A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is often treated like a checklist. Teams look for eligibility, deadlines, and funding amounts, then move quickly into proposal mode. While that approach feels efficient, it is also where compliance risk often begins. A NOFO is not just an announcement. It is the funder’s first and clearest statement of expectations for how the award will be managed if funding is granted.
Beyond submission requirements, NOFOs outline expectations related to reporting, oversight, performance measurement, and financial management. These details are not always centralized in one place, which is why they are so often missed.
Sections labeled program description, funding restrictions, or award administration frequently contain language that shapes how the grant must be managed long after the application is submitted.
Many teams assume their existing policies and systems will automatically align with the NOFO. However, some funding announcements impose requirements that go beyond standard Uniform Guidance expectations, especially around documentation, evaluation, or partner oversight.
Missing these details early can result in accepting an award that stretches capacity or creates avoidable compliance challenges.
Reading with a compliance lens means slowing down and asking practical questions. What activities are explicitly restricted? What approvals or systems are assumed to already exist? What documentation will be expected but not formally listed as a deliverable?
A careful NOFO review helps teams decide not just whether they can apply, but whether they should. It sets the foundation for responsible grant management before the first dollar is ever spent.
