How to Read a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the federal agency's official announcement of a grant program: who can apply, what it funds, what to submit, how applications are scored and when they are due. Federal rules in 2 CFR 200 Appendix I set a standard structure of nine sections, so once you know the layout you can read any NOFO faster. Read the Eligibility and Submission Requirements sections first. If you fail either one, nothing else in the notice matters.

This guide explains what a NOFO is, walks through each of the nine sections, and gives a reading order and checklist you can reuse. The rules come from 2 CFR 200.1, 2 CFR 200.204 and Appendix I to 2 CFR Part 200, as of October 2026.

What counts as a NOFO

2 CFR 200.1 defines a notice of funding opportunity as a formal announcement of the availability of federal funding through a financial assistance program from a federal agency. It provides information such as who is eligible, the evaluation criteria, the required parts of an application, and how to submit.

Agencies use different names for the same thing. The definition covers any announcement, whether it is called a program announcement, a notice of funding availability, a broad agency announcement, a research announcement, a solicitation or something else. NIH, for example, adopted the NOFO term to match other agencies. If you see one of those names, apply the same reading method.

How long notices are open

Under 2 CFR 200.204, federal agencies should make funding opportunities available for at least 60 calendar days. An agency can choose a shorter period if it decides that is enough, but generally not fewer than 30 days unless there are exigent circumstances. The same section asks agencies to write notices in plain language and requires a summary on Grants.gov.

In practice, two months is not much time if you still need registrations, partners and letters of support. Agencies often post forecasts before the full notice. Track forecasts for programs you care about so you can prepare early.

The nine sections of a NOFO

Appendix I to 2 CFR 200 sets the content of a NOFO. Agencies must include at least the first eight sections and a table of contents. The ninth is optional. Here is what each one tells you.

1. Basic Information

The summary: agency name, program title, funding opportunity number, Assistance Listing number, total funding, expected number of awards, award ceiling and floor, period of performance, key dates, and contacts. Grants.gov explains that the Assistance Listing number was formerly called the CFDA number and that its first two digits identify the agency. Note the funding opportunity number. You will need it to find the application package.

2. Eligibility

Who can apply. This section lists eligible applicant types, any cost sharing or matching requirement, and other limits such as how many applications one organization may submit. Grants.gov uses standard eligibility categories such as nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and state, local and tribal governments. If your organization type is not listed, you cannot apply as the lead applicant, though you may be able to join as a partner.

3. Program Description

What the agency wants to accomplish and what it will fund. This section explains the program's goals, priorities and sometimes the specific activities it expects. It may also describe the type of award, such as a grant or a cooperative agreement, which means more agency involvement. Your project has to answer this section directly. Underline the agency's own words for its goals and use them in your narrative where they truly apply.

4. Application Contents and Format

What to submit and how. This section lists required forms, the project narrative, budget and budget justification, attachments, page limits, font and margin rules, and file naming. Build your application outline from this section and nothing else. Treat page limits and formatting rules as hard requirements.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

When and where to submit. This section gives the deadline with time zone, any earlier deadlines for letters of intent, required registrations such as SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and what happens to late applications. Note every date in a calendar the day you start.

6. Application Review Information

How applications are scored. This section lists the review criteria and often their weights or points, the review process, and any other factors the agency considers when choosing awards, such as geographic balance. This is the most useful section for writing. Organize your narrative so a reviewer can find your answer to each criterion quickly.

7. Award Notices

What happens after review: when decisions are expected, how the agency notifies applicants, and what the award document will look like.

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

The rules that apply if you win: reporting schedules, administrative and national policy requirements, and terms and conditions. Read this before you apply. It tells you whether your organization can handle the reporting and compliance the award brings.

9. Other Information (optional)

Anything else the agency wants to share, such as definitions, frequently asked questions or webinar dates.

A reading order that saves time

Do not read a NOFO front to back on the first pass. Use this order:

1. Eligibility. Can you apply at all? Is cost sharing required?
2. Submission Requirements and Deadlines. Can you finish registrations and the package in time?
3. Basic Information. Is the award size worth the effort, and how many awards are expected?
4. Program Description. Does your project fit the program's goals?
5. Application Review Information. Can you score well on these criteria?
6. Post-Award Requirements. Can you manage the award if you win?
7. Application Contents and Format. Read this last, then use it to build your outline.

After the first three steps, make a go or no-go decision. Many organizations waste weeks on applications they were never eligible for or could not finish in time.

What to look for in the fine print

• Limits on applications per organization. Some notices allow only one application per organization, which matters for universities and large nonprofits.
• Required partners. Some programs require a specific type of partner, such as a research institution or local government.
• Indirect cost limits. A notice may cap indirect costs if a statute or regulation requires it. See our guide to indirect costs.
• Funding restrictions. Look for costs the program will not pay for.
• Amendments. Agencies sometimes change notices after posting. Check for modifications on Grants.gov before you submit.
• Agency systems. Some agencies require their own registration in addition to Grants.gov.

Turning the NOFO into a work plan

Once you decide to apply, turn the notice into tasks:

1. Copy every required item from Application Contents and Format into a checklist with an owner and due date.
2. Copy every review criterion into your narrative outline as a heading or subheading.
3. List every registration and confirm each is active.
4. List partners and letters needed, and request them right away.
5. Set an internal deadline at least two days before the real one.

Our Application Timeline Planner builds a schedule from your deadline, and the Grants.gov application guide covers submission.

Asking the agency questions

Basic Information lists agency contacts. Most program officers will answer questions about eligibility and fit before the deadline, and some agencies host informational webinars. Ask specific questions that the notice does not answer, and keep a record of the replies. Agencies sometimes post answers to common questions for all applicants.

Common reading mistakes

• Skimming eligibility and missing a restriction such as a required applicant type.
• Missing an earlier deadline for a letter of intent or preliminary proposal.
• Ignoring page limits and formatting rules, which can lead to an application being returned without review.
• Writing to your own priorities instead of the program's stated goals and review criteria.
• Not checking for amendments posted after the original notice.

Our guide to why federal applications are rejected covers the consequences of these mistakes and how to avoid them. To find notices to practice on, browse our open federal grants, which link to the official notice for each opportunity.

Keeping a NOFO file

For every opportunity you pursue, keep a short file in one place:

• The final version of the notice, plus any amendments, saved as PDFs with the date you downloaded them.
• A one-page summary: funding opportunity number, Assistance Listing number, deadline with time zone, award ceiling, period of performance, cost sharing, and eligibility.
• Your requirements checklist and narrative outline built from the notice.
• Notes from any calls or emails with the program officer, and any posted questions and answers.

This file pays off later. If you are funded, the notice and your application become part of the record for the award. If you are not, the file makes a resubmission much faster, because many programs post similar notices each year.

Reading the review criteria closely

The Application Review Information section deserves the closest reading of all. For each criterion, note the points or weight, the exact words the agency uses, and any sub-questions listed under it. Then decide where in your narrative a reviewer will find the answer. Reviewers often score many applications in a short time, so an application that makes each answer easy to find has an advantage.

Finally, read the notice again just before you submit. Small details, such as a required file name or a certification, are easy to miss on the first pass and easy to fix on the last.