The application's basic information web-form includes the minimal project identifying information such as the proposal title, grant category and applicant information needed to uniquely identify the application.  All correspondence to the applicant will be sent to the applicant's email address listed here.

The applicant contact information web-form includes the primary and secondary applicants' full contact information.

The project funding and abstract web-form identifies the funding amount requested and the abstract used to provide a summary of the project.  All funding requires non-Federal matching funds of at least 50% of the total project amount (Federal funding + non-Federal match).

NOTE: Federal and non-Federal funding amounts MUST match what's entered on your SF-424 Federal Financial forms as well as your Budget Narrative/Justification.  If you change amounts on any of these forms, make sure you update the amounts on the other forms to match.

Proposals developed for or submitted by disadvantaged community populations are also identified and explained here.

Proposals are required to address each of the criteria listed in the project/proposal narrative template.  Proposals that do not include all the requested information will not score well in the evaluation process.

You can download a blank Proposal Narrative Template (.doc format) from the Forms and Templates section of the Grants Portal. Your completed Proposal Narrative Template must be saved as a PDF document for uploading to the Grants Portal.

The Proposal Narrative is not to be more than 10 single spaced pages, excluding items identified in the appendix.  Please make sure each page is numbered.

An automatic disqualification may occur if the proposal does not demonstrate how it has national application / benefits the entire country; does not meet the 1:1 matching requirement, does not apply to urban and community forestry program authorities and/or does not utilize the proposal narrative template format.

The Proposal Narrative Template identifies each criteria required to be addressed for your proposal and the related scoring points for each criteria.  The criteria in the Proposal Template are numbered and ordered.

Refer to the NOFO document linked to on the Grant Portal home page for complete details.

The literature review should indicate the background information you are basing your approach upon, or other work that supports the importance of this proposal.  If your proposal narrative does not include the complete literature review, include it here.  All literature listed should be referenced from the proposal narrative as appropriate. Do not cite literature that is not directly related to the development of your project.

Your literature review document must be saved as a PDF document for upload to the Grant Portal.  The document you upload will be included in the Appendix as part of your Proposal Narrative.

Your literature review should be limited to 1 page.

Provide supporting statements related to the the experience of the personnel and adequacy of resources as requested in the Project Narrative.   The PDF document you upload will be included in the Appendix as part of your Proposal Narrative.

The budget narrative/justification should provide sufficient details (e.g., personnel, equipment, consultants, supplies, administration, partnership contributions) to reflect costs needed to complete the activities identified in the proposal narrative work plan.

Matching amounts, if listed as in-kind contributions (e.g., personnel time, donated equipment, materials, and matching non-Federal grants), should be based on realistic calculated values. Costs should also provide enough detail to determine if they are reasonable and allowable. The budget should also identify the source of non-Federal resources and the ability to meet matching requirements.

NOTE: The Federal funding and non-Federal match amounts MUST match the funding requested on the Budget/Abstract, SF-424 (Federal Financial forms) and this Budget Narrative/Justification form.  If you change the funds requested, make sure you make the change to the other forms as well.

Your completed budget narrative must be saved as a PDF document for upload to the Grant Portal.  The PDF document you upload will be included in the Appendix as part of your Proposal Narrative.

Refer to the example budget table with narrative/justification as a reference.

Enter the project's application for Federal assistance details using Federal financial form SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance).  NOTE: Your project's authorized representative is required to hand sign this form.

NOTE: The Federal funding and non-Federal match amounts MUST match the funding requested on the Budget/Abstract, SF-424 (Federal Financial forms) and the Budget Narrative/Justification form.  If you change the funds requested, make sure you make the change to the other forms as well.

You can download a blank SF-424 form (PDF format) from the Forms, Templates, and Resources section of the Grants Portal.  Your completed SF-424 form must be saved as a PDF document for upload to the Grant Portal.  The document you upload will be included in the Appendix section of your Application.

Enter the project's budget details using Federal financial form SF-424A (Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs).

NOTE: The Federal funding and non-Federal match amounts MUST match the funding requested on the Budget/Abstract, SF-424 (Federal Financial forms) and the Budget Narrative/Justification form.  If you change the funds requested, make sure you make the change to the other forms as well.

You can download a blank SF-424A form (PDF format) from the Forms, Templates, and Resources section of the Grants Portal.  Your completed SF-424A form must be saved as a PDF document for upload to the Grant Portal.  The document you upload will be included in the Appendix section of your Application.

You are required to affirm to certain assurances to apply for Federal assistance.  Affirm the assurances using Federal financial form SF-424B (Assurances - Non-Construction Programs).  NOTE: Your duly authorized representative is required to hand sign this form.

You can download a blank SF-424B form (PDF format) from the Forms, Templates, and Resources section of the Grants Portal.  Your completed SF-424B form must be saved as a PDF document for upload to the Grant Portal.  The document you upload will be included in the Appendix section of your application.

Optional. If indirect costs are included in the budget, provide documentation of the negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or a copy of the submitted application to the primary funding federal agency.  Note: Although indirect costs are allowable in Federal Financial Assistance Grants, the Council prefers that indirect costs are shared or covered by matching funds.

If you have multiple documents, combine all documents into one .pdf file for upload.  The .pdf document you upload will be included in the Appendix as part of your Project Narrative.

Optional. If the Disadvantaged Communities boxes were checked on the Project Funding / Abstract form, you are required to explain either how you meet the criteria as being a Disadvantaged Communities applicant and/or what specific cultural group(s) will be served and the outreach strategy that will be used to serve the specific cultural group(s).

Optional.  You may be asked by the Grant Administrator to provide additional information or documentation directly related to your proposal.  When asked, you may upload the additional supporting documentation here if it does not fall into any of the other upload categories.  Do NOT upload unsolicited information or documentation. The .pdf document you upload will be included in the Appendix as part of your Project Narrative.

The uploaded document MUST be an Adobe PDF document.