Monitoring Grants & Cooperative Agreements for Federal Personnel

Monitoring Grants & Cooperative Agreements for Federal Personnel is sponsored by Graduate School USA. This is a training course designed to help federal personnel monitor federal grants and cooperative agreements.

Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program | Graduate School USA of live, project-based training from experts Additional elective course Additional 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class Proprietary workbooks included Retake for free within 1 year Verified digital certificate of completion This certificate develops the skills federal grant professionals need to design, structure, and oversee federal assistance programs using risk-based and performance-focused approaches.

Participants explore how program design, pre-award risk assessment, and award structuring decisions influence downstream performance, monitoring, and compliance outcomes. The program examines how to translate statutory intent into grant program design, evaluate recipient and program risk before funds are awarded, and negotiate award terms and special conditions that protect federal interests.

Participants also learn how to monitor cooperative agreements, assess program performance using outcomes and results management practices, and respond to compliance or performance concerns with defensible oversight actions.

By completing this certificate, learners gain the practical knowledge needed to design effective grant programs, align oversight with risk, and manage federal assistance in a way that withstands regulatory, audit, and policy scrutiny. Get certified. Get ahead.

Grants Management Certificate Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program Grants Recipient Certificate Program Courses in this Certificate Program This is the recommended order, but some courses may be taken in a different order.

Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight Course Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight strengthens the skills professionals need to effectively oversee federally funded programs after award. Participants learn how to apply risk-based monitoring, interpret financial and performance information, and respond to compliance issues while maintaining defensible oversight aligned with federal regulations.

Explain the role of monitoring as a risk management and performance oversight function. Apply monitoring requirements from 2 CFR 200 to oversight decisions. Differentiate between compliance monitoring, performance monitoring, and financial oversight.

Design proportional, risk-based monitoring strategies. Interpret financial and performance data to identify emerging program risks. Identify monitoring weaknesses that commonly lead to audit findings.

Document monitoring decisions clearly and defensibly. Respond effectively to noncompliance and performance challenges. Coordinate corrective actions, technical assistance, and escalation when necessary.

Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements Course Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements strengthens the practical skills professionals need to oversee cooperative agreements with substantial federal involvement. Participants learn how to structure monitoring, manage shared responsibilities, and document oversight decisions in ways that support program success and withstand audit and oversight review.

Differentiate cooperative agreements from grants in purpose, structure, and oversight expectations. Identify the legal and regulatory basis for substantial federal involvement. Clarify and apply distinct roles and responsibilities for federal staff and recipients to preserve accountability.

Design monitoring strategies that reflect shared responsibility and increased federal engagement. Document federal involvement in a clear, consistent, and defensible manner. Interpret performance and financial information within a cooperative agreement context to identify risk signals.

Recognize risks unique to cooperative agreements, including role confusion and over-involvement. Select appropriate response options to performance and compliance issues while sustaining collaboration. Apply corrective actions and enforcement tools consistent with cooperative agreement authority.

Demonstrate management practices that withstand audit and oversight scrutiny. Grant Performance, Outcomes, and Results Management Course A two-day, hands-on course that equips federal grant professionals to manage and document post-award performance.

Participants learn to align objectives, measures, data, reporting, and oversight, distinguish outputs from outcomes, and address performance risk and underperformance to withstand scrutiny from leadership, auditors, OIG, OMB, and Congress.

Design performance frameworks that align activities, outputs, and outcomes Distinguish between compliance reporting and results management Identify and prioritize material performance risks Develop performance measures that are credible, measurable, and decision-useful Use performance data to inform oversight, technical assistance, and corrective action Respond to underperformance in a structured, defensible manner Document performance decisions in ways that withstand audit and oversight review Program Design and Risk Assessment Course This certificate recognizes completion of Program Design and Risk Assessment, an intermediate course for federal and pass-through entity staff involved in grant program planning and oversight.

The course focuses on integrating risk awareness into early program design decisions to strengthen compliance, reduce burden, and improve outcomes.

Certificate holders have demonstrated the ability to: Explain how program design decisions influence grant risk Identify programmatic, financial, compliance, capacity, and external risks during program planning Analyze how eligibility criteria, application requirements, and funding structures affect risk Apply risk-informed strategies to program design Align program design with internal controls and 2 CFR 200 Document intentional design decisions that address identified risks Support effective oversight through proactive, risk-aware program design Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course This certificate recognizes completion of Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring, an intermediate course for federal and pass-through entity staff involved in grant review and award decisions.

