It’s no secret that applying for government grants is a difficult process, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are countless resources online that are available to assist you with your grant proposal, and we recommend that you consult one of them whenever you are in doubt.

Remember, it’s much better to ask for help rather than risk filling out your application incorrectly, because even one simple mistake can take you out of the running to receive federal grant money.

The following are frequently asked questions that may be able to help you solve common problems that regularly face government grant applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Get Started steps to apply for grants?

What information will I need to register with Grants.gov?

Obtaining a DUNS Number

Is registering for a DUNS Number free of charge?

Why does my organization have to provide a DUNS Number?

How can I check if my organization already has a DUNS Number?

What information will I need to obtain a DUNS Number?

How do I request a DUNS Number?

How can I be removed from D&B’s marketing list?

I am an individual, how do I obtain a DUNS Number?

Registering with CCR/E-Biz POC

What do I need to register with CCR?

Why do I need to register with CCR?

How do I register with CCR?

Is there anything I should do before registering with CCR?

How long should I allow for CCR registration?

As an Individual, what do I need to know about registering with CCR?

What is a MPIN? Where can I locate or assign my MPIN?

Who is the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC)?

How do I access the E-Business Point of Contact login?

Why can’t I log into the E-Biz POC section of Grants.gov?

What is the role of the E-Business Point of Contact?

What is an Agency Enrollment Code, and who needs one?

Adobe Questions

Why did I receive an error when I opened the application package I downloaded or received from another user, telling me I have an incompatible version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader?

Can I use Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional to complete and submit an Adobe-Reader application package with Grants.gov?

I already have an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat Professional software on my computer and I am unable to update my Acrobat Professional Software at this time. What can I do?

I have set Adobe Reader as my default, but I am still having issues submitting my Adobe Reader package. What should I do?

What are some of the common errors received when using unsupported Adobe Reader versions and Adobe Acrobat Professional?

How can I ensure I am using Adobe Reader to work on my application package?

Why am I getting a security error when I try to download Adobe Reader?

I downloaded the package and filled all the fields and clicked “Check Package for Errors” button, it gives “Validation Passed” message, but why isn’t “Save & Submit” getting enabled?

Why doesn’t the scroll bar show on my Adobe Reader package?

What is the Grants.gov compatible version of Adobe Reader software?

What if I have an older version (released earlier than the Grants.gov compatible version) of Adobe Reader?

I entered data into one field in my grants application package, however, the Save icon is not active. Why?

The cursor position appears lost when I tab from the Close and Next Page buttons. Why?

The cursor position is lost when I try to move the cursor to the first fillable form field on a second (or subsequent) page while viewing the Adobe Reader in “Continuous” form mode. Why?

The Tab key only takes me to the first radio button where I can only choose one option (i.e., Yes or No). Why?

In the Adobe Reader application package, the View Attachment pop-up window has three options, but the Tab key does not move the cursor. Why?

How do I display a Help Tip in my Adobe Reader application package?

Why are Help Tips missing on some fields?

How do I fill in the date in Adobe Reader application packages?

How do I complete numeric fields in Adobe Reader application packages?

Why do I get error messages in some form fields by simply tabbing through them even before I enter any data in them?

When I open an application package in Adobe Reader, I get a window titled, “Document Rights and Instructions.” It says, “You need a newer version of Acrobat.” What does this message mean?

I do not understand the error message I am receiving while completing my Adobe Reader application package. What does it mean?

Why are non-mandatory fields becoming mandatory in my application and causing errors when I try to submit my application package?

What can I do if I am having issues viewing my Adobe Reader application package while using a Macintosh Safari internet browser?

I received the error message, “Intake Servlet is Unable to Save the Data. Broken Pipe.” What does it mean and is there anyway to avoid this error?

I am using Adobe Reader (or Professional) software version 9.1.4 (or 8.1.4) on a MAC and cannot select the date using the calendar dropdown in my application package. What should I do?

Restrictions

Are there restrictions on file names for any attachment I include with my application package?

What kind of information can be entered into form fields within my application?

Can I copy and paste information into my Grants.gov application from a MSWord document?

What type of attachments may be added to an application package?

What are the application guidelines to follow for a successful submission?

Why was my application package rejected by the Grants.gov system?

Can I use accent marks or are they considered special characters?

Once your application has been received, you’re certainly going to want to stay updated on your proposal’s status. If you are connected to the internet, you can easily do this by logging in to Grants.gov with your username and password.

When you are logged in to Grants.gov, you will be provided with everything you need to know about the status of your grant proposal. That information can include if it has been viewed yet, when your proposal is expected to be reviewed, and most importantly, if your application has been approved or denied.

FAQs: Tracking an Application Submission

How do I know that my application has been received by Grants.gov?

How do I know if the grantor agency has retrieved my application?

How can I check a submitted application’s status?

What do I do if I have not received a grant receipt confirmation within two business days?

How will I know if my application is rejected by the Grants.gov system?

What do I need in order to check the status of an application I submitted and the agency has downloaded the application?

Where do I get the tracking number for an application I submitted?

What do the application statuses mean?

When submitting an application, what is the difference between a submission receipt and a submission validation?

I submitted an application that is not in my queue and the agency has not received it yet. Where is my application?

What do the application submission status tracking codes/messages mean?

Why am I not getting email notification from Grants.gov for my application submission, what can I do?

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Welcome to the Government Grant Proposal Writing Course.

If you are reading this letter, congratulations are in order. Knowing how to find and apply for government grants can open countless potentially life-changing opportunities. By having this document before you, that means that you have decided to learn a valuable skill that is possessed by very few people.

Taking this course will give you a head start over nearly all other government grant applicants. While few people know how to find and apply for government grants, an even smaller number of people know how to correctly apply for them. This course will help you learn how to develop well-written, expertly crafted grant proposals that will get more positive attention than those of your competitors.

The skills and techniques contained in this course will teach you how to make sure that your grant proposals always have the best chance to be approved. When most people apply for grants, they submit an application and blindly hope it gets approved, or even just read. But with the skills this course teaches, you can almost guarantee that your request for grant money will be approved.

Even though we are distributing this grant approval kit for free, the information it includes is extremely valuable. Everything in this document will help you ensure that each and every grant proposal you submit includes everything they will need to be approved.

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