2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS
 

Social Innovation Fund Classic Grant Competition 

Creating an Application in eGrants

CONTENTS 

 

 

 

 

Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................2
 

Preparing to Submit Your Project.......................................................................................................................2
 

Creating eGrants Accounts ..................................................................................................................................2
 

Create an eGrants Account for Your Organization.......................................................................................2
 

Create eGrants Accounts for Authorized Users .............................................................................................6
 

Activate Authorized User Accounts.................................................................................................................7
 

Login to eGrants and Create an Application......................................................................................................7
 

Project Information...............................................................................................................................................8
 

Application Information .....................................................................................................................................10
 

Narrative Information.........................................................................................................................................11
 

Documents ............................................................................................................................................................11
 

Budget...................................................................................................................................................................12
 

Budget Section I (Program Costs)..................................................................................................................12
 

Budget Section II (Indirect Costs)..................................................................................................................13
 

Enter Subsidiary Budgets ...............................................................................................................................14
 

Validate Your Budget......................................................................................................................................14
 

Review...............................................................................................................................................................15
 

Authorize and Submit .........................................................................................................................................15
 

Assistance With Your Application.....................................................................................................................16
 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Introduction

This document is intended to illustrate the eGrants guidance provided in the application instructions. Detailed 

guidance of what to include in the application is contained in the Notice of Federal Funding Availability 

(Notice) and the application instructions (provided as an appendix within the Notice). Click FY 2016 Social 

Innovation Fund Classic Cooperative Agreements on the list of Current Funding Opportunities on the 

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) website (http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-yourcapacity/grants/funding-opportunities). 

Note: Screenshots in this presentation are provided for illustrative purposes only. The content of screenshots 

should not be interpreted as formal guidance from the Corporation. 

Preparing to Submit Your Project 

Submitting a project through eGrants isn’t always intuitive, so we have developed this short guide to help you 

prepare and navigate some of the complexities involved. Please spend a few minutes reviewing the information 

here before you get started, and keep a copy (or open browser window) by your side as you complete your 

application. If you have questions along the way, see the end of this document for contact information for the 

Help Desk. 

Submitting a project will require that you provide the following information and complete these steps: 

1. Create an eGrants account

2. Create accounts for authorized users

3. Create a new project

4. Enter project applicant information

5. Enter application info

6. Enter narratives

7. Send documents and record status in eGrants

8. Develop and enter the project budget (Sections 1 and 2), including subsidiary budgets

9. Review your application

10. Authorize and submit

Creating eGrants Accounts 

Create an eGrants Account for Your Organization 

The first step will be to create an account for your organization on eGrants, if you do not already have one. If 

you are the first person in your organization to access eGrants, you will automatically become the account 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

administrator. Being the administrator means you are responsible for approving account access for other 

staff/authorized users and assigning their roles. 

• Go to eGrants (http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/egrants) then click the blu

button labelled eGrants Log-in.

• Click Don’t have an e Grants

account? Create an account

(Figure 1).

e 

Figure 1: eGrants login screenshot 

• On the next screen, click Create a

Grantee account (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Create an eGrants account screenshot 

• Next, click This is my first time. I

want to create a new account

with eGrants... (Figure 3).

Figure 3 : Become a grant applicant screenshot 

 

• The next screen is “Login Information.” Complete the fields by entering your na me, phone number, and

email address. 

Note: Your organizational information is entered later in a separate step.

• On this page, you will need to select your username and password. To enhance the security of your

eGrants account, your password must include at least:

o 12 characters

o 1 upper case character

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

o 1 numerical character

o 1 special character, e.g., !@#$%^&*()

Some tips for selecting a password are as follows.
 

o Should not contain a dictionary word

o Should not contain any proper noun or the name of any person, pet, child, fictional character, or

any information that could be readily guessed about you (birth date, telephone number, employe

number, SSN, etc.)

o Should not contain any simple pattern of letters or numbers, such as "xyz123" or which are easy

to type.

• When the form is complete, click

Next.

• On the following screen, you will

need to open the orange link and

read the System Rules of Behavior

pdf document. Then, click in the

box to indicate your

acknowledgement of the four

items listed (Figure 4). Click Next.

e 

Figure 4: Rules of behavior screenshot 

• Enter your organization’s EIN

number (Figure 5). Click Next.

Figure 5: Enter EIN # screenshot 

If you are creating a new account for your

organization, you will get a message 

indicating no EIN match was found 

(Figure 6). Click Next. 

• On the following screen, enter 

your organization’s general

information including DUNS number and organization name, type, characteristics, and contact

information such as the address (including Zip+4). When completed, click Next.

