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For nonprofits

Federal grants for nonprofit organizations

Many federal opportunities list nonprofits as eligible applicants. Here is how to find the ones that fit, what to register first, and how to prepare a strong application.

Independent platform. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Data from public federal sources.

Which federal opportunities fit nonprofits

Every opportunity on Grants.gov lists the types of applicants it accepts. Two of those categories cover nonprofits:

  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Opportunities open to nonprofits are posted by many agencies and cover a wide range of work, from health and human services to education, community development, the environment and the arts. Most are discretionary grants, which Grants.gov describes as awards where the agency generally selects recipients from among all eligible applicants. That means a competitive review against the criteria in the notice.

What to check in every notice

  • Eligible applicants. Whether your nonprofit type is listed, and whether 501(c)(3) status is required.
  • Cost sharing. Whether you must cover part of the project costs from non-federal sources.
  • Deadline and submission method. When and where the application is due.
  • Review criteria. How the agency will score applications, which should shape how you write each section.

Registrations to start early

Most organizations need these before they can apply through Grants.gov. Registration is a step you take with each government system directly; GovGrantsUSA cannot do it for you.

  1. SAM.gov entity registration and UEI. Register your organization in SAM.gov to receive a Unique Entity ID. A UEI on its own, without a full registration, is not enough to apply directly for federal awards. Grants.gov notes activation can take up to 10 business days, and registration must be renewed every year.
  2. Login.gov. You sign in to SAM.gov with a Login.gov account.
  3. Grants.gov account and roles. Your organization's E-Business Point of Contact (named in SAM.gov) creates a Grants.gov organization profile with your UEI and assigns roles such as Authorized Organization Representative, the person allowed to submit.

Use the free Federal Grant Readiness Checklist to track what you have and what is missing.

How GovGrantsUSA helps nonprofits

  • Matching by applicant type. Choose Nonprofit as your organization type and the matching engine gives points to opportunities that list nonprofits as eligible.
  • Focus areas. Add your program areas so opportunities that mention them rank higher.
  • Drafting help. Draft sections from your mission, past grants and key staff, then edit them to fit your voice.
  • Document library. Keep letters of support, financial statements and resumes ready for each application.

Planning a budget? The free Grant Budget and Indirect Cost Calculator helps you check direct and indirect costs before you finalize. Worried about a grant offer that seems too good to be true? Try the Grant Scam Checker.

Sources (checked Oct 15, 2026)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, when the opportunity lists them as eligible. Grants.gov uses two nonprofit categories: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education. Each notice says which applicant types may apply.

It depends on the opportunity. Some notices are open only to 501(c)(3) organizations, while others also accept nonprofits without that status. Check the eligible applicants section of the notice.

Grants.gov defines cost sharing or matching as the portion of project costs not paid by federal funds. Some programs require it, so check the notice and plan for it in your budget.

Federal grants usually fund a specific project described in the application, under the rules in the notice and the award terms. Indirect costs may be allowed under the rates and limits that apply to your organization and the award.

No. GovGrantsUSA focuses on federal opportunities from public sources such as Grants.gov.

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