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Grant Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the grant terms people keep tripping over.
Assistance Listing
CFDACatalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Definition
The federal listing number/category for a grant program.
Plain English
The old CFDA name still gets used sometimes, but the current term is Assistance Listing.
Why it matters
It helps identify the correct federal program and is often referenced in award paperwork.
Competitive Grant
Definition
A grant awarded through a review and scoring process.
Plain English
You’re competing against other applicants, and the best proposal wins.
Why it matters
You need a stronger narrative and compliance package.
Eligibility
eligibleeligibility requirements
Definition
The rules that determine who may apply.
Plain English
This tells you whether your organization type, location, or project can apply.
Why it matters
If you don’t meet eligibility, the application is dead on arrival.
Formula Grant
Definition
A grant distributed based on a formula, not a competitive score.
Plain English
The money is often allocated based on rules like population or need.
Why it matters
These are easier to predict than competitive grants.
Indirect Costs
overheadF&AFacilities and Administrative costs
Definition
Shared organizational expenses that support the project but are not direct project costs.
Plain English
Think rent, admin, accounting, and the lights staying on.
Why it matters
You need to know whether the grant allows indirect costs and at what rate.
Match Rate
cost share percentage
Definition
The percentage of the project cost you must provide.
Plain English
If the grant says 20% match, you bring 20 cents for every dollar the grant covers.
Why it matters
This affects budget size and whether the grant is realistic for your organization.
MTDC
Modified Total Direct Cost
Definition
A federal budgeting base used to calculate indirect costs.
Plain English
Not every dollar in the budget counts toward the indirect-cost math.
Why it matters
Using the wrong base can wreck your budget math.
NOFO
FOANotice of Funding OpportunityFunding Opportunity Announcement
Definition
The official posting that announces a grant opportunity.
Plain English
This is the grant listing itself — the document that says what the agency wants, who can apply, how to apply, and when it is due.
Why it matters
If you miss what the NOFO says, you can waste time on a grant you cannot win.
Period of Performance
project periodgrant period
Definition
The time window in which the grant-funded work must happen.
Plain English
Start to finish, this is the window where the project has to be active and expenses have to fit.
Why it matters
Costs outside the period usually don’t count.
SAM.gov
Definition
The federal registration system used by organizations that want to do business with the government.
Plain English
You usually need this before you can get paid by a federal grant.
Why it matters
Expired registration can kill an award or block payment.
Supplanting
Definition
Using grant money to replace money that should already be covering the expense.
Plain English
The grant cannot just take the place of money you were already supposed to spend.
Why it matters
A lot of grants ban it outright.
UEI
Unique Entity Identifier
Definition
The identifier used by the federal government to identify your organization.
Plain English
It’s the number that says, 'this is your organization' in the federal system.
Why it matters
It’s required for most federal grant workflows.
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