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Figure 6: Create a new organizational profile screenshot
 

 

 

 

 

2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Note: The system may suggest
 

address options from which to 

select such as changes to the street
 

address and adding four digits to 

the zip code (Figure 7). 

If you have not entered a DUNS

number you will receive a grey pop Figure 7: System clari

up message box stating the DUNS 

number must be entered before submitting the application.
 

fication of address screenshot 

• The next screen is the Indirect

Cost Rate Record. If your

organization has an established

rate, select Yes from the drop

menu and complete the other fields

on the screen (Figure 8). Click

Next.

• If you do not have an indirect cost

rate, select No. You do not have to

complete all the fields even though

they look as if they are required

due the orange asterisks. Click

Next.

• On the next screen, enter the

appropriate phone numbers. Click

Next.

• The final screen allows you to

review all of the entered

information. Click edit to make

changes to any section, as needed.

When done, click Submit.

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Figure 8: Indirect cost rate record screenshot 
2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

On the thank you screen (Figure 9), you 

have the option to go to your account 

homepage that has links to complete 

various account administrative tasks. If 

you want to continue creating the grant 

application, click Go to eGrants Login 

and enter your login information. 

Note: If you are the first person from 

your organization to access eGrants and Figure 9: Account set up thank you screenshot 

have created the organization’s account, 

you are automatically designated the account administrator by the system. You will receive a system generated 

email acknowledging you have created an eGrants account. 

Create eGrants Accounts for Authorized Users 

Each staff member (including the Project Director) that needs access to eGrants (either to enter application 

information or provide the required assurances and certifications before submission) must register for their own 

eGrants account. 

Note: Before entering the information to create an individual account, each staff person will need a copy of 

your organization’s EIN to be able to link his or her profile to your organization’s account . 

• The process for creating individual

staff profiles follows the same

process outlined above, up to the 

screen after entering the EIN.

• After entering the organization’s

EIN number, the system will match

the staff member’s entry to the 

organization’s account. On the

next screen in the system, the
 Figure 10: Select an organization screenshot 

person will select the bottom radio 

button for your organization’s name (Figure 10). Click Submit. 
 

An orange thank you message will be displayed when the account that has been created is accepted. 

Note: Staff won't have further access to the organization's records until you (or whoever is the Grantee 

Administrator for your organization) has been assigned an eGrants role. 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Activate Authorized User Accounts 

•	 
 

system generates an email to let you as the administrator know to 

login to and go to the My Account page. In the upper right box, Edit
 

my Organization Info, click Edit User Role/Permissions (Figure
 

11). Any new user will not be able to access eGrants until you 

assign him or her a role.
 

• The name(s) of staff will be listed and you will select the radio

button most appropriate of the three roles for each person:

o grantee administrator 

o grantee [staff] with access to budget Figure 11: Edit my organization 

screenshot 

o grantee [staff] without access to budget. 

ote: The person in your organization who will be responsible for the Assurances and Certifications before 

pplication submission needs his/her own eGrants account and should be given a Grantee Administrator role. 

N

a

After additional staff has completed the application process, the 

Login to eGrants and Create an Application 

• Go to the eGrants login page (https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp)

• Login to eGrants using your username and password.

• Select New in the left box to start your application (Figure

12). 

Note: There is toolbar on the left side of the screen. Clicking on any 

of the titles will take you directly to that section. Verify your Legal 

Applicant Information (along the left side of the screen) is accurate. Figure 12 : Create a new application 

screenshot 

• First, select a NOFA. Select

Other from the drop down menu,

then click Go (Figure 13).

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Figure 13: Select a NOFA screenshot 
 

 

 

 

 

2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

• Select the FY2016 Social

Innovation Fund Classic

Cooperative Agreement. Click

Next (Figure 14). 

Figure 14: FY 2016 Social Innovation Fund Classic screenshot 

Project Information 

• Verify that you selected the

correct NOFA (FY 2016 Social

Innovation Fund Classic

Cooperative Agreement). Click

create a new project to continue

(Figure 15).

Figure 15: Create a new project screenshot Figure 16: Create a new project screenshot 

• Fill in all fields in the Enter/Edit

a Project dialogue box (Figure

16). The following bullets will

help ensure that your application

is complete and accurate.

o Project Title: Use a

project title that is suitable

for print or online

promotion of your

initiative and would be

helpful in explaining your

program to external

audiences.

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Figure 16: Enter/Edit a project screenshot 
 

 

2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

o Project State: Enter the state where your organization resides, even if you have partners or

intend to implement your initiative in other states. The same is true for the other contact

information fields.

o Street Address

o Email address: Use the email address of the primary contact person.

o Zip code: Enter the full Zip+4. Visit the United State Postal Service website, if you do not know

yours. (https://www.usps.com/zip4/)

• Click Save & Close when finished.

