Overview

Every grant follows a structured path.
This rhythm shapes how you prepare materials and what to expect after you submit.

The process moves through five core phases:

Preparation — Researching opportunities, confirming eligibility, and aligning your project with the funder's focus

Application — Completing required materials and submitting your proposal

Review — Eligibility screening, scoring, and committee evaluation

Decision — Award notifications and next steps

Implementation and Closeout — Executing the work and submitting final reports

Each phase has its own requirements and checkpoints, and luckily, you don't have to know every single nuance; however, this is a great place to start.

What’s Next

Next, you’ll see what happens after your application is submitted, including how reviewers score proposals and how decisions move from internal evaluation to final award notifications.