Patent ID: 8589308

Claim:
A web-based grant management system, comprising: a web-based portal; an application server coupled to the web-based portal and configured to manage a grant, the application server including: a database module configured to access a local compliance database including a computer-readable eligibility list of grant requesters; a requester module configured to enable grant requestors to enter registration information, grant requests and grant information, manage grant requests, and monitor grant status; an approver module configured to enable grant approvers to track grant requests and manage approval decisions; and an administrator module configured to enable automated communication between grant approvers and grant requestors via the web-based portal, wherein the administrator module automatically determines an eligibility status of the grant requestor by comparing grant information to the eligibility list, informs a grant requestor of its eligibility status via the web-based portal, and makes an automated determination of custom business rules to automatically manage the grant sought when the eligibility status is satisfactory, or terminates the grant request if the eligibility status is unsatisfactory; and a communication system coupled to the application server configured to enable the communication between grant approvers and grant requestors via the web-based portal, and with a plurality of external databases in order to maintain the local compliance database.