• Click on the Select a project drop

down menu and choose the name

of the project you just created

(Figure 17).

Figure 17: Project information screenshot 

• Click on the Select a project

initiative drop down menu and

choose from the list of seven SIF

options. Choose the one that best

describes the type of SIF you are

proposing.

• Select the name of the project

director from the drop menu.

NOTE: The Project Director must have 

already set up an eGrants account for 

his/her name to be listed. 

• Enter your project’s web

address (URL) and click Next. 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Application Information 

• Proceed to enter information in Application Info section (Figure 18).

• This section contains general

information on your application,

such as geographical areas

affected by the project, and

proposed start and end dates.

Figure 18: Application information screenshot 

• Next, whether or not your

application is subject to review by

the State Executive Order 12372

process, and whether your

organization (the applicant) is

delinquent on any federal debt

(Figure 19).

Figure 18: State Executive Order screenshot 

Note: You can return to any section of 

your application by clicking on the 

section title in the left navigation bar 

(Figure 20). 

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Figure 20: Left navigation bar 

screenshot 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Narrative Information 

• Enter narratives in appropriate

sections. The narratives section

includes six narrative fields

(Figure 21). Click view/edit

narrative to enter your

information for each narrative.

Figure 21: Narratives screenshot 

• Once you have entered

information in each of the

narratives, a green check box will

appear to the left of the section

title. You must include text in each

of the narrative fields in order for

your application to validate.

Notes on Narrative Fields: 

• Always compose text for your application in a word processing application and paste it into eGrants. 

• Maximum length of the application can be found in the Notice of Federal Funding Availability.

Reviewers will be instructed to stop reading once they’ve reached the page limit, even if eGrants allows

you to submit a longer application.

Documents

• Match verification documents

submitted directly to SIF should

be entered in this section. Please

see the Notice of Federal Funding

Availability for information on

match verification. 

• Match verification letters must be

sent to SIFApplication@CNS.gov;

they cannot be attached through

eGrants.

• Once you have sent them through email, click on the Match Verification drop down menu and select

Sent from the menu (Figure 22). 

Figure 22: Documents screenshot 

Note: No additional documentation is required and other documentation will NOT be considered during 

application review. 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

Budget

See the application instructions in the Notice of Federal Funding Availability for detailed guidance on how to 

accurately complete the budget. 

Budget Section I (Program Costs) 

• Project personnel expenses:

Click add a new budget item

(Figure 23). Type in the title or

name of the position. Enter the

number of positions with the same

title/name. Enter the full-time

equivalent salary for this position

and the percentage of time that

will be used for SIF activities. The

total amount is calculated

automatically. Enter the CNCS

share and grantee share. Both must

add up to the total amount. Click

Save & Close. If you have

multiple positions, click add a new

budget item, as needed. 

Figure 23: Budget section I program costs screenshot 

• Personnel fringe benefits: Click add a new budget item. Enter the type of fringe benefits (e.g., FICA,

workers’ compensation) and the position they cover. Enter the calculation used to compute the benefit.

Enter in the total amount and divide between the CNCS share and the grantee share. Click Save &

Close. If you have multiple items, click add a new budget item as many times as needed.

• Travel: Click add a new budget item. Enter the purpose of the travel. Enter the calculation used to

compute the travel. Enter the total value for travel and divide between the CNCS share and the grantee

share. Click Save & Close. If you have multiple items, click add a new budget item as many times as

needed.

• Equipment: Click add a new budget item. Enter the item and/or purpose of the equipment. The

application instructions explain the distinction between equipment and supplies. Enter the quantity and

unit cost. The total amount is auto populated. Divide between the CNCS share and the grantee share.

Click Save & Close. If you have multiple items, click add a new budget item as many times as needed.

• Supplies: Click add a new budget item. Enter the supply items. The application instructions explain

the distinction between equipment and supplies. Enter the calculation used to determine the cost of these

supplies. Enter the total amount for these supplies and divide between the CNCS share and the grantee

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

share. Click Save & Close. If you have multiple items, click add a new budget item as many times as 

needed. 

• Contractual and consultant services: Click add a new budget item. Enter the type of contractual or

consultant service. Enter the calculation used to determine the cost of these services. Enter the total

amount and divide between the CNCS share and the grantee share. Click Save & Close. If you have

other contractual and consultant services items, click add a new budget item as many times as needed.

• Other costs:

o Subgrants - Click edit in the Subgrants line. Type in the total amount you plan to subgrant and

divide between the CNCS share and the grantee share. Click Save & Close.

o Criminal history checks and other costs - Click add a new budget item to add Criminal history

background checks as directed in the Notice of Federal Funding Availability.

o Follow this same process to add evaluation costs, training costs, and any additional costs. Enter

the purpose and total amount for each type of cost, then divide between the CNCS share and the

grantee share. Click Save & Close.

