The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant Program is offered by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) to provide unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations with a primary mission in the arts, humanities, or arts education. The program aims to sustain organizations whose core activities directly contribute to the cultural vitality of Washington, D.C., and supports those whose operations align with CAH's mission to foster diverse artistic expressions and broaden access to cultural experiences for all residents and visitors of the District.
To be eligible, applicant organizations must be nonprofit and demonstrate through their most recent IRS Form 990 that their mission statement includes the terms "arts," "humanities," or a related discipline. Additionally, more than 51 percent of their previous fiscal year’s cash expenses and programming must be devoted to arts, humanities, or arts education activities. Applicants must also illustrate a history of leadership, inclusive community engagement, and consistent delivery of programming aligned with CAH goals.
GOS applications are reviewed across three categories: Generalists (organizations providing general arts/humanities programming), Service Organizations (those offering support services to the cultural sector), and Capacity Building (organizations focused on internal development to better fulfill their missions). Applicants must select the most appropriate category during the application process.
The application for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) opens on March 11, 2025, and closes on April 22, 2025, at 10 PM Eastern Time. Award amounts vary based on budget size, organizational category, and available funding. Applications must be completed in full and follow all guidelines; incomplete or late applications may be deemed ineligible. CAH strongly encourages all applicants to carefully review the full Request for Applications (RFA) before beginning their submissions.
Organizations awarded a GOS grant may use the funds for general operational expenses rather than project-specific activities. CAH offers technical assistance and workshops to support applicants in navigating the process. For questions and further guidance, applicants may contact Terrell Johnson, Senior Grants Officer, or Kerry Kaleba, Grant Manager, via the email addresses provided below.
