Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Definition
The official announcement published by a federal agency that describes a grant program's purpose, eligibility requirements, application instructions, review criteria, and deadlines.
A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) — formerly known as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) — is the official document that a federal agency publishes when it makes grant funding available. Every federal grant program that is open to competition must publish a NOFO on Grants.gov. The NOFO is your primary reference document throughout the proposal writing process: it tells you who can apply, what the funder wants, how to structure your application, and how it will be reviewed.
Key Sections of a NOFO
NOFOs follow a standardized structure mandated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While different agencies add their own details, every NOFO contains these core sections.
- Program Description — What the agency wants to fund, including goals, priorities, and any statutory authority
- Eligibility Information — Who can apply (organization types, geographic restrictions, cost sharing requirements)
- Application and Submission Information — Required forms, page limits, formatting rules, and submission deadlines
- Review Criteria — How applications will be scored, including criteria weights and review process
- Award Information — Expected number of awards, funding amounts, and project period
- Agency Contacts — Program officer names and email addresses for questions
NOFO Terminology Across Agencies
Different agencies use different names for essentially the same document. Understanding the terminology helps when searching for opportunities.
- NOFO — The standardized term adopted across all federal agencies since 2023
- FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement) — The previous standard term, still commonly used at NIH
- RFA (Request for Applications) — NIH-specific term for targeted announcements with set-aside funds
- PA (Program Announcement) — NIH term for ongoing, open-ended solicitations
- Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) — NSF's informal announcement of funding interest areas
- BAA (Broad Agency Announcement) — DoD term for research solicitations
How to Read a NOFO Strategically
The most successful grant writers read the NOFO multiple times, each time with a different focus.
- First read — Determine basic eligibility and whether the opportunity aligns with your work
- Second read — Map the review criteria to your proposal structure
- Third read — Note every formatting requirement, page limit, and required attachment
- Highlight language — Mirror the NOFO's own terminology in your proposal narrative
- Contact the program officer — Ask clarifying questions before investing time in the application
Related Topics
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