Grant Writing Grant Submission and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a grant compliance checklist?
- To ensure all funder requirements are met before submission (Correct answer)
- To track employee vacation schedules
- To document community partnerships
- To calculate program costs
Correct answer: To ensure all funder requirements are met before submission
A grant compliance checklist helps grant writers verify that every required element, attachment, and formatting rule is addressed before the application is submitted.
Question 2: What is an indirect cost rate in a federal grant budget?
- A negotiated percentage covering organizational overhead costs like rent and administration (Correct answer)
- The cost of direct program staff only
- The funder's administrative fee
- The percentage of the grant reserved for evaluation
Correct answer: A negotiated percentage covering organizational overhead costs like rent and administration
An indirect cost rate is a federally negotiated percentage applied to direct costs to cover an organization's overhead expenses such as rent, utilities, and administration.
Question 3: What does 'cost sharing' or 'matching funds' mean in grant applications?
- The applicant's contribution of resources (cash or in-kind) to supplement the grant award (Correct answer)
- Dividing grant funds between two organizations equally
- A budget line item for shared office costs
- Transferring funds between grant projects
Correct answer: The applicant's contribution of resources (cash or in-kind) to supplement the grant award
Cost sharing or match requires the grantee to contribute a specified amount of its own resources—either cash or in-kind—alongside the funder's award.
Question 4: In federal grants, what is the significance of the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)?
- It establishes the administrative and cost principles all federal grant recipients must follow (Correct answer)
- It sets grant application word limits
- It governs nonprofit board composition
- It defines eligible grant topics for each agency
Correct answer: It establishes the administrative and cost principles all federal grant recipients must follow
The Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) is the federal government's consolidated set of rules for grants management, covering allowable costs, audit requirements, and administrative standards.
Question 5: What is a grant agreement (Notice of Award) and when is it issued?
- A legal document issued by the funder confirming the award and outlining grant terms and conditions (Correct answer)
- A letter requesting additional application materials
- An internal approval memo
- A budget template provided before submission
Correct answer: A legal document issued by the funder confirming the award and outlining grant terms and conditions
A Notice of Award is the official legal document from the funder that confirms the grant, specifies the award amount, and outlines the terms, conditions, and reporting requirements.
Question 6: What is 'prior approval' in federal grant compliance?
- Written permission from the funder before making certain budget or scope changes (Correct answer)
- Board approval of the grant application
- The funder's pre-screening of the applicant
- A pre-submission eligibility review
Correct answer: Written permission from the funder before making certain budget or scope changes
Prior approval is required written consent from a federal program officer before a grantee makes significant changes to budget categories, scope, or key personnel.
Grant Writing Grant Submission and Compliance 2
What is the purpose of a grant compliance checklist?