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Guide

How to read a federal grant notice (NOFO)

Updated · GrantsJunction editorial

A federal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) explains what a program will fund, who may apply, how much is available, how applications are scored and how and when to submit. Read the eligibility, deadline, award information, cost-sharing and evaluation-criteria sections first — they decide whether the opportunity is worth pursuing — then the application and submission instructions.

The sections that matter most

  • Basic information: the opportunity number, Assistance Listing Number (ALN), agency, key dates and a summary.
  • Eligibility: eligible applicant types, any geographic or organizational restrictions, and whether cost sharing or matching is required.
  • Program description: the goals, priorities and allowable activities. If your project does not fit here, it will not score well.
  • Award information: total funding, expected number of awards, award floor and ceiling, project period and funding instrument (grant or cooperative agreement).
  • Application contents and format: required forms, page limits, budget justification and attachments.
  • Submission requirements and deadlines: where and how to submit, the exact due time and time zone, and any letter-of-intent or concept-paper stage.
  • Application review: the evaluation criteria and their weights, and the review process.
  • Award administration and contacts: reporting requirements and the agency contact for questions.

A fast triage checklist

  1. Is my organization type listed as eligible?
  2. Is the deadline realistic for us, including registrations?
  3. Does the award range fit the project, and can we meet any match?
  4. Do our goals line up with the program's stated priorities and evaluation criteria?
  5. Can we meet the reporting and compliance requirements if funded?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a NOFO, FOA and RFA?

They are different names for a federal funding announcement. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the government-wide term; some agencies use Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or Request for Applications (RFA).

Where is the full notice?

On Grants.gov, open the opportunity and check the Related Documents tab for the full announcement. GrantsJunction links every listing to its official Grants.gov page.

General information, not legal or grant-writing advice. Rules can change — the official notice and the awarding agency govern.