SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance
SF-424 is the standard cover page of a federal grant application. It identifies the applicant organization, the funding opportunity, the proposed project, and the requested federal funding.
This is the genuine Grants.gov PDF, unmodified. Source: Grants.gov official page.
What is SF-424?
SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, is the government-wide face sheet used across federal grant programs. It captures the applicant's legal name and identifiers, including the UEI issued through SAM.gov, the funding opportunity and assistance listing numbers, a project title and period, congressional districts, estimated funding by source, and the certifying signature of the authorized organization representative.
The version distributed as a PDF on Grants.gov is a read-only sample. Real applications are completed and submitted electronically through Grants.gov Workspace or an agency system that feeds into it, where the SF-424 fields are validated against the funding opportunity. The sample is still useful for planning, since it shows every field your authorized representative will need to complete.
Who files SF-424?
- State, local, and tribal governments applying for federal grant programs
- Nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education responding to funding opportunities
- Small businesses and other for-profit entities eligible under a specific program
- Grant writers and authorized organization representatives preparing an application package
How to fill out SF-424
- Register your organization in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity ID before you begin; registration can take time, so start early.
- Find the funding opportunity on Grants.gov and open the application package in Grants.gov Workspace.
- Complete the SF-424 fields in Workspace: applicant identifiers, opportunity numbers, project title and dates, and estimated funding amounts.
- Attach the program-specific forms and narratives the opportunity requires, then have your authorized organization representative certify and sign.
- Submit the full package electronically through Grants.gov before the opportunity's closing date and time, and keep the tracking number from the confirmation.
Get SF-424
Grants.gov publishes SF-424 as a flat PDF with no built-in form fields, so there is no quick-fill form here. Open it in the editor to type directly onto the pages, tick boxes and sign, or download the official blank and complete it in your PDF reader or by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mail a filled-in SF-424 PDF to the funding agency?
Generally no. Grants.gov states that the PDF forms on its site are samples that cannot be submitted with an application package. Nearly all programs require electronic submission through Grants.gov Workspace; follow the instructions in your specific funding opportunity.
What is a UEI and where do I get one?
The Unique Entity ID is the government-wide identifier that replaced the DUNS number. It is issued free through SAM.gov when you register your entity, and the SF-424 requires it.
Who signs the SF-424?
The authorized organization representative (AOR), the person your organization has empowered in Grants.gov to legally certify and submit applications. An application signed by someone without that authority can be rejected.