Blanket Justification forNEA Funding Application Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Individuals

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How to Prepare and Submit an Application
SIDE BAR NAVIGATION TOOLS:
Using Grants.gov
Register with Grants.gov
Download the application package using Adobe Reader
Submit your electronic application
Grants.gov Tips
Application Instructions
What makes a complete application
Step 1
Fill out the Application for Federal Assistance SF 424 – Individual
Step 2
Complete and attach items required for the Attachments Form (supplemental
information form, summary of publications, manuscript, etc.) Need help? Click here.
LINK
Step 3
Submit items in Steps 1-2 electronically through Grants.gov

Application Deadline: TBD 2014

These application guidelines provide all of the information that you need to submit an
application. We urge you to read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the
application process. Please keep these instructions open in a window in your computer
as they contain helpful links to information that you will need as you complete your
application.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY.
1) Register with Grants.gov. Registration is a one-time process, which can take a
day or more to complete.
2) Verify that you have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov
installed on your computer before you download your new application package
from Grants.gov.
3) Submit your application no later than 10 days prior to the deadline to give
yourself ample time to resolve any problems that you might encounter. You take
a significant risk by waiting until the day of the deadline to submit.
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•
•
•

The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. (Phone: 1-800-518-4726.)
Submit your application outside of Grants.gov’s hours of heaviest
usage, generally 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is complete
and accurate. Incomplete applications will be rejected without panel
review.
The Arts Endowment will not accept late applications.

The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted application no later
than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, TBD, 2014.
If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A
waiver will be granted for the following reasons only:
•
•

Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Your waiver request must be in writing and must be received (not postmarked) at the
Arts Endowment at least three weeks before the application deadline. Click here for
more information on waivers.
WAIVER POP UP BOX:

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Requesting a waiver: Literature Fellowships
If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A
waiver will be granted for the following reasons only:
• Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
• Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Your waiver request must be in writing and must be received (not postmarked) at the
Arts Endowment at least three weeks before the application deadline, or no later than
5:30 p.m., Eastern Time, TBD, 2014. You may fax your request to 202/682-5660 or
send it to:
Deputy Chairman for Programs and Partnerships
Grants.gov Waiver Request
Room 705
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506-0001
The National Endowment for the Arts continues to experience delays in the delivery of
First-Class mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Please consider
faxing your waiver request or using a commercial delivery service, particularly if you are
sending your request close to the receipt deadline.
In the event a waiver is granted, your complete paper application package must be
postmarked (or show other proof of mailing) no later than TBD, 2014.

Using Grants.gov
Register with Grants.gov [Back to Top]
NOTE: Applicants are now required to change their passwords every 60 days. See
www.grants.gov for more details.
It is your responsibility to create and maintain a registration with Grants.gov.
Registration is a one-time process, which can take a day or more to complete. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE APPLICATION DEADLINE TO REGISTER to allow
time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with this requirement may
result in your inability to submit your application.

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To register, click: Individual Registration. You will be asked to provide the Funding
Opportunity Number of the grant. Enter 2014NEA03LFCW. If you have problems with
registration contact Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726, e-mail [email protected], or
consult the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Help. The Grants.gov
Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register before the deadline.
You do not need to complete the registration process to download the application
package and begin to prepare your material (see below). However, you will need your
Grants.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the registration process to
submit your application.
Download the Application Package [Back to Top]
1. Verify your software.
You must have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov
installed on your computer before you download your application package from
Grants.gov. Non-compatible versions of Adobe Reader or other Adobe products will
lead to errors and prevent you from submitting your application. If more than one
computer will be involved in the preparation of the application package, ensure that
the same version of Adobe Reader is used.
Please go to "Download Software" to see the compatible versions of Adobe Reader
or to download and install Adobe Reader.
2. Access the application package on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below.
DOWNLOAD
[Funding Opportunity Number 2014NEA03LFCW]
This will bring you to the "Selected Grant Applications for Download" screen.
Download the application package and follow the instructions below. It is not
necessary to download the instructions from Grants.gov as you will only be
directed back to the instructions on this webpage.
If you have a compatible version of Adobe Reader and are still experiencing difficulty
downloading the application package, try using a different Internet browser.
3. When you download the application package, the Grants.gov "Grant Application
Package" screen will open. Click on the "Save" button at the top of the form and
save the application package to a location on your computer or network where

