Expert advice for every grant — from EPA to DARPA

Record foundation giving in 2026 masks a structural shift in how philanthropic dollars move. Tax reform, DAF growth, and democracy funding are reshaping the landscape. A strategic guide for grant seekers.

The FY2026 spending package preserves NIH, NSF, and DOE funding while blocking the 15% indirect cost cap. A detailed breakdown of what passed, what is next in the Senate, and how researchers should position themselves.

The MacArthur Foundation's $100 million democracy commitment joins a growing wave of philanthropic mobilization for civic infrastructure. What it means for nonprofits seeking democracy, governance, and civic engagement funding.

The $175 million Talent Search competition marks the first time the Labor Department has administered Education grants. A deep analysis of what changed, who benefits, and how college access organizations should respond.

The DOE Early Career Research Program offers five-year awards up to $2.75 million for junior researchers. Here is who qualifies, which research areas are funded, and how to write a winning pre-application.

The Department of Energy is betting nearly $300 million that AI can crack 26 scientific grand challenges. Who can apply, what the funding looks like, and how to position a competitive proposal.

The Google.org AI for Government Innovation Challenge offers $1-3M grants with an April 3 deadline. But it is part of a larger shift: tech philanthropy is becoming the R&D lab for public sector innovation.

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act ends a five-month program lapse and introduces the biggest structural reforms to SBIR/STTR in over a decade.

The Trump administration is reclassifying federal grant-making employees as at-will workers. The implications for NIH, NSF, and DOE peer review go far beyond staffing.

The Streamlining Federal Grants Act cleared committee with bipartisan support. Here is what the bill actually does, why 191 IT systems make grants harder to win, and what changes applicants should prepare for.

Medicaid work requirements threaten to strip coverage from 5.6 million CHC patients while Section 330 authorization expires in December. Here is how health centers can navigate the paradox.

The BRIC program termination triggered the most consequential federal grant lawsuit in years. Here is the full timeline, what the court orders actually require, and what applicants should do right now.

Four federal agencies tried to slash university overhead reimbursements from 56% to 15%. Courts blocked it, Congress killed it, and the fallout is reshaping how researchers think about grant funding.

After the five-month SBIR shutdown, the Navy is centralizing contract execution, aligning with Pentagon acquisition reforms, and promising faster awards. What defense tech startups need to know.

The NIH 2027-2031 strategic plan will guide roughly $250 billion in research funding decisions. Public comment is open, and the first webinar already happened. Here is how to make your input count.

A step-by-step breakdown of the DARPA BAA process, from engaging program managers at Proposers Day to writing a winning white paper and navigating full proposal submission.

The Uniform Guidance governs every dollar of federal grant spending. This plain-language breakdown covers the October 2024 revisions, allowable costs, procurement thresholds, single audit rules, and the compliance failures that get organizations suspended — so first-time grantees can avoid the most expensive mistakes.

MacArthur committed $100 million to protect democracy, Ford and Movement Voter Fund are deploying millions more, and the "All by April" campaign wants it out the door fast. A strategic guide for nonprofits.

A practical guide to mandatory and voluntary cost-sharing in federal grants, including which agencies require matching funds, how to document in-kind contributions, and why offering more than required can backfire.

A behind-the-scenes look at how federal grant review panels actually work -- from reviewer training and triage to the discussion dynamics that reshape scores and decide which proposals get funded.

IIJA discretionary programs expire September 30, 2026. With $2.3 billion already rescinded and no reauthorization bill in sight, state and local governments face a closing window for infrastructure grants.

Everything first-time federal grantees need to know about indirect cost rates — from the 15% de minimis option to negotiating a full NICRA with your cognizant agency, including what goes into the cost pool, how MTDC works, and how to avoid leaving money on the table.

A practical guide to building multi-PI grant applications that survive peer review. Covers leadership plans, role differentiation, budget allocation, conflict resolution, and the strategic tradeoffs that determine whether adding a co-PI strengthens or sinks your proposal.

How to structure the NIH R01 Approach section so reviewers score it well -- methods, milestones, timelines, power analyses, and contingency plans that demonstrate rigor and feasibility.

The 2026 NIH biosketch overhaul splits your record into a Common Form and a Supplement, demands SciENcv certification, and caps your scientific story at 2,000 characters per contribution. How to write it strategically.

NIH R01 budget justifications face scrutiny on personnel effort, equipment thresholds, and subcontract costs. Here is what triggers reviewer concern and how to address it.

How to write the NIH R01 Facilities and Resources section so reviewers see your institution as the only place this science can happen.

NIH R01 resubmissions succeed at double the rate of new applications, but only if you decode what reviewers actually meant. A field guide to summary statement interpretation.

The Education Department is scattering $30 billion in grant programs across Labor, HHS, Interior, and State. Here is what grant seekers need to know about the largest federal education reorganization in history.

Starting July 2026, Pell Grants expand to short-term workforce programs for the first time in 60 years. What institutions, students, and grant seekers need to know about eligibility, accountability thresholds, and strategic positioning.

GSA is proposing new SAM.gov certifications covering DEI, immigration, and national security for all federal financial assistance recipients. False Claims Act liability is real. Comment deadline is March 30. A compliance breakdown for nonprofits, universities, and small businesses.

With competitive NIH awards down 74%, success rates at 30-year lows, and OMB restricting fund releases, biomedical researchers face an unprecedented funding crisis. Strategic responses for navigating the squeeze.

New survey data shows 51% of nonprofits have already lost federal grants and 82% are pivoting to private funders. The organizations pulling ahead share five specific strategies. A practical playbook based on what is working right now.

USDOT has added anti-road-diet scoring, immigration conditions, and marriage-rate prioritization to the Safe Streets for All program. What changed, what it means for applicants, and how to adapt before the final FY2026 round.

After the longest authorization lapse in 43 years, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act heads to a House vote. New $30M awards, proposal caps, and security vetting reshape the program.

The Schedule Policy/Career reclassification threatens to strip job protections from NIH and NSF grant reviewers. With 94% of public comments opposed, the research community faces a test of institutional independence.