Grant compliance guides
The rules that come with a federal award, mostly from 2 CFR 200 (the Uniform Guidance): allowable costs, indirect cost rates, procurement, budget revisions, records retention and the Single Audit. Read them once you've won an award, or before you apply if federal money is new to your organization.
Guides
33 guides in Compliance
Time & Effort Reporting: Federal Grant Requirements
2 CFR 200.430(g) requires salary records that reflect actual work and cover 100% of paid activity. What time and effort reporting needs to pass audits.
How to Write a Grant Budget Justification (With Examples)
A grant budget justification explains why each cost in the 9 federal budget categories is necessary, allocable, reasonable and allowed.
How to Calculate Your Indirect Cost Rate for Federal Grants
Calculate federal indirect costs with the up-to-15% de minimis rate (10% on NIH awards), a negotiated rate, MTDC exclusions and award caps.
2 CFR 200.344 Closeout Checklist: The 120-Day Rule
2 CFR 200.344 closeout: final reports and liquidation are due 120 days after the period of performance, 90 for subrecipients. Checklist and 200.345.
Federal Grant Budget Categories Explained (2026 Guide)
Federal grants use 9 budget categories under 2 CFR 200. Learn the $10,000 equipment threshold and MTDC rules to avoid costly errors.
Cost Allocation Plan for Grants: 2 CFR 200 Guide
A cost allocation plan distributes shared costs across 2+ funding sources using 5 approved methods. Step-by-step guide with examples.
Federal Grant Compliance Requirements: What to Know
Federal grant compliance follows 2 CFR 200. The 2024 update raised the Single Audit threshold to $1 million. Here's what to know.
Indirect Cost Rate Negotiation Guide (2026)
Negotiate your indirect cost rate with 4 proven strategies. Learn cognizant agency rules, de minimis 15%, NICRA process, and statutory caps for 2026.
Indirect Cost Rate Negotiation: NICRA Guide
A first-time nonprofit NICRA proposal is due within 3 months of the award. Learn the rate proposal, who your cognizant agency is, and the 4 rate types.
2 CFR 200.308: Budget Revisions, Prior Approval, 10% Rule
2 CFR 200.308 lists which budget and program changes need prior approval. The 10% transfer limit is optional and applies only above $350,000.
Grant Cost Sharing & Matching Requirements Guide
Many federal grants set a fixed match, such as 20% or 25%. Learn in-kind valuation, documentation rules, and 7 common matching pitfalls under 2 CFR 200.
Grant Period of Performance Guide (2026)
Current federal period-of-performance guidance: award dates, pre-award costs, no-cost extensions, carryover, and closeout timing.
2 CFR 200.305 Payments: How Federal Grant Drawdowns Work
2 CFR 200.305 requires payment methods that minimize the time between receiving and spending federal funds. PMS, ASAP and 3 cash management rules.
Effort Reporting Federal Grants: 2 CFR 200 Guide
Effort reporting is a frequent audit focus. Learn 2 CFR 200.430 rules, certification methods, and 5 common violations to avoid.
What Is Cost Sharing in Grants? Match Explained
Cost sharing is the non-federal portion of a grant project's costs. Learn mandatory vs. voluntary rules, documentation, and 6 common audit failures.
Conflict of Interest in Federal Grants: 2 CFR 200.112
Conflict of interest grants guide: disclose $5,000+ PHS interests, 2 CFR 200.112 conflicts, procurement COI, plans, and agency reporting.
Federal Grant Closeout Process: Step-by-Step Guide
Current federal grant closeout rules: report deadlines, obligation liquidation, property, refunds, and award-specific closeout steps.
Supplement Not Supplant Guide for Federal Grants
Supplement not supplant rules vary across 5 major programs. Title I uses a methodology test, IDEA doesn't. Here's how each program defines supplanting.
Grant Fraud & False Claims Act: Penalties Guide
Grant fraud penalties include treble damages plus $14,308-$28,619 per false claim. Learn what triggers FCA liability and how to protect your organization.
2 CFR 200.313: Inventory Every 2 Years, Records, Disposal
2 CFR 200.313 requires a physical inventory of federally funded equipment at least every 2 years, property records for each item, and disposition steps.
How to Manage Multiple Federal Grants (2026 Guide)
Total effort across federal grants can't exceed 100%. Learn cost allocation, overlap reporting, and 6 strategies for managing multiple awards.
Federal Grant Progress Report Guide (2026)
Current federal grant progress-report guidance: award-controlled timing, NIH RPPR workflow, performance evidence, and corrective-action writing.
Grant Property Standards: Equipment & Supply Rules
Grant property standards set the equipment threshold at $10,000. Federal interest rules apply to 3 categories of property. Here's what you need to know.
Debarment & Suspension in Federal Grants Guide
Federal debarment and suspension under 2 CFR 180: SAM.gov exclusions, the $25,000 covered-contract rule, 30-day response, scope, and reinstatement.
Show all 33 guides
- Grant Audit Preparation Guide & Checklist (2026)
- Federal Grant Reporting Requirements: What Funders Expect
- Subrecipient Monitoring: 2 CFR 200.332 Steps and Checklist
- Federal Grant Budget Revision Rules (2026 Guide)
- 2 CFR 200.404 Reasonable Costs: 5-Factor Test
- Single Audit Threshold: $1,000,000, Up From $750,000
- 2 CFR 200.334 Records Retention Guide 2026
- 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance: The 2024 Numbers in One Table
- Federal Grant Procurement: 5 Methods Under 2 CFR 200.320
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