The course focuses on identifying, analyzing, and documenting pre-award risk and translating that risk into defensible award structures before funds are awarded.

Certificate holders have demonstrated the ability to: Apply pre-award risk assessment as a decision-making and governance tool Identify and evaluate financial, programmatic, compliance, capacity, and external risks Assess the likelihood and impact of risk to determine materiality Use professional judgment to analyze application, audit, and financial information Document risk assessment conclusions clearly and defensibly Design award structures that appropriately address identified risk Align pre-award risk decisions with post-award oversight and monitoring strategies Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions Course Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions equips professionals with the skills needed to structure federal awards using clear, defensible conditions aligned with risk and regulatory authority.

Participants learn how to evaluate risk, negotiate conditions with recipients, and manage special conditions across the award lifecycle while maintaining audit-ready oversight practices. Explain the legal and regulatory authority governing award terms and special conditions. Apply risk assessment findings to determine when special conditions are appropriate.

Differentiate between standard terms, agency-specific terms, and risk-based special conditions. Draft clear, enforceable award conditions that address documented risks. Evaluate common drafting failures that weaken enforceability or audit defensibility.

Translate risk categories into proportionate and monitorable award controls. Apply negotiation strategies that balance collaboration with federal oversight authority. Document conditioning decisions clearly to support consistency and defensibility.

Monitor and manage special conditions throughout the award lifecycle. Modify or remove special conditions based on evidence and defined exit criteria. Choose one course to complement your required training.

Choose your date after you register for the program. Federal Grant Law and Policy Framework Course Federal Grant Law and Policy Framework is a two-day course that helps federal grants and program staff apply the core legal and policy authorities governing federal financial assistance. Participants learn how these requirements translate into defensible grant decisions and reduced audit and oversight risk.

Identify the primary legal authorities governing federal grants and cooperative agreements Explain the relationship between statutes, regulations, and policy guidance Distinguish grants from cooperative agreements and procurement contracts Interpret key provisions of the Uniform Guidance Apply legal and policy requirements to grant program design and administration Recognize areas of discretion and limitation in grant management decisions Identify common legal and policy misinterpretations that create risk Support defensible decision-making under audit and oversight review Communicate legal and policy requirements clearly to stakeholders Demonstrate compliance grounded in legal authority rather than custom or habit Developing a Federal Grant Application Course Developing a Federal Grant Application is a two-day, hands-on course for federal program and grants staff on building compliant, competitive applications.

Participants learn to interpret FOAs, align narratives and budgets with program priorities, and avoid common errors that lead to low scores or disqualification.

Analyze funding opportunity announcements and application instructions Interpret eligibility, selection criteria, and program priorities Translate program concepts into responsive application narratives Develop compliant budgets and budget justifications Align performance measures with program objectives Integrate compliance, risk, and capacity considerations into applications Identify common application errors and disqualifying issues Coordinate roles across program, fiscal, and leadership staff Prepare applications that support successful award management Submit complete, organized, and compliant federal applications Developing and Negotiating Indirect Cost Rates Course Developing and Negotiating Indirect Cost Rates equips professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to develop compliant rate structures, negotiate effectively with federal agencies, and manage indirect cost recovery across the federal grant lifecycle.

Participants gain the tools needed to ensure rates are defensible, sustainable, and aligned with federal cost principles. Distinguish direct and indirect costs using federal cost principles under 2 CFR 200. Explain the regulatory framework governing indirect cost allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

Develop defensible indirect cost pools and allocation bases aligned with organizational operations. Prepare indirect cost rate proposals supported by financial data and documentation. Interpret the roles and expectations of cognizant agencies during rate negotiation.

Apply negotiation strategies that support both regulatory compliance and organizational sustainability. Identify common audit risks and documentation gaps related to indirect cost practices. Align indirect cost rates with financial systems, policies, and organizational structures.

Apply approved indirect cost rates consistently across federal awards. Manage indirect cost rates throughout the grant lifecycle, including revisions, extensions, and closeout. Detecting and Preventing Federal Grant Fraud Course Conduct fraud-focused risk assessments in the context of federal grants.

