Guides
Grant guides
Plain-English walkthroughs of the confusing parts of getting federal grants — registering in SAM.gov and getting your UEI, setting up Grants.gov, writing your budget justification, and drafting the proposal narrative — plus how to avoid the paid “registration services” that charge for things that are free.
Free checklist
Federal Grant Registration Checklist (SAM.gov + Grants.gov)
The printable 2-8 week registration checklist so a slow SAM.gov approval never costs you a deadline.
Read guide →Registration
How to Register to Apply for Federal Grants (Step by Step)
The full registration chain — EIN, SAM.gov/UEI, Login.gov, and Grants.gov — in plain English, with how long each step takes.
Read guide →How Long Does SAM.gov Registration Take?
Official vs real-world timelines, what causes delays, and why your registration must be active the moment you submit.
Read guide →SAM.gov vs Grants.gov: What's the Difference?
Two different systems, one workflow - what each does, and why you register in SAM.gov before Grants.gov.
Read guide →Is SAM.gov Registration Free? How to Avoid the Scams
It's free. Here's how to avoid the paid 'registration services' and where to get real help for $0.
Read guide →UEI vs DUNS: What Changed and What You Need Now
DUNS is gone. The free UEI replaced it - what it is, and how to get yours.
Read guide →Budget
How to Write a Budget Justification (With Examples)
What a budget justification is, how to explain every number, and worked examples by category.
Read guide →Free template
Budget Justification Template + Worked Examples
A fill-in template with worked examples for every budget category.
Read guide →Grant Budget Template: How to Build One (With Examples)
The standard budget categories and how to build a clean, fundable grant budget.
Read guide →Narrative
How to Write a Grant Proposal Narrative
The sections of a winning narrative, and how to beat the blank page.
Read guide →Free template
Grant Proposal Narrative Template + Outline
A section-by-section narrative outline to turn a blank page into a draft.
Read guide →How to Write a Needs Statement (With Examples)
Make the case with data: who's affected, the gap, and the evidence to cite.
Read guide →Not sure you qualify?
Before you spend weeks on registration, see which federal grants actually fit your situation — free, no signup.