What does NOFO mean?
NOFO means Notice of Funding Opportunity. Under the federal grant rules in 2 CFR 200.1, a NOFO is the formal announcement a federal agency uses to make funding available through a financial assistance program, and it tells applicants who is eligible, how applications will be evaluated, what to include, and how to submit. Nonprofits find these announcements on Grants.gov and on the funding agency’s own site.
That is the NOFO meaning in short. The same regulation says the term covers any paper or electronic issuance an agency uses to announce a funding opportunity, whether the agency calls it a program announcement, notice of funding availability, broad agency announcement, research announcement, solicitation, or some other term.
Where to find a NOFO
Federal funding opportunities are posted on Grants.gov, and the funding agency’s own website often carries the announcement and related documents as well. To find and track one:
- Search Grants.gov. The Grants.gov search lets you look up opportunities by keyword or by opportunity number.
- Record the funding opportunity number. The Grants.gov glossary defines it as the number a federal agency assigns to its grant announcement. Use it to match the listing to the agency’s documents and any later updates.
- Read the full announcement. Open the complete NOFO from the listing or the agency’s site, and work from the version currently posted.
What HHS SimplerNOFOs changes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is redesigning its own funding announcements through SimplerNOFOs. The public overview describes the goal as NOFOs that are more streamlined, organized, and clear, using plain and simple language, and easier for grant applicants.
The overview describes a scale phase that began in September 2024 and says the work is scaling with HHS operating divisions. It is an HHS effort, so do not assume every federal announcement follows the same format.
For a nonprofit, the practical effect is an announcement that is easier to read, not a lighter set of requirements. A clearer layout can help your team locate deadlines, eligibility, and evaluation criteria, but you still need to address every requirement the announcement lists.
What to read before applying
Before your board commits staff time to an application, have someone answer these questions from the announcement itself:
- Who may apply? Check the eligible applicant types and any other eligibility conditions.
- What is the deadline? Note the closing date and time, and any earlier steps the announcement requires.
- What are the award floor and ceiling? Confirm the smallest and largest awards the agency expects to make.
- Is cost sharing or matching required? If so, identify where your share will come from before you apply.
- Which submission system is used? Confirm where and how the application must be submitted and which registrations that system requires.
- How will applications be evaluated? Read the evaluation criteria closely, since they show what reviewers will score.
Winning a federal award also brings reporting and audit obligations. Our overview of Single Audit requirements explains when a federal audit applies.
What a simpler format does not change
A plainer layout changes how an announcement reads, not what it requires. Eligibility, review criteria, and award terms still come from that specific announcement, so read each NOFO on its own terms rather than relying on a past one or a summary.
Questions nonprofits ask
What does NOFO stand for?
NOFO stands for Notice of Funding Opportunity. It is the formal announcement a federal agency uses to make funding available through a financial assistance program. Agencies may also call it a program announcement, a notice of funding availability, a solicitation, or another name.
Where do nonprofits find NOFOs?
Start with Grants.gov, where you can search by keyword or opportunity number. The funding agency’s own website often posts the announcement as well. Use the funding opportunity number to confirm you are reading the current version.
Does a simplified NOFO mean fewer requirements?
No. HHS SimplerNOFOs focuses on making announcements clearer and easier to read. Eligibility, evaluation criteria, and award terms still come from the specific announcement, so read each one in full.
Get help reading a funding announcement
Temple Management provides grant financial management and compliance services for nonprofits. If your organization is weighing a federal funding opportunity, contact our team to review the announcement’s financial terms and prepare your organization to apply.