Design monitoring processes that emphasize prevention and include actionable steps. Evaluate internal controls to identify gaps and vulnerabilities. Apply fraud detection techniques through case-based exercises.

Analyze real-world scenarios to identify how fraud could have been prevented or detected. Build a practical toolkit for reducing fraud risk across awards and subawards. Internal Control for Grants Course Define risk in the context of grants management and oversight.

Explain legislative and administrative requirements for internal controls. Describe how risk and internal controls are connected throughout the assistance lifecycle. Translate internal control frameworks into practical grants management activities.

Design, document, and test controls that promote compliance and performance. Apply best practices for monitoring and oversight through case-based exercises. Link Green Book principles to grant management by ensuring control activities align with compliance requirements, allowable costs, and program objectives.

Apply risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities in grant spending, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring. Document and monitor control activities (e.g., approvals, reconciliations, and segregation of duties) to strengthen accountability for grant funds. Use ongoing evaluation and corrective actions to address internal control deficiencies and demonstrate compliance with federal standards.

Learn the full grants management lifecycle, from award to close-out, while understanding the auditor's role in assessing compliance and performance. This course provides strategies for developing audit objectives, identifying issues, and offering constructive feedback. Understanding the grants management process and regulatory requirements.

Developing audit objectives and procedures for compliance and performance. Applying cost principles and performance measurement techniques. Providing constructive feedback and recommendations for corrective actions.

Conducting audits through case studies and practical exercises. Schedule & Enrollment: Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program Price before discounts: $6,300 Dates & times are listed in Attend this course online as with access to an instructor for questions. When you purchase the self-paced course, you may also attend the live course for free within one year.

Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight Course Jul 14–15, Tue–Wed, 9am–4:30pm Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements Course Jul 30–31, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Grant Performance, Outcomes, and Results Management Course Aug 24–25, Mon–Tue, 9am–4:30pm Program Design and Risk Assessment Course Aug 27–28, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course Sep 17–18, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions Course Sep 24–25, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight Course Oct 1–2, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements Course Oct 13–14, Tue–Wed, 9am–4:30pm Program Design and Risk Assessment Course Oct 27–28, Tue–Wed, 9am–4:30pm Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course Nov 5–6, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions Course Nov 12–13, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Grant Performance, Outcomes, and Results Management Course Dec 3–4, Thu–Fri, 9am–4:30pm Our alumni consistently commend the expertise of our instructors and the real-world relevance of our programs.

Their feedback highlights how Graduate School USA training has advanced their skills, supported their agencies’ missions, and fostered long-term professional growth. Detecting and Preventing Federal Grant Fraud Course Melanie, the instructor, kept us engaged throughout the entire two days. Well-presented class and relevant work exercises.

The instructor was very knowledgeable and helped us understand the material with real-life examples. Enjoyed the class and the teamwork. The instructor had a sense of humor and was engaging.

I would recommend others take this course. The instructor took the time to explain each section and the exercises and made sure all students had a good understanding. The instructor is knowledgeable about the subject.

Both the External and the Internal Audit units attended this training and it was great working in different assigned groups every day that the Directors of Internal and External set up prior to the training. It gave us a chance to get a better understanding of what the other unit does. This training would be excellent for CTDOT Finance as well as CTDOT program managers for the various Federal Grants for which CTDOT receives funding.

Overall, it was a positive experience—we had the opportunity to interact with the instructor and collaborate in teams. David was an excellent instructor—knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the subject matter. He created a welcoming learning environment and encouraged thoughtful discussion throughout the session.

Overall, the course was worthwhile, and the information will be useful in my auditing profession. David was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the entire course. He was able to relate the material to our experiences.

Everything was great! The content was easy to access and understand. David did a great job.

Very friendly and knowledgeable about the class. Learned a lot a different views on grants and contracts. I enjoyed the course, I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge about how grants should be handled throughout the process and as an auditor, I feel as though I know more about what to look out for.

David was very personable, goes with the flow. He was knowledgeable and had some great real world stories about both being audited and auditing. I really enjoyed the class.

A lot of information the helped refresh our knowledge of grants. Received a lot of information out of this course. Instructor was well spoken and informative and engaging.

Materials provided were clear and understandable. And the instructor was knowledgeable of the subject. Good class!