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you can find it readily. Save your application each time you work on it. You will get
the message "The file already exists. Replace existing file?" Click "Yes" to ensure
that you always save the most recent version.
4. On the first page of the Grants.gov application package, you will see a field for
“Application Filing Name.” Enter your legal name here.
5. In the "Mandatory Documents" box, you will see two forms. You must move these
forms to the "Mandatory Documents for Submission" box before you can open them.
Once moved, the two forms merge into a single document. You can access each
form by clicking on it to highlight it and then clicking on the "Open Form" box OR you
can scroll down your screen and you will come to each form in succession.
The forms are:
•

Application for Federal Assistance SF 424 - Individual Form

•

Attachments Form

6. Complete the application based on the Application Instructions outlined below.
Submit Your Electronic Application [Back to Top]
1. Check the size of your electronic application. The total size should not exceed 10
MB.
2. To begin the submission process, click the Save & Submit button. [This button will
not become active (and turn from light to dark gray) until you have saved your
application with all required fields completed. Clicking this button will prompt you to
save your application package one last time. When asked if you want to replace the
existing file, click “Yes.” You will then be reconnected to Grants.gov and the
Internet.] You will be prompted to provide your Grants.gov Username and
Password that you obtained during registration.
3. Click the "Login" button. This will bring you to the "Application Submission
Verification and Signature" screen, which provides a summary of the Funding
Opportunity for which you are applying. Click the "Sign and Submit Application"
button to complete the process. Be certain that you are satisfied with your
application before you click this button. No revisions to your application are
possible through Grants.gov once it is submitted.
If you have difficulty submitting, go to Adobe Reader Error Messages or Applicant
Resources for several tools and documents to help you.
4. Ensure that your application was validated and accepted by the Grants.gov system.
Go to Track My Application to track the validation and progress of your application
submission through Grants.gov. After the Arts Endowment retrieves your application

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from Grants.gov, log in to the Grants.gov system by using your Username and
Password to receive your Agency Tracking Number (this will be the Arts
Endowment-assigned application number).
Note: Acceptance and validation by Grants.gov does not imply that the applicant has
uploaded the proper attachments. Before submitting your application, please double
check that you have attached everything correctly.
Additional Help
For additional help on how to use Grants.gov, please see the Grants.gov website at
Help. You also can send e-mail to the Grants.gov Contact Center at
[email protected] or call them at 1-800-518-4726 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For specific help on how to complete your application, please review the instructions in
these guidelines. For help on all other issues, click here. LINK
Application Instructions

For a complete application, follow Steps 1-3 below

A complete application consists of:
•

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

•

Attachments Form to which you have attached:
o

Literature Fellowships Application Supplemental
Information Form

o

Manuscript material: 10 pages of sample text

o

Cover page

o

Summary of applicant publications

Applications that are determined to be incomplete will be
rejected without panel review.
Step 1: Fill out the Application for Federal Assistance SF 424 - Individual
NOTE: All asterisked (*) items and yellow fields on this form are required and must be
completed before you will be able to submit the form. Do not type in all capital letters

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when completing the form. Enter information directly into the form. Do not copy from an
old application package or another document and paste into the form.
1. Name of Federal Agency: Pre-populated.
2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Pre-populated.
3. Date Received: This will be filled automatically with the date that you submit your
application; leave blank.
4. Funding Opportunity Number: Pre-populated.
5. Applicant Information:
a. Name and Contact Information:
Applicants using pen names must list their legal name here. All transactions with the
Arts Endowment must be made using the legal name. Contact information must be valid
through December 2014. You must notify us of any changes.
b. Address:
Enter information for your permanent address. Information must be valid through
December 2014.
Use Street 1 for your street address or post office box number, whichever is used for
your U.S. Postal Service mailing address. Street 2 is not a required field and should be
used only when a Suite or Room Number or other similar information is part of your
address. Do not use Street 2 to provide a second address.
In the Zip/Postal Code box, enter the full 9-digit zip code (00000-0000) that was
assigned by the U.S. Postal Service. If you do not know your full zip code, you may look
it up at www.usps.com/zip4/ .
c. Citizenship Status:
If you are a permanent resident of the United States, provide your Alien Registration
Number.
d. Congressional District of Applicant: Enter the Congressional District that corresponds
to your permanent address. Use the following format: 2 character State Abbreviation-3
character District Number. For example, if you live in the 5th Congressional District of
California, enter "CA-005." If your state has a single At-Large Representative or your
territory has a single Delegate, enter your 2 character state/territory abbreviation and "000." If you are an American citizen or a permanent resident residing outside the United
States, use "00-000" for your Congressional District. If you need help determining your
district, please visit the House of Representatives website at www.house.gov and use
the "Find Your Representative" tool.

