Federal Grant Application Forms: SF-424 and Everything That Goes With It
Every federal grant application requires SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance). Most also require SF-424A (budget, non-construction) or SF-424C (budget, construction), plus SF-424B or SF-424D assurances. All are free at grants.gov.
Federal grant applications are not as simple as filling out one form. The SF-424 family is a set of related standard forms that together constitute a complete grant application package. Which forms you need depends on whether your project involves construction, how many grant programs you are applying to simultaneously, and what your agency requires. Here is a plain-English breakdown of every form in the family.
Which Forms Go With Which Grant Type
Use this table as your starting checklist before building any grant application package.
| Form | Purpose | Non-Construction Grant | Construction Grant | R&D Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF-424 | Cover sheet — required always | Required | Required | Required |
| SF-424A | Budget — non-construction | Required | Not used | Often required |
| SF-424B | Assurances — non-construction | Required | Not used | Often required |
| SF-424C | Budget — construction | Not used | Required | Not used |
| SF-424D | Assurances — construction | Not used | Required | Not used |
| SF-LLL | Disclosure of lobbying activities | If lobbying | If lobbying | If lobbying |
| SF-425 | Federal Financial Report (post-award) | Post-award reporting | Post-award reporting | Post-award reporting |
| SF-270 | Request for advance/reimbursement | When requesting payment | When requesting payment | When requesting payment |
Each Form Explained
Application for Federal Assistance
The mandatory cover sheet for every federal grant application. Captures: applicant legal name, UEI (Unique Entity Identifier), EIN, congressional district, project title, proposed start and end dates, federal funding requested, cost sharing (if any), applicant type (nonprofit, state, local government, small business, etc.), and the program CFDA/ALN number being applied to.
Note: Your UEI and SAM.gov registration must be active before submitting. Grants.gov will reject applications from unregistered entities.
Budget Information — Non-Construction Programs
The budget breakdown for non-construction grants. Section A: Budget Summary across all grant programs (if multi-program application). Section B: Budget Categories — Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Construction (if minor), Other, Indirect Costs. Section C: Non-Federal Resources. Section D: Forecasted Cash Needs. Section E: Budget Estimates of Federal Funds. Section F: Other Budget Information (narrative for indirect costs).
Tip: The indirect cost rate in Section F must match your negotiated NICRA (Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement) with your cognizant federal agency, or you must use the de minimis rate of 10% of MTDC under 2 CFR 200.414.
Assurances — Non-Construction Programs
A set of legal certifications you make when accepting federal grant funds. You are certifying compliance with: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination Act, drug-free workplace rules, debarment and suspension status, lobbying restrictions, and other federal laws. This is a signature form — someone with legal authority must sign.
Budget Information — Construction Programs
The construction-specific budget form. Captures site acquisition, architectural/engineering costs, project inspection, construction costs, equipment, other costs, and total project cost by phase. Unlike SF-424A, SF-424C is organized around construction milestones rather than cost categories. Required for infrastructure grants, capital facility grants, and housing programs.
Assurances — Construction Programs
The construction-specific version of assurances. Certifications include: compliance with labor standards (Davis-Bacon Act), equal employment opportunity in construction, environmental compliance (Clean Air/Clean Water Acts), historic preservation requirements, and flood zone management. Must be signed by an authorized official.
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Required if you have used any federal funds to influence a federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement. Also required if non-federal funds were used to lobby for a federal grant. If you have no lobbying activity to disclose, you typically check "N/A" on your application package rather than submitting the form. However, read the specific funding opportunity announcement — some agencies require the form regardless.
Federal Financial Report (Post-Award)
Used after award to report how you spent the money. Submitted quarterly or annually depending on the award. Covers cash receipts, disbursements, federal share of outlays, recipient share, program income, and indirect expenses. Required throughout the grant period and at closeout. Keep all source documentation — auditors will check it.
Request for Advance or Reimbursement
How you request payment from the federal government during the grant period. Some grants pay in advance; most reimburse after you spend. SF-270 shows the period of the request, total program outlays, federal share requested, and cumulative totals. Submit through the Payment Management System (PMS) or your agency's designated portal — not directly to grants.gov.