Grant eligibility checker
Am I eligible for grants?
Answer a few questions and see which federal grants you may qualify for — in plain English. Free, and no signup required.
Eligibility checker
Step 1 of 4What kind of organization are you?
Who can apply for grants?
There is no single answer — eligibility is set for each opportunity. Funders sort applicants into broad categories like government, education, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, small businesses, and individuals, and the same applicant can fall under more than one. A for-profit research firm, for example, might qualify for some programs as a small business and others as a research organization.
Because every listing defines its own eligible-applicant types, the reliable move is to check the eligibility section of each grant before you apply. Start from the pages built for your situation:
FAQ
Grant eligibility, answered
- Yes, though your options are narrower. Most private foundations require 501(c)(3) status, but you can still pursue government grants (many federal, state, and local programs fund for-profits, individuals, and other entity types), use a fiscal sponsor (a 501(c)(3) that applies on your behalf), or apply to grants open to individuals or small businesses. Always check the eligibility section of each specific opportunity.
- Yes, for specific programs. The largest are SBIR and STTR, which fund research and development at small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Note that the SBA itself rarely grants money directly to businesses — it funds states and nonprofits that support them. Because eligibility is set per opportunity, a for-profit may qualify for some federal grants and not others.
- Common requirements include being a legally registered business, meeting the SBA size standard for your industry (often under 500 employees, sometimes under 50), operating in the grant's geographic area, and occasionally a revenue cap or one to two years of operating history. Many grants also target specific groups (women-, minority-, or veteran-owned) or industries. Missing a single rule — wrong county, entity type, or revenue range — can make you ineligible, so verify before applying.
- Grants.gov groups applicants into categories that include government, education, public housing, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, and individuals — and the same applicant can fall under more than one. There is no single standard; each opportunity defines its own eligible applicant types. Grants.gov warns that applying when you are not eligible wastes time and money, so confirm eligibility first.
- Yes, if you are applying as an organization. To submit on Grants.gov you need a SAM.gov registration (which provides a free Unique Entity ID, or UEI — DUNS numbers were retired in 2022), a Login.gov account, and a Grants.gov profile. SAM.gov registration is free; anyone charging you for it is not the government. It can take up to 10 business days (often longer if validation flags come up) and must be active when you submit, so start several weeks before any deadline.
Can I apply for grants without 501(c)(3) status?
Do for-profit businesses qualify for federal grants?
What are the eligibility requirements for small business grants?
Who is eligible for federal grants?
Do I need to register with SAM.gov before applying for federal grants?
See the grants you can actually apply for.
Browse every open federal grant, each with who-can-apply details — or run the checker again to narrow it to your situation.