Every grant has a beginning, middle, and end. But when the project itself wraps up, your responsibilities as a grantee don’t stop there. Record retention and closeout are critical steps in the grant lifecycle, and they’re also areas where many organizations face compliance challenges.

Record retention rules under 2 CFR 200.334 require you to keep financial and programmatic records for at least three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. That includes everything from invoices and payroll records to performance reports and correspondence with your funding agency. In some cases — such as program specific requirements per the notice of grant award terms and conditions, pending audits or legal actions — you may need to hold on to records even longer.

Closeout isn’t just about sending in a final report. It’s the process of ensuring that every obligation tied to the grant has been met. That means submitting all required financial, property, and performance reports within 120 days, reconciling cash advances with actual disbursements, and verifying how equipment or supplies were disposed of once the project ended.

Where organizations often run into trouble is with timing. Missing the 120-day deadline or failing to reconcile advances properly can create major issues. Others simply don’t have a checklist in place, which makes it easy to overlook a key step.

The best way to avoid problems is to create a closeout plan for every award as soon as you receive it. Assign responsibilities clearly, keep track of deadlines, and make sure communication lines with your funding agency are open. By doing this, you’re not just protecting your organization from findings — you’re also setting yourself up for smoother grant management in the future.

Closing out properly shows funders that you can be trusted with federal dollars. Strong record retention and closeout practices not only wrap up one grant well but also pave the way for successful awards down the road.