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The Capitol Hill Community Foundation awards grants to nonprofits, schools, and neighborhood groups to support programs and projects that benefit residents of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
We invite organizations and institutions serving the Capitol Hill community to apply for our seasonal and other grants in the following core areas:
Schools and Teachers: Educational enrichment activities and supplies
Youth Programming: Out-of-classroom activities for K-12 students
Arts and Culture: Music, theater, and visual arts programs
Social Services: Support for health care, housing, legal issues, and well-being
Community Spaces: Enhancements for vibrant public places
We only consider grant applications that benefit the Capitol Hill community. See the Guidelines below for instructions on how to apply for these grants.
See Past Grantees for a list of our most recent grants.
Grants guidelines
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We award seasonal grants of up to $3,000 in November and May each year. The corresponding grant submission deadlines are the last Monday in September and March.
Fall and Spring Grants support programs in our core areas within the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC: schools and teachers; youth programming; arts and culture; social services; and community spaces. Applicants are asked to identify which of the Foundation’s core areas is addressed in their proposal and how the proposed activity would benefit Capitol Hill and its residents.
To be eligible for a Fall or Spring Grant, recipients of prior Foundation seasonal grants must complete and submit self-evaluation reports showing program progress. Self-evaluations are due the week prior to each new grant deadline.
Applicants should be nonprofit organizations. However, other organizations may apply if they identify a nonprofit organization that would act as the fiduciary agent for a grant from the Foundation.
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Innovation Grants reward organizations for innovative thinking and programming beyond their normal activities. These grants of $3,000 to $15,000 are awarded in May of each year. The application deadline is the last Monday of March. Applications are reviewed on the same time schedule as our Spring Grants. We anticipate making only a handful of Innovation Grants each year.
Innovation Grants encourage leaders of Capitol Hill organizations to seek creative ways to develop effective programming, serve new audiences, and/or attract new partners. The proposed Innovation Grant initiative must not have already begun or been conducted previously by the applicant. It must build upon the work the applicant has done but be a new project – a growth initiative. It must also support one of our core funding areas and impact the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Grants are a one time grant for a specific project. Organizations may not apply within this category for the same project over multiple years, but they may seek additional funds in the future through our regular seasonal Fall and Spring Grants.
Applicants for Innovation Grants should be aware that we will be looking at how the initiative will directly impact the Capitol Hill community and its residents; how viable and ready-to-go it is; and whether it identifies other funding needed to operate the initiative – including, as needed, sources of funding to maintain the program past the initial, Foundation funding.
Organizations thinking of applying for an Innovation Grant are encouraged to contact our Grants Committee chair for a pre-clearance of the initiative. Please either phone Mark Weinheimer (202-744-9191) or email him at weinheimer@aol.com.
Organizations may apply for a Seasonal Grant for their normal, ongoing programming while also applying for an Innovation Grant for a new initiative that extends its reach.
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In the fall we honor the memory of a Foundation colleague by awarding a $10,000 Bill Phillips Grant for Social Services. The grant supports programs that address health care, housing, legal issues, and well-being for Capitol Hill residents.
Organizations that apply for a Fall Grant in support of social services are automatically considered for the Bill Phillips Grant. While no additional application is required, preference will be given to Fall Grant applications that detail how the additional Bill Phillips Grant will be used to support their programming.
To be considered, apply for a Fall Grant in the social services category.
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The John Franzén Grant for the Arts is a single $25,000 grant awarded each year. The deadline for submitting a letter to apply for this grant is Monday, October 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The Foundation typically announces the grant award by February and presents it in the spring at the Capitol Hill Community Achievement Awards ceremony.
The Foundation established the John Franzén Grant to commemorate a long-time board member and devoted supporter of the Capitol Hill community and the arts. The grant supports novel visual, performing, and architectural/design arts programs that can cultivate new audiences and enhance community life on Capitol Hill.
Download instructions for the application letter to get started. Please note: The letter should be no more than four pages.
To be considered, please email your application letter to weinheimer@aol.com or mail a hard copy to:
Mark Weinheimer
Chair, CHCF Grants Committee
419 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003If you have questions about the Franzén Grant application letter, you may contact Mark Weinheimer at weinheimer@aol.com
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The Keller Grant is a single $25,000 grant awarded each year. Similar to the Innovation Grants, the Keller Grant supports the creation or expansion of major initiatives with potential to significantly benefit the Capitol Hill community. The deadline for submitting a letter to apply for this grant is Monday, October 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The Foundation typically announces the grant award by February and presents it in the spring, at the Capitol Hill Community Achievement Awards ceremony.
For this grant, the Foundation gives preference to organizations that have previously received Foundation support and address a timely community need. For example, recent winners of the Keller Grant have used the funds to increase assistance for unhoused neighborhood residents, assist vulnerable populations during the COVID pandemic, celebrate the centennial of Eastern High School’s building, and expand literacy programs in elementary schools on Capitol Hill. Please note: Organizations submitting proposals in the area of arts and culture should apply for the Franzén Grant.
Download instructions for the application letter to get started. Please note: The letter should be no more than four pages.
Please email your application letter to weinheimer@aol.com or mail a hard copy to:
Mark Weinheimer
Chair, CHCF Grants Committee
419 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003If you have questions about the Keller Grant application letter, you may contact Mark Weinheimer at weinheimer@aol.com
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Mini-grants of up to $500 are considered and awarded throughout the year, usually for a one-time or emergency need. The applicant must show how the grant will be used to benefit residents of Capitol Hill.
While the application form is a simple one, we ask that applicants provide enough budget information to explain and support the request and not just provide a simple total.
The Foundation does not award grants for parties or food for celebrations. It also does not make grant awards to individuals.