Skip to content
Quillify

Your council wants to pursue federal grants

Our city council wants us to go after federal grants. Where do we start?

Start with registration. Every federal application needs an active SAM.gov registration and a UEI, and getting one can take several weeks, which makes it the step most likely to cost you a deadline. While it runs, list the projects council cares about. Then work out the local match each could require and search for the programs your city can apply to.

Last reviewed October 2, 2026.

Four steps

  1. Register on SAM.gov first

    Every federal application needs an active registration and a UEI. Start it today. Here is what registration involves.

  2. List the projects

    Write down the three to five projects council wants funded. Give each a rough cost and a timeline, because funders pay for specific projects.

  3. Plan for the match

    Many programs require local match. Know what you could commit before you apply. Here is how match is calculated.

  4. Search by project

    Describe each project in Quillify and see the programs your city can apply to, with deadlines and requirements side by side.

Who asks this most

The answer above is the same whoever you are. What Quillify does about it is not.

All guides, or the glossary.

Stop researching and see what you are eligible for.

Browsing and keyword search are free, and there is no card required.