
Tweet Tips for Getting Started with Government Grants Jen Maslanski, Argenta Copywriter If you're in charge of getting funding for your nonprofit, federal grants are a good place to start. They typically come with higher dollar amounts than most private or local grants, and fund projects for multiple years. Winning federal funding boosts a nonprofit’s credibility, making it easier to attract other funders. It may even surprise you to know that some federal grants pay for capacity-building, equipment, and other organizational needs—not just program costs. Here are a few things you should know before you get started. If you want to apply for any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from a U.S. federal agency, you must have a SAM.gov registration. This is the System for Award Management, and it's not a nice to have, it's a must. Without it you can't submit most applications in Grants.gov, because these two systems are linked. Here are a few things to know about registering with SAM.gov When you register with SAM.gov, you get a Unique Entity ID (UEI). This is required on almost every federal grant application, and it’s how the government verifies your nonprofit’s identity and eligibility. SAM.gov registration includes bank account verification to prevent fraud and make sure grant money goes to the right place. Your registration has to be active (not expired) at the time of application and when the grant is awarded. Registration must be renewed annually, or your status goes inactive and you’re ineligible. Other funders may ask for your SAM.gov information too, even though it’s not technically required by law for them. It signals that your nonprofit is legit and in good standing. The process for registration can take a week or longer and sometimes much longer if you run into any snags in the process. You should register well before you plan to apply for any federal funding. Registration Steps for Nonprofits on SAM.gov Gather Required Info Legal name of your organization (as registered with IRS) EIN (Employer Identification Number) Physical address (no PO Boxes) Bank account and routing numbers Organization’s taxpayer identification number Point of contact info (executive and administrator emails/phones) New applicants: Make sure you have your organization’s IRS letter handy Create Login.gov Account Go to SAM.gov and create a Login.gov account (this is now required for all federal logins) Register Your Entity Log into SAM.gov Select “Get Started” under “Register Entity” Enter your organization’s legal information exactly as it appears on your IRS documents Get or Validate Unique Entity ID (UEI) As part of the process, you’ll receive a UEI (if you don’t already have one) If you’re already in SAM.gov but not updated, you might need to convert your old DUNS number to a UEI Provide Banking & Financial Details Enter your bank account information for direct deposit of federal funds Double-check for typos—this is a common error point Assertions & Representations You’ll answer a set of federal compliance questions (debarment, terrorism, etc.) You’ll also have to indicate your nonprofit status Submit & Wait for Validation Submit your application and wait. SAM.gov will validate your info—this can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Watch your email for verification requests Respond to Validation Requests If there are issues (name/address mismatch, etc.), you’ll get a request for more documentation (such as your IRS letter or utility bill) Respond quickly or your registration will stall Get Active Status Once all checks are complete, your registration becomes active. Print and save a PDF of your registration record and note the renewal date Finally, here are a few Pitfalls that trip up nonprofits. Watch out for these! Name/Address Mismatch Biggest cause of delays. Your legal name and address must exactly match IRS records. Even small differences (Ave. vs Avenue, commas, suite numbers, typos) will cause validation to fail. EIN Problems Make sure your EIN is correct and matches the IRS letter. If you’re newly incorporated, your IRS info might not be in federal systems yet. Incomplete/Incorrect Bank Info Enter the right routing and account numbers. Transposed digits or closed accounts will result in failed payments and registration rejection. Expired or Incorrect POCs The point of contact emails/phones need to be monitored. If you use a generic email and don’t check it, you might miss critical requests. Not Responding Quickly If SAM.gov or the Federal Service Desk (FSD) emails you for clarification, respond promptly. Letting a request sit for a few days can reset your timeline. Using a PO Box for Address The system requires a physical address. PO Boxes will almost always result in a failed application. Failing to Renew Annually Registrations expire after 1 year. If you let it lapse, you can’t apply for new federal grants and existing ones may be suspended. Duplicate Registrations Trying to register the same entity more than once can create conflicts and long delays.