Although it's a technical course, the instructor did a great job at keeping us engaged for 3 days. Great class, highly recommended. Helps understanding and confirming that the federal requirements should be followed, and needs the finance team to learn these aspects of contracts.

This class provided a lot of helpful handouts. The instructor had a lot of experience and knowledge to share and kept the class engaged. Bob was great and informative.

Price before discounts: $6,300 Due before the class starts of live, project-based training from experts Additional elective course Additional 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class Proprietary workbooks included Retake for free within 1 year Verified digital certificate of completion Learning Experience Highlights Training from government‑experienced instructors Receive instruction from subject‑matter experts who bring proven government experience.

Specialized for government & DoD Courses that are regularly updated based on feedback and industry developments, ensuring versions are mapped to federal competencies. The instructor was wonderful and so knowledgeable. The course materials were extremely relevant to what my job is.

I feel like I can be better because of this class. Directly addressing the day-to-day challenges of federal employees. 125+ departments & agencies served Your trusted training partner, equipping public service professionals with the skills and knowledge to excel in their roles and drive meaningful impact.

Attend this certificate program live online or as self-paced training. Engage with expert instructors, ask questions, and get feedback on your exercises and projects. Live Online Remote, from anywhere Get the same interactivity and access to the instructor as in-person students.

There are no extra fees and we’ll work with you to ensure your remote setup is perfect. Experienced instructor teaching live online Remote setup assistance provided Self-Paced Remote, from anywhere Learn at your own pace with pre-recorded video lessons and hands-on exercises. Work through the material on your schedule with access to course content and resources.

Learn on your own with access to an instructor for questions 24/7 access to premium course videos Hands-on exercises and projects 1-on-1 Mentoring Sessions Included We want you to succeed in your career goals.

In addition to 14 days of hands-on, interactive training, you’ll also receive a 1-on-1 mentoring session where you can: Review your portfolio work with an expert Drill down on challenging concepts Polish your resume and LinkedIn profile Receive professional advice for applying to jobs Ensure you’re on track with your learning goals Learn more about our mentoring and see terms and conditions Earn a Certificate of Completion Upon completion of this course, you’ll receive an official certificate testifying to your mastery of the curriculum.

We’ll send you a link where you can download your certificate, share it online with your friends, post it to your professional network on LinkedIn, and view all your earned certificates. Congratulations on your achievement! Missed a session or need a refresher?

We have you covered! We offer a single free retake of any module or the whole program within a year. See terms and conditions.

Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program Curriculum What You'll Learn at a Glance Explain how federal grant program design decisions influence risk, oversight requirements, and long-term program outcomes. Apply pre-award risk assessment methods to evaluate financial, programmatic, compliance, and organizational capacity risks.

Structure federal awards and special conditions that align funding decisions with documented risk assessments. Interpret statutory authority, policy guidance, and regulatory requirements when designing or managing federal assistance programs. Differentiate outputs, outcomes, and impact measures when evaluating grant program performance.

Design monitoring strategies that align oversight activities with program risk and performance indicators. Manage cooperative agreements by balancing collaboration, oversight responsibilities, and regulatory expectations. Document grant decisions, monitoring actions, and award structures in ways that support defensible oversight and audit readiness.

Since 1921, Graduate School USA has partnered with over 125 federal agencies and trained more than one million federal employees. Led by instructors with deep, real-world knowledge of federal regulations, policies, and practices, our private group programs are practical, mission-driven, and tailored to your agency’s objectives.

We offer expertise across key federal domains—including human resources, financial management, acquisition and contracting, leadership, and more—to deliver training where and how your team needs it. Complete this form and we’ll get back to you within 1 business hour.

If you are a human, ignore this field The Fact Is – We’ve Been Government’s Training Partner Since 1921 Accreditation and Approvals Attendance and Refund Policy Inclement Weather/Emergency Closure Government Training and Professional Development Policies Registration and Payment Policies Installment Plan Breakdown for Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program Each installment is charged to your card on file one week before the start of the associated course.

The payment schedule may vary if the courses are taken in a different order.

10% non-refundable deposit Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight Course Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements Course Grant Performance, Outcomes, and Results Management Course Program Design and Risk Assessment Course ▴ Your 10% deposit has been applied, as well as the certificate discount of $1,801 Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions Course See the Installment plan FAQ for more information.