Grant words in plain English

Grant notices are full of jargon. Here's what the common words mean.

NOFO, RFP, RFA: The official announcement of a grant: Notice of Funding Opportunity, Request for Proposals, or Request for Applications. It holds the real rules, deadline and scoring. When GrantMe and the notice disagree, the notice wins.
Assistance Listing (ALN, formerly CFDA): A federal program's ID number, like 97.044 (Assistance to Firefighters). One program can post many notices over the years. GrantMe's program pages are organized by this number.
SAM.gov and UEI: Every organization that gets federal money must register, free, at SAM.gov and receive a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration can take weeks and must be renewed every year. Never pay a website to do it. Grant-ready checklist
Edison (Tennessee): Tennessee state government's finance system. State agencies usually need you registered as a supplier in Edison before they can pay a grant.
501(c)(3): The IRS status of a charitable nonprofit. Most foundations and companies give only to 501(c)(3) groups, public schools, churches or local governments. No 501(c)(3)? See fiscal sponsor.
Fiscal sponsor: An established nonprofit that applies for or receives a grant on behalf of a group without its own 501(c)(3), and usually keeps a small fee. Common for new groups, coalitions and community projects.
Match or cost share: Money or donated help you must add alongside the grant. A 1:1 match on a $50,000 grant means $50,000 of your own. Some programs accept in-kind match.
In-kind: Non-cash contributions with a dollar value, like donated space, equipment or volunteer hours. Funders set rules for how you value them.
Reimbursement vs. advance: With reimbursement, you spend your own money first and the funder pays you back after you submit receipts, often months later. With an advance, money comes up front. Reimbursement grants need cash on hand.
Indirect costs (overhead): Costs that keep the organization running but aren't tied to one project, like rent, accounting and insurance. Under federal rules, groups without a negotiated rate may usually charge a "de minimis" rate of up to 15% of most direct costs (2 CFR 200.414). Foundations set their own limits.
Single Audit: A special annual audit required when an organization spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a year (2 CFR 200.501). Budget for it if you're near that amount.
Formula grant, pass-through, subaward: Much federal money goes to the state by formula. A state agency then re-grants it locally as subawards. That's why a federal program can show "no open notice" while a Tennessee agency is taking applications for the same money.
Forecast: A grant the funder has announced but isn't taking applications for yet. Dates can change. Use the time to get ready.
LOI (letter of inquiry or intent): A short letter, often 1–2 pages, describing your project. Many foundations ask for one first and invite full proposals only from the letters they like.
Invitation only / no unsolicited proposals: The funder picks grantees itself and won't review applications it didn't ask for. The usual path is a relationship: an introduction through a board member, a current grantee or the funder's staff.
Rolling deadline: Applications are accepted any time and reviewed as they arrive, or at regular board meetings. Earlier is usually better, since money can run out.
General operating support: A grant you can spend on the organization's everyday costs rather than one project. Prized and less common.
Capacity building: Grants that make an organization stronger, like staff training, technology, planning or fundraising systems, rather than paying for services directly.
Letter of support: A letter from a partner, official or community member backing your project. Ask early, since partners need time, and give them a short draft of the key points.
Form 990-PF: The tax return every private foundation files with the IRS. It lists the grants it paid and how to apply. GrantMe's foundation pages come from these filings.

General information, not legal or accounting advice. Each funder's own rules control.