Registering for US federal grants: SAM.gov, UEI and Grants.gov
The registrations an organization needs before it can apply for US federal grants, the order to do them in, and why to start weeks early.
You cannot submit most US federal grant applications on the day you find them. Organizations must be registered first, and registration can take time. Start as soon as you think you might apply.
Step 1: SAM.gov registration and your UEI
The System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is the federal government's registry of entities that do business with it. Registering gives your organization a Unique Entity ID (UEI), which replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. Registration is free. You will need your legal business name and address exactly as they appear in your tax records, your taxpayer identification number and banking details for payments.
A SAM.gov registration must be renewed every year to stay active. An expired registration can block a submission or an award.
Step 2: Grants.gov account
Grants.gov is where most federal funding notices are posted and where many applications are submitted. Individuals sign in with Login.gov, then link to their organization's UEI. The organization's E-Business Point of Contact approves who can submit on its behalf.
Step 3: Agency systems
Some agencies use their own systems in addition to or instead of Grants.gov, for example research agencies with their own portals. The funding notice tells you which system to use.
Watch for scams
SAM.gov registration is free. Third parties sometimes charge to "register" you or send official-looking renewal notices. You do not have to pay anyone. Help is available from the Federal Service Desk at no cost.
Once registered, browse US programs or federal funders, and read how to read a funding notice.