Short, sourced explanations of how federal grants work — written to help you decide what is worth pursuing.
The steps to apply for a U.S. federal grant: find an opportunity, check eligibility, register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, prepare the application package and submit before the deadline.
A plain-English guide to the parts of a federal Notice of Funding Opportunity — eligibility, funding amounts, deadlines, cost sharing, evaluation criteria and submission requirements.
Assistance Listing Numbers identify federal assistance programs. Learn the format, how ALNs relate to grant opportunities, and how to use them to research funding history.
How federal grants, cooperative agreements and procurement contracts differ — agency involvement, purpose and what it means for applicants.
What cost sharing (matching) means in federal grants, cash vs. in-kind contributions, and how to read a notice's match requirement.
A forecasted grant is an agency's advance notice of an opportunity it expects to post. Learn how to use forecasts to prepare early.
Use Assistance Listing Numbers, USAspending.gov and SAM.gov to see who has been funded under a federal program, typical award sizes and where funding went.
How to confirm grant eligibility: applicant types, additional eligibility text, geographic limits, registrations and when to contact the agency.
Warning signs of government grant scams — fees, guarantees, unsolicited calls — and how to report them.