• Subtotals: This section will automatically populate based on what you entered in each of the budget

sections. Click Next.

Budget Section II (Indirect Costs) 

• Click Enter source of matching

funds (Figure 24), enter a

description and amount of the

match secured for Year 1. Choose

the cash match from the drop

down menu.

• Choose Match Source from the

drop down menu, enter the source

of your match, and then click Save

& Close.

• If you have other matching fund

sources, click Enter source of

matching funds, as many times as

needed. Complete, and then click

Save & Close.

Figure 24: Budget section II, indirect costs screenshot 

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

• The total value of the match entered here should equal the total match entered in the budget.

For more information on indirect costs rates, see the Notice of Federal Funding Availability and the SIF Classic 

Application Instructions. 

• Click Edit. Choose the Cost Type

Figure 25: Indirect cost rate entry screenshot 

from the drop down menu (Figure 

25). The cost type options are:

o Final

o Fixed

o Predetermined

o Provisional

• Choose Cost Basis from the drop

down menu. The costs basis

options are:

o Total Direct Costs

o Salaries and Benefits

o Other

• Enter the Calculation, Rate, and Rate Claimed. Enter the total amount and divide between the CNCS

share and the Grantee share. Click Save & Close. 

Enter Subsidiary Budgets 

A ‘subsidiary budget’ is a budget for a 

future year of operations. 

• Click either Add subsidiary

budget or Copy subsidiary

budget to create Budget Years 2

and 3 of the Application (Figure

26).

Note: By clicking Copy subsidiary budget, 

the Year 1 budget automatically populates 

in the subsidiary budget. If you want to 

begin the subsidiary budgets from 

scratch, click Add subsidiary budget. Figure 26: Subsidiary budgets screenshot 

Validate Your Budget 

• Once your budget is complete, click Validate this budget.

• If the CNCS request is more than your share (proposed matching funds), you will get an error message

from eGrants stating: “Grantee share must be greater than or equal to CNCS share.” If you receive this

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

error, click Close and make necessary changes until your share is greater than or equal to the CNCS 

share. Once you have made the necessary corrections, click Validate this budget. 

• When your budget is validated, you will see the message: “No budget errors were found! This budget has

been validated without errors.”

Review 

•	 
 

application narratives and budget, 

you may print a copy to review
 

prior to submission. Three
 

documents are available to print:
 

o Application for Federal

Assistance (includes

narratives except budget)

o Budget 

o Budget Narrative (based

on the information you

entered in the budget

screens).

Click view/print report. 

NOTE: When you view the Application 

for Federal Assistance report, ensure that 

it doesn’t exceed the maximum page limit. 

The other view/print report links are 

inoperable for the purposes of the SIF 

application (Funding Summary Chart, 

Organization IDRC History, 

Organization/People Report, Program 

Summary Chart) 

Once you have completed the

Figure 27: Application review screenshot 

Authorize and Submit 

Once you have made all the edits to your application, the authorized representative can authorize and submit. 

See the application instructions for a description of this role. The authorized representative must sign into his or 

her eGrants account in order to complete the following steps: 

• Click Agree.

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2016 COMPETITION CREATING AN APPLICATION IN EGRANTS SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND - CLASSIC 

• You will see Authorized By (name) and Authorized On (date) when correctly authorized. The radio

button will still be open, but as long as the ‘Authorized By’ information is there, the application has

been authorized.

• Next move to Assurances and click on view/print certification. Read the Assurances, including the

specific Assurances for the Social Innovation Fund found near the end.

• Next, move to Certifications and click view/print certification. Read the Certifications. Once you

have thoroughly read the Certifications (and agree to them!), click I Agree. You will see Authorized

Certifying Official: (name) and Certified on (date) when the Assurances are correctly certified. Now

click Verify this Grant Application.

• If there are any errors in your application, you will receive an error message. Go back to each section,

correct any issues, and click Verify this Grant Application again.

• If you have corrected all the errors, you will receive a message stating: “No application errors were

found! The application was verified with no errors.”

• The last step is to click Submit grant application to CNCS. Once submitted, you will receive a thank

you message (Figure 28).

Figure 28: Thank you screenshot 

Assistance With Your Application
 

For technical questions and problems with the eGrants system, call the National Service Hotline at 

(800) 942-2677.

Hours of Operations During Application Period:

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Note: The hotline is closed on federal holidays. 

Potential applicants can also enter questions for the eGrants support team online 

(https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask). Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s 

name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is applying. 

The Application and Submission Information section of the Notice explains what to do if you experience 

technical difficulties in eGrants. 

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