NATIONAL SERVICES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT GRANTS: How to Apply

Read through these instructions fully, as they include important step-by-step directions to ensure that your application is submitted successfully.

To access the full application instructions, download the application instructions PDF found at the bottom of this page.                              

We use a staggered, multi-year process for Partnership Agreements. The organizations listed below as ON-YEAR applicants are required to submit full-scale applications, while those listed below as OFF-YEAR applicants have simplified requirements.

National Services ON-YEAR

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

National Services OFF-YEAR

N/A

Using Grants.gov

Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY.

The Grants.gov system must receive your validated application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 12, 2023.

Register or renew/verify your registration with Grants.gov and SAM.gov at least two weeks before the deadline.

We suggest that you submit your application at least 10 days prior to the deadline to give yourself ample time to resolve any problems that you might encounter. You take significant risk by waiting until the day of the deadline to submit your application. Late applications will not be accepted.

Registration

Register with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations

Before applying, you must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with Login.gov, the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Registering and maintaining these accounts is always FREE.

These registrations can take several weeks to finalize, so begin this process early! Registrations with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov must be active to submit your application. Finalize all registrations well before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise.

We recommend that you register in the following order:

  1. Login.gov
  2. SAM
  3. Grants.gov

Login.gov Registration

Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. Login.gov is a secure sign in service used by the public to sign in to government sites like Grants.gov and SAM.gov.

Login.gov accounts are tied to an individual, not an organization. The email account you use when registering should be specific to an individual (e.g., your.name@abc.org or your.name@email.com) and not an account shared by multiple people (e.g., development@abc.org).

SAM Registration

Go to SAM Entity Registration to get started on a new entity registration, or to renew/check the status of an existing registration.

You won’t be able to submit your application unless your entity’s SAM registration is active and up-to-date.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): To apply for federal funds, organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric value is assigned by SAM for free during the registration process. Organizations can find their UEI in their SAM record.

Make sure you complete the registration process after the UEI has been assigned.

You must maintain an active SAM registration throughout the application phase and the life of the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in Grants.gov. Verify your entity’s SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.

When renewing your entity’s SAM registration, you must select “Yes” when completing the “Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have accepted these representations & certifications in order to receive an award.

If you have difficulty locating your entity’s UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help section of SAM’s website.

Grants.gov Registration

New Applicants:

  • If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization Registration, after setting up your Login.gov account and registering with SAM.
  • During the Grants.gov registration process, you will be asked to set up a separate username and password for Grants.gov.
  • After creating your Grants.gov account, you may link your Grants.gov and Login.gov accounts.
  • After linking accounts, you will use your Login.gov credentials each time you sign in to Grants.gov.

Returning Applicants:

  • If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with SAM and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.

    If you have not already linked your Grants.gov and Login.gov accounts, you will be prompted to link your accounts when you click the “login” button on Grants.gov.

Login,gov, SAM and Grants.gov Help

The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any questions about or need assistance with these sites, including questions regarding electronic accessibility, contact them directly:

  • Login.gov Help: Call 1-844-875-6446, consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online form to submit a question.

  • SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the SAM website at SAM Help.

  • Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   

All Applicants: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package

Access the Grant Opportunity Package by clicking on the link below:

GO TO THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE ON GRANTS.GOV
[Funding Opportunity Number 2024NEA04PA]

  1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the application package in Grants.gov.
  1. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
  1. You will be prompted to log in. In order to create the Workspace application, you must be logged into Grants.gov with a participant role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). See more information on participant roles here.
  1. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:

    1. Fill in the Application Filing Name field with your organization name, then
    2. Click the Create Workspace button.
  1. After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where you can begin working on the application.
  1. After accessing the Grant Opportunity Package, you can find each mandatory form by clicking on it OR you can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in succession. The forms are:

    • Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424 Mandatory): This form asks for basic information about your organization and application. Complete this form first. Data entered here will populate fields of other forms where possible.
    • Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL): See instructions for completing this form below.
    • Attachments Form: This is not a form in the conventional sense, but rather a place to attach additional items (e.g., your application narrative and strategic plan) that must be included for your Grants.gov Opportunity Package to be considered complete. See instructions for completing this form below.

Application Instructions

To access the full application instructions, download the application instructions PDF.