Nonprofit Grant Application Readiness Review
Well-prepared grant applications significantly improve success rates. This readiness review ensures all organizational eligibility requirements are met, application requirements are understood, and all components are complete before submission.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Per Grant Application
- Estimated Time: 4-6 hours
- Role: Grants Manager / Executive Director
- Total Items: 29
Organizational Eligibility
Verify organizational eligibility for this grant.
- 501(c)(3) status current (not revoked per IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search)?
- Organization type meets funder eligibility (public charity vs private foundation, specific types)?
- Organization located in or serving funder's geographic focus area?
- Proposed project falls within funder's program or issue area priorities?
- Organization budget size within funder's eligible range if specified?
Required Registrations
Verify all required registrations are current.
- SAM.gov registration current with active UEI for federal grants?
- Grants.gov or funder portal account registered for electronic submission?
- State charitable registration current in funder's state if required?
- Organizational identifiers (EIN, UEI) available for application?
Application Requirements Review
Review all application requirements.
- RFP or funding guidelines read thoroughly by all team members?
- Questions submitted to program officer before deadline if any?
- Page, word count, and font requirements noted for all sections?
- Required attachments list compiled and all documents identified?
- File format and naming requirements for submission noted?
Narrative Preparation
Prepare grant narrative.
- Problem or need statement written with current data citations?
- Project description clearly explains activities, timeline, and methodology?
- Measurable outcomes and evaluation plan included?
- Organizational capacity and qualifications section compelling and accurate?
- Project sustainability beyond grant period addressed?
Budget Preparation
Prepare grant budget.
- Budget figures consistent with project description and timeline?
- Budget narrative justifying each line item prepared?
- Indirect cost treatment addressed per funder's policy?
- Required match or cost sharing identified and documented?
- Budget reviewed by ED or fiscal staff for accuracy and allowability?
Attachments and Submission
Assemble all attachments and prepare submission.
- All required attachments compiled (990, audit, letters of support, board list)?
- IRS determination letter included if required?
- Board authorization or signature obtained if required?
- Complete application reviewed by second person before submission?
- Submission confirmation or receipt obtained and filed?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Grant Compliance Monitoring and Reporting
- Nonprofit Grant Closeout and Final Reporting
- Nonprofit Grant Pipeline and Prospect Research Management
- Nonprofit Grant Reporting Calendar and Deadline Management
- Nonprofit Donor Database Hygiene and Data Quality Audit
- Nonprofit Major Donor Stewardship Program Audit
- Nonprofit Pledge Tracking and Fulfillment Management
- Nonprofit Annual Fund Performance Analysis
Related Grant Management Checklists
- Nonprofit Grant Compliance Monitoring and Reporting - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Grant Closeout and Final Reporting - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Grant Pipeline and Prospect Research Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Grant Reporting Calendar and Deadline Management - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Federal Grant Subrecipient Monitoring - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Grant Application Readiness Review?
This nonprofit grant application readiness review helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for grants manager / executive director professionals, this checklist covers 29 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: per grant application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Grant Application Readiness Review cover?
This checklist covers 29 inspection items across 6 sections: Organizational Eligibility, Required Registrations, Application Requirements Review, Narrative Preparation, Budget Preparation, Attachments and Submission. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed per grant application. Each completion takes approximately 4-6 hours.
Who should use this Nonprofit Grant Application Readiness Review?
This checklist is designed for Grants Manager / Executive Director professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.