GRANTOR TOOLS & TIPS
Training Resources and Tips for Grantors
From user guides to FAQs and pro tips, the following resources will help you master Grants.gov as a grantor:
Grants.gov Online User Guide – contains instructions for posting opportunity synopses, creating and modifying application templates, downloading submitted applications, and more.
Standard Language Describing the Grants.gov Application Process – customizable copy for internal and external communications about Grants.gov
Grantor FAQs – answers to grantors' most common questions
Grants.gov Presentation Request Form- If you would like to request brochures or a complimentary Grants.gov presentation on the Find and Apply process, please fill out this form and submit it to support@grants.gov.
Featured Video
How to Register Grantors on Grants.gov
This video explains how federal grant-making agencies can affiliate (as part of the agency) newly registered Grants.gov users. Click here to learn more about grantor registration.
How to Ensure a Smooth Application Submission Process
The following practices will help to ensure that your agency's application submission process runs as smoothly as possible:
1. Encourage your applicants to register with Grants.gov.
A primary reason application submissions are rejected is that the person submitting the application has not completed the Grants.gov registration process. It is recommended that grantors provide applicants with an overview of the process in the announcement instructions. For customizable copy about the registration process, please see "Standard Language Describing the Grants.gov Application Process."
Informative status
PRO TIP: Our analysis shows that agencies with opportunity announcements that include language about the Grants.gov registration process are less likely to have applications rejected due to registration or AOR role assignment issues.
2. Accurately estimate the expected number of applications.
When indicating the Expected Number of Applications, agencies should strive to be as accurate as possible.
Informative status
PRO TIP: If you are posting a new opportunity announcement, use the response to a similar funding opportunity to gauge the Expected Number of Applications.
3. Provide an Agency Contact for electronic access problems and questions.
Some agencies are incorrectly inserting "Grants.gov Help Desk" as the Agency Contact when posting an announcement. The intent of these fields is to connect the applicant to someone within your program office who can assist them when they have questions about your specific announcement. Here is how the following fields should be used:
Agency Contact: This field is pre-populated by the system and contains the name of the person who is currently logged into the system and trying to publish an opportunity. This information can be overwritten as needed.
Email Address: This is also pre-populated by the system and can be overwritten. Enter the email address of someone – within your agency – who can assist applicants with specific inquiries.
Email Description: Enter text that will be used as a hyperlink to the email address provided. For example, if you entered "Agency Help Desk," then when the synopsis is published and someone clicks on "Agency Help Desk" an email will open with the agency contact's email address pre-populated in the "To" field.
Informative status
PRO TIP: Identify someone within your program office who can serve as a contact person for prospective applicants who have questions about specific announcements.
Contacts
Grants.gov Program Advisors – Your PMO contact who can assist in the effective use of Grants.gov
Grantor Point of Contact (POC) – Your colleague who serves as your agency's liaison with the Grants.gov PMO
Additional Resources
The Grants.gov Community Blog - Subscribe to posts from the Grants.gov Community Blog and connect with other grant-making agencies and their applicants.
The Official Grants.gov Blog - Check our blog for the latest information about system updates and maintenance periods.