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6. Project Information:
a. Project Title: Leave blank.
b. Project Description: In two or three sentences, briefly describe how you see your
work being advanced by this fellowship. This may include writing, research, travel, etc.
(Note: the NEA staff will see the project description, but the panelists will not. Our
panelists will only review the manuscript submitted.)
c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter your preferred beginning and ending
dates. The start date should be the first day of the month, and the end date should be
the last day of the month. The beginning date must fall between January 1, 2015, and
January 1, 2016, and the period of support may extend up to two years from the start
date. Your period of support must begin on the first day of the month and end on the
last day of the month.
7. Signature Block:
By clicking the "I Agree" box, you are certifying that your application is true and correct
to the best of your knowledge and that you are in compliance with relevant federal
requirements that can be found in the Assurance of Compliance section of these
guidelines. The "Signature" and "Date Signed" boxes will be populated by Grants.gov
upon submission of the application.
Step 2: Complete and Attach Required Items to the Attachments Form
The "Attachments Form" is not a form in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a place to
attach documents that you have completed and saved elsewhere on your computer.
1. Attachment 1 (Literature Fellowships Application Supplemental Information) is
a fillable form; you will find a link to it here. LINK This form can be filled in, saved to
your computer, and attached without the need for special software or conversion to
PDF.
Please be sure you are using Adobe Reader (version 9 or higher) when filling out
our PDF forms.
Note to Mac users: Your computer may be set to open PDF files using Preview
(you can tell which program is being used to view a PDF file by looking at the leftmost item in the menu bar). Please verify that you are using Adobe Reader and not
Preview. If you don’t have Adobe Reader installed, you can download it here:
http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

2. Attachments 2 - 4 are documents that you will develop in accordance with the
instructions provided. These items must be submitted as PDF (portable
document format) files.

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These non-form documents can be created using any word processing software.
When you have completed the document, save it as a PDF on your computer before
attaching. If you don't already have software to convert files to PDF, there are many
low-cost and free software packages that can do this. To learn more, go to PDF
Conversion Programs.
Please make sure to convert your documents into PDF format in line with the
guidance above. Do not create PDFs of your electronic documents by scanning.
In the past, some applicants have printed their electronic documents and then
scanned them, saving the scan in PDF format. PDFs created this way are much
larger, and of lower quality, than PDFs created by the methods we recommend. Do
not embed non-printable media files (video and/or sound) in your PDF
documents. Static images (e.g., pictures) are acceptable. Please do not enable any
document security settings or password-protect any PDF file you submit to us.
No attachment should be more than 2 MB.
3. For non-form documents, label the first page clearly with the name of the item (e.g.,
Summary of Applicant Publications). Leave a margin of at least one inch at the top,
bottom, and sides of all pages. Do not reduce type below 12 point font size. Do not
type in all capital letters. Number pages sequentially. Excess pages will be removed
and not be reviewed.
4. Name your files as indicated below and attach them in the proper order. Limit
file names to 50 or fewer characters and use only the following characters when
naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, and
period. If you do not follow this rule, your application may be rejected. Please note
that you cannot change the name of a file on the Attachments Form. Therefore make
certain that each file is named correctly before you attach it.
When you open the Grants.gov Attachments Form, you will find 15 attachment buttons.
For this application, you will only use the first four attachment buttons. By clicking on a
button, you will be able to choose the PDF file from your computer that you wish to
attach. Please attach the proper file to the proper button as listed below.
The Attachments
ATTACHMENT 1: LITERATURE FELLOWSHIPS APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL
INFORMATION FORM
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FORM

To this button, attach the Literature Fellowships Application Supplemental
Information form. We collect this information to inform the agency about the
composition of the application pool. This information is not provided to panelists, nor is it

