Everything here is organized around the pillars of the TGP Grant System. Read what your organization needs most right now, and build from there.
Grant readiness is the foundation every other pillar builds on. These articles cover the systems, documentation, and organizational infrastructure that determine whether an organization is ready to pursue and manage competitive funding.

Three OMB circulars became one rulebook, and then the numbers moved. Here is the short history of indirect costs and exactly where the rules stand today. ...more
Grant Readiness ,NICRA
September 09, 2026

A cost allocation method that lives in one person's head will not survive an audit. Here is how to choose a defensible base and get the plan written down. ...more
Grant Readiness
September 07, 2026

Your ledger should isolate every award, period, and cost category on its own. Here is what a grant ready chart of accounts does and how to restructure safely. ...more
Grant Readiness
September 02, 2026
Get free access to the tools The Grant Project uses to assess and build grant readiness for local governments and nonprofits across the country.
Local governments and nonprofits building real grant readiness, one step at a time.
A strong grant strategy is proactive, not reactive. These articles cover how local governments and nonprofits identify the right opportunities, build competitive positioning, and make deliberate decisions about what to pursue and what to decline.

Grant readiness, grant strategy, compliance, funding strategy, and capacity building for local governments and nonprofits. The TGP Grant System is the framework behind $1.25 billion in competitive gra... ...more
Grant Readiness ,Grant Strategy Grant Compliance Funding Strategy &Capacity Building
November 03, 2025•5 min read

The federal funding landscape has shifted dramatically, and if you're feeling like the rules keep changing mid-game, you're not alone. Between executive orders, new oversight requirements, and ongoing... ...more
Grant Strategy
June 26, 2025•7 min read

The grant funding landscape in 2025 is more competitive than ever. Federal agencies are tightening requirements, private foundations are scrutinizing impact metrics more closely, and organizations acr... ...more
Grant Strategy
May 13, 2025•7 min read
Federal grant compliance is not optional, and it is not static. These articles cover 2 CFR 200, award management, audit readiness, and the regulatory changes that local governments and nonprofits need to understand before the next award arrives.

Nine Uniform Guidance changes, one sequenced plan. Here is every action from the series organized by your role in the funding chain, before October 1. ...more
Grant Compliance
August 17, 2026•4 min read

2 CFR shifts from guidance to binding OMB regulation, applied government-wide the moment it takes effect. Here is what that changes in practice and how to update your compliance training. ...more
Grant Compliance
August 13, 2026

Federal award selection now explicitly prioritizes merit, and financial management history carries direct weight. Here is exactly what reviewers look at and how to build documentation that works in yo... ...more
Grant Compliance
August 12, 2026
NICRA is one of the most misunderstood tools in federal funding. These articles cover what a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement is, who should pursue one, how the rate is built, and how to use it to strengthen your organization's federal funding position.

Three OMB circulars became one rulebook, and then the numbers moved. Here is the short history of indirect costs and exactly where the rules stand today. ...more
Grant Readiness ,NICRA
September 09, 2026

An ICAP is the indirect cost proposal you submit. A NICRA is the signed agreement you receive. Here is the difference and why it matters for federal awards. ...more
Grant Compliance ,NICRA
July 22, 2026•4 min read

Clarity on indirect costs saves time, reduces audit risk, and strengthens your funding strategy. This guide defines the core NICRA terms your team needs to communicate clearly across finance, grants, ... ...more
NICRA
July 14, 2026•10 min read
The hub is free and always available. The workbook is downloaded once and yours forever. Print it, fill it in with your team, share it across departments, and use it every time you pursue a new opportunity. No login. No navigating back. Just the complete framework in your hands with real-world examples, red flags, and action steps built into every section.
Sustainable organizations do not depend on a single funding source. These articles cover portfolio thinking, diversification, long-term planning, and how to build a durable funding mix that supports programs through leadership changes, funding shifts, and economic disruption.

A funding cliff is predictable, which means it is preventable. Learn how local governments and nonprofits can plan for the end of a time-limited award from day one, so programs and people are not left... ...more
Funding Strategy
January 23, 2026•4 min read

Grant readiness, grant strategy, compliance, funding strategy, and capacity building for local governments and nonprofits. The TGP Grant System is the framework behind $1.25 billion in competitive gra... ...more
Grant Readiness ,Grant Strategy Grant Compliance Funding Strategy &Capacity Building
November 03, 2025•5 min read

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are now a central channel for philanthropic capital. For nonprofit leaders, understanding how DAFs operate, and how to engage them effectively, is essential to building dive... ...more
Funding Strategy
July 08, 2025•4 min read
Grant funding is only sustainable when the internal systems and skills that support it are strong. These articles cover the people, processes, and infrastructure that allow local governments and nonprofits to pursue, manage, and sustain competitive funding over time.

Build every grant readiness system in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 using shared drives, tracker spreadsheets, and AI. No new software required. ...more
Grant Readiness ,Capacity Building
August 27, 2026

When federal compliance priorities shift, the organizations that keep serving their communities are the ones with grant readiness systems already in place. Here is why. ...more
Grant Readiness ,Grant Compliance &Capacity Building
July 09, 2026•5 min read

A reading list for the people who keep American civic life running: 26 books on local government, nonprofits, and public service to celebrate your contributions to the nation’s 250th year. ...more
Grant Readiness ,Capacity Building &NICRA
June 30, 2026•12 min read
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