Frequently Asked Questions

Who are The Grants For?

We award monthly grants to DMV-based artists and educators who have ideas that will yield educational, social impact, and/or community-based social impact. We seek proposals for short-term projects or programs, and we are open to supporting the costs of field trips and classroom supplies. We prioritize proposals featuring immersive and hands-on experiences for groups or the public.

What does Tour de Force consider 'the DMV'?

We prioritize applicants that are based, and who will execute their project, in the DMV. We consider the DMV to be the entirety of Washington, D.C.; Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland; and Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church of Northern Virgina. We will also consider applicants from Baltimore County, Maryland.

When are applications due?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

When will I find out if my proposal was selected?
Grantees will be announced by the 15th of each month and will be notified via email and/or phone.

How much money will I receive?
Grants are awarded in sums between $500 and $2000, depending on your proposed budget.

How many people are selected each month?
The number of grantees per month will vary, depending on proposals.

How do I apply for a grant?
Please visit our Application Page.

What do you mean by “short-term project”?
Projects or events must be completed within four months of the grant date.

How do I show that I used the money for my project?
Grantees must create (or allow Tour de Force to create) visual documentation (photos, videos, social media posts) of their event or project, as well as complete a feedback form within one week of project completion.

Do I have the opportunity to resubmit proposals?
Yes! Your proposal will be considered every month, for four months. After four months, feel free to resubmit the same proposal or a different one.

If I receive a grant, can I apply for another one?
Grantees may receive a maximum of three grants per year (one every four-month period).

What do you mean by Community Engagement?

Some examples of Community Engagement are:

Education: members of the community attend a lecture, workshop, or presentation that teaches them about the history, themes, and experiences that inform an artist’s work, such as:

MICA series lectures
Jessica Valoris’ Black Fugitive Folklore
BURN Documentary
N22 (formerly Negritude)

Connect with wider community: members of the community are participants in a service project that affects those in a greater capacity, such as:

Justice Arts Coalition

Hands-on experience: members of the community have free access to art supplies and/or the opportunity to learn about a new medium, such as:

ArtEasy
University of Maryland iron pour
Julio Valdez printmaking workshop
The SPACE, Free Art for All
Luv is Cool poetry workshops

We do not fund the following

Proposals with components outside of Washington D.C. and the immediate surrounding area, as defined in the FAQs above.

The project must take place in this radius as well.

Vague Ideas in Progress

To maintain the integrity of our grant, applicants must provide a detailed outline of their proposal and the status of its components including:

venue (either confirmed or in process of confirmation) and applicable permits
confirmation of participants (artists, vendors, food/drink vendors, etc.)
how applicant will facilitate a community engagement component and desired proof of impact
proposed dates for final execution and timeline leading up to the event
additional partners and/or sponsorship

Projects that lack Direct Community Engagement

Each proposal must include a facilitated community engagement component that serves to educate, connect the wider community, or provide a hands-on experience. All community engagement should be planned, scheduled and marketed in advance. The community engagement aspect is extremely important and should not be structured in a way in which the participants are engaged by chance. The facilitated component, for example, can manifest as–but is not limited to–a workshop, lecture, research-based presentation, or performance.

Personal Projects and Exhibitions

Proposals in which an artist (or artists) is requesting funding to initiate or complete a personal project, such as a film, album, music video, art piece, installation, exhibition etc., and lacks a facilitated community engagement component, will not be considered.