Expert advice for every grant — from EPA to DARPA

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 With $2.3 billion already rescinded and no reauthorization bill in sight, state and local governments face a closing window for infrastructure grants.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.

NSF canceled 1,574 grants. NIH terminated dozens more. Now a universal DEI certification requirement is coming for all 220,000 federal grantees. Here is how to adapt without abandoning your mission.

The Department of Energy is betting $320 million that AI foundation models can double U.S. scientific productivity in a decade. Here is what researchers need to know about the Genesis Mission.

The SPARK program offers $1.9B across three tracks for grid resilience, smart grid, and transmission expansion. Concept papers due April 2. Here is the complete eligibility and strategy breakdown.

Court depositions reveal DOGE staff used ChatGPT to flag 1,400 humanities grants as DEI, terminating $100M+ in funding. What the NEH lawsuit means for federal grant applicants everywhere.

Congress rejected the 15% indirect cost cap and preserved NIH at $48.7 billion. But the full FY2026 science budget tells a more complex story across six agencies.

NSF will award $10-50 million per year to independent research teams working outside universities and startups. The Tech Labs initiative could reshape how breakthrough science gets funded.

The bipartisan FY2026 spending bills rejected the most dramatic proposed cuts to NSF, NASA, DOE, and NOAA in modern history. A detailed breakdown of what was preserved, what was lost, and where the grant opportunities are.

Four foundations with combined assets exceeding $3.5 billion have emerged from estate transfers, while the Philanthropy 50 hit a record $22.4 billion. What this means for nonprofits seeking funding.

With success rates plunging to 17% and multiyear funding eliminating nearly 1,000 grants in FY2026, biomedical researchers face the most competitive funding landscape in a generation.

SAMHSA distributed $794M in block grants for mental health and substance abuse programs. Here's how community organizations can access these funds through state subgrant processes.

Every SBIR and STTR deadline for 2026 organized by agency — DOD, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, EPA, USDA, and DHS. Includes post-reauthorization restart timeline, award amounts, and key dates.

A bipartisan bill aims to simplify federal grant applications for small organizations and rural communities. Here's what S. 3709 would change and why it matters for grant seekers.

USDA REAP grants worth $20M+ are stalled, solar restrictions threaten the program's most common use case, and farmers are on the hook for upfront costs. Here's what rural applicants need to know.

DOE just launched the SPARK program with $1.9 billion for grid reconductoring and advanced transmission. Concept papers are due April 2. Here is what you need to know to compete.

The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act raises cost thresholds, exempts nontraditional contractors, and accelerates commercial integration. Here is what matters for small businesses, startups, and university labs competing for $145.7 billion in defense R&D.