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taken into consideration for the awarding of grants. The file name should be your last
name followed by "SuppInfo" (e.g., JonesSuppInfo).
Under Category Under Which Support is Requested, check "Fellowships for
Creative Writers." Then choose "Poetry."
ATTACHMENT 2: MANUSCRIPT SAMPLE
To this button, attach one copy of your manuscript sample. The file name should be
your last name followed by "Manuscript." Submit a single attachment. Do not attach
each poem as a separate PDF attachment.
Your manuscript sample must be a maximum of 10 typescript pages of:
• Poetry, with no more than one poem per page
or
• One long poem (or section of a long poem)
Please note that applicants may submit any combination of poems (e.g., two, five-page
poems or ten, one-page poems), but the total pages cannot exceed 10 pages.
Your manuscript sample must be:
1. From work that you have written in the time period that establishes your
eligibility, and for which you have sole artistic responsibility. You may
submit published work, unpublished work, or work in progress. Do not indicate
whether or not the material has been published.
2. In the literary genre in which you establish your eligibility (e.g., poetry).
3. Completely free of your name, initials, address, or any other marks that
could identify you. If your name appears on your manuscript, your
application will be deemed ineligible.
4. Labeled to indicate title and genre of the sample. At the top of every page,
include the page number in the upper right corner and state the title of the
manuscript.
5. In typescript and clearly readable. Use a 12 point font and margins of at least
one inch at the top, bottom, and sides of all pages. Do not submit more than the
maximum number of pages that are allowed; excess pages will be removed
and not reviewed.
Remember to save your manuscript as a PDF in line with the guidance above (Step 2:
Complete and Attach Required Items to the Attachments Form). Do not create PDFs of
your electronic documents by scanning.

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ATTACHMENT 3: COVER PAGE
To this button, attach one copy of an unnumbered cover page that lists your legal
name and a current e-mail address and the title(s) of the work(s) you are submitting.
The file name should be your last name followed by "CoverPg." Save your document as
a PDF. Your name, initials, address, or other identifying marks must not appear
on any other page of the manuscript material that is submitted.
ATTACHMENT 4: SUMMARY OF APPLICANT PUBLICATIONS
To this button, attach a Summary of Applicant Publications to establish your eligibility
(three-page, single-spaced maximum). The file name should be your last name followed
by "SummaryPubs."
List only the specific published works that establish your eligibility, not everything
you have published (e.g., no resumes). (See Eligibility for details.) We collect this
information only to verify eligibility; it is not provided to our reviewers.
For each publication note:
•
•

•
•
•
•

Title, author.
Publisher (including name of magazine or press with physical address, web
address, and phone number). (If an online journal or magazine, physical address
is not required.)
Publication date (month and year, or volume/issue).
ISBN or ISSN number, for a book in print.
Number of pages of your material. (If your work appears in an anthology, this
refers to your work within the collection, not the full book.)
Page number or exact URL of the page that features your work if published
online. If archived online, provide the exact URL of the archived piece.

Your Summary of Applicant Publications should be formatted as follows:
Book
Title/Author: City Poems / John Doe
Publisher: University Press, 1234 Main St., Springfield, IL, www.up.edu, 123-4567891
Publication Date: 12/2010
ISBN or ISSN: 000-0-00-000000-0
# of pages: 80
URL: n/a
Journal
Title/Author: “Hidden Moon”/ Jane Doe
Publisher: Violet Journal, 44 Spring St., Mesa, AZ, www.violetjournal.org, 333-

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456-7891
Publication Date/ Volume-Issue: 10/2010/Vol. 32 Issue 4 (Fall)
ISBN or ISSN: 000-0-00-000000-0
# of pages: 5
Page # or URL: www.violetjournal.org/32-52/doe
Anthology
Title/Author: Contemporary Poetry ("Boy and a Pail," "Children Sit Down," "One,
Two, Three")/ Marvin Doe, edited by M. Fed/Jill Deer
Publisher: Small Press, 6868 Elm St., Nashville, TN, www.smallpress.org, 123456-9871
Publication Date: 06/2011
ISBN or ISSN: 000-0-00-000000-0
# of pages: 8

Upon request, you must provide proof of eligibility to the Arts Endowment in the form
of one or more of the following ways:
a. The title page or cover with your name and the title of the work.
b. The copyright page with the publisher's information; publication date (month and
year); ISBN or ISSN number, if a print publication; or exact URL that features
your work, if publication is online only.
c. The publication's stated selection criteria and editorial policy.
NOTE: When you check the Certification box on the SF 424-Individual form, you are
certifying that all parts of your application, including your summary of the publications
that establish your eligibility, are true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

Leave all remaining Attachment buttons blank.
Step 3: Submit Items in Steps 1-2 above electronically through Grants.gov

[Back to

Top]

Follow the detailed instructions under “Submit your electronic application” above.

Reporting Burden
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average
of 12 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information. The Arts Endowment welcomes any suggestions
that you might have on improving the guidelines and making them as easy to use as
possible. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

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collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Office of
Guidelines & Panel Operations, Room 620, National Endowment for the Arts, 1100
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20506-0001. Note: Applicants are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

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