The key to success for agencies that support federal funding opportunities like grants and cooperative agreements is understanding the grants management process.

Since March 2020, Congress has enacted six laws, including the CARES Act, to alleviate the public health and economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal agencies have expended almost two-thirds of the $4.7 trillion in allocated relief funds, providing grants and other financial aid for various projects — from rural broadband expansion to telemedicine.

In fiscal 2019, the federal government made more than 435,000 grant awards, totaling an estimated $766 billion. Grants are a big deal and can be complex to implement and administer.