Tips for Getting Started with Government Grants

Jen Maslanski, Argenta Copywriter

If you're in charge of getting funding for your nonprofit, federal grants are a good place to start. They typically come with higher dollar amounts than most private or local grants, and fund projects for multiple years. Winning federal funding boosts a nonprofit’s credibility, making it easier to attract other funders. It may even surprise you to know that some federal grants pay for capacity-building, equipment, and other organizational needs—not just program costs. Here are a few things you should know before you get started.

If you want to apply for any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from a U.S. federal agency, you must have a SAM.gov registration. This is the System for Award Management, and it's not a nice to have, it's a must. Without it you can't submit most applications in Grants.gov, because these two systems are linked. Here are a few things to know about registering with SAM.gov

When you register with SAM.gov, you get a Unique Entity ID (UEI). This is required on almost every federal grant application, and it’s how the government verifies your nonprofit’s identity and eligibility.
SAM.gov registration includes bank account verification to prevent fraud and make sure grant money goes to the right place.
Your registration has to be active (not expired) at the time of application and when the grant is awarded. Registration must be renewed annually, or your status goes inactive and you’re ineligible.
Other funders may ask for your SAM.gov information too, even though it’s not technically required by law for them. It signals that your nonprofit is legit and in good standing.
The process for registration can take a week or longer and sometimes much longer if you run into any snags in the process. You should register well before you plan to apply for any federal funding.

Registration Steps for Nonprofits on SAM.gov

Gather Required Info

Legal name of your organization (as registered with IRS)
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Physical address (no PO Boxes)
Bank account and routing numbers
Organization’s taxpayer identification number
Point of contact info (executive and administrator emails/phones)
New applicants: Make sure you have your organization’s IRS letter handy

Create Login.gov Account

Go to SAM.gov and create a Login.gov account (this is now required for all federal logins)

Log into SAM.gov
Select “Get Started” under “Register Entity”
Enter your organization’s legal information exactly as it appears on your IRS documents

Get or Validate Unique Entity ID (UEI)

As part of the process, you’ll receive a UEI (if you don’t already have one)
If you’re already in SAM.gov but not updated, you might need to convert your old DUNS number to a UEI

Provide Banking & Financial Details

Enter your bank account information for direct deposit of federal funds
Double-check for typos—this is a common error point

Assertions & Representations

You’ll answer a set of federal compliance questions (debarment, terrorism, etc.)
You’ll also have to indicate your nonprofit status

Submit & Wait for Validation

Submit your application and wait. SAM.gov will validate your info—this can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Watch your email for verification requests

Respond to Validation Requests

If there are issues (name/address mismatch, etc.), you’ll get a request for more documentation (such as your IRS letter or utility bill)
Respond quickly or your registration will stall

Get Active Status

Once all checks are complete, your registration becomes active. Print and save a PDF of your registration record and note the renewal date

Finally, here are a few Pitfalls that trip up nonprofits. Watch out for these!

Name/Address Mismatch

Biggest cause of delays. Your legal name and address must exactly match IRS records. Even small differences (Ave. vs Avenue, commas, suite numbers, typos) will cause validation to fail.

EIN Problems

Make sure your EIN is correct and matches the IRS letter. If you’re newly incorporated, your IRS info might not be in federal systems yet.

Incomplete/Incorrect Bank Info

Enter the right routing and account numbers. Transposed digits or closed accounts will result in failed payments and registration rejection.

Expired or Incorrect POCs

The point of contact emails/phones need to be monitored. If you use a generic email and don’t check it, you might miss critical requests.

Not Responding Quickly

If SAM.gov or the Federal Service Desk (FSD) emails you for clarification, respond promptly. Letting a request sit for a few days can reset your timeline.

Using a PO Box for Address

The system requires a physical address. PO Boxes will almost always result in a failed application.

Failing to Renew Annually

Registrations expire after 1 year. If you let it lapse, you can’t apply for new federal grants and existing ones may be suspended.

Duplicate Registrations

Trying to register the same entity more than once can create conflicts and long delays.