How to apply for a federal grant: registrations, steps and timeline

Step-by-step

1. Find an opportunity that is open (or forecasted) and read the full notice — the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the rulebook for that competition.
2. Check the eligible applicant types, any geographic limits, cost-sharing requirements and the application deadline (including the time of day and time zone).
3. Register the organization in SAM.gov. Registration is free and assigns a Unique Entity ID (UEI). It must be renewed every year.
4. Create a Grants.gov account (Grants.gov uses Login.gov for sign-in) and connect it to your organization. The organization's E-Business Point of Contact grants applicant roles, such as Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), to the people who will submit.
5. Download or open the application package for the specific opportunity number and complete the required forms and narrative.
6. Submit before the deadline and keep the confirmation. Grants.gov sends receipt and validation emails; validation errors must be fixed before the deadline.

How long does it take?

Plan for several weeks to register a new organization, longer if SAM.gov needs to validate your entity's information. Writing a competitive application typically takes weeks to months depending on the program. Many agencies post forecasts and notices 30 to 90 days before the deadline, so registrations should be in place before you find the right opportunity.

Exceptions to watch for

• Some agencies use their own submission systems (for example, NIH applications also need eRA Commons registration, and some programs use JustGrants or GrantSolutions). The notice tells you where to apply.
• Individuals applying on their own behalf register on Grants.gov as individual applicants and do not need a UEI.
• Federal funds administered by your state (pass-through or sub-awards) are applied for through the state agency, not Grants.gov.