.