Grant Types

Know the kind of funding you are pursuing.

Grants are not all designed the same way. Some support a specific project, some flow by formula, some renew ongoing work, and some help with recovery or capacity building. AHIG makes those distinctions easy to follow.

When you understand the type of grant in front of you, it is easier to judge fit, predict reporting needs, and prepare a stronger application.

Find opportunities See the process

Project Supports a defined activity

Formula Allocated by set rules

Private Foundation or corporate awards

Award map Match the type of grant to the type of need

Funding view Keep each grant type organized by purpose

Stewardship Review awards with a collaborative team

Requirements Every type still has rules you must follow

Common categories

The grant types AHIG helps you compare

The label on a grant often hints at how the money is delivered and what kind of work it supports. A project grant may fund a defined initiative, while a formula grant may be distributed according to a rule. Private foundations and corporations may also use their own funding models.

AHIG encourages applicants to read the funding model as carefully as the dollar amount. The structure of the award can affect reporting, timing, and the amount of flexibility you actually have after the award is made.

Project grants

Fund a defined activity or initiative

Common for programs with a specific scope, timeline, and measurable outcome.

Formula grants

Distributed by an established rule

Often used when funds are allocated based on population, geography, or another policy formula.

Continuation grants

Support ongoing work after review

Used when a program continues over time and must remain in good standing.

Recovery grants

Help communities rebuild after disruption

Useful for disaster response, economic recovery, and urgent public needs.

How AHIG frames it

Grant type tells you how the money behaves.

A good match is not just about the mission. It is also about whether the funding model supports the pace, reporting, and structure of your project.

Best for

Project-based plans

Program launch
Pilot initiatives
Service expansion
Innovation work

Best for

Community and institutional support

Capacity building
Local operations
Workforce support
Public service delivery

Grant type guide

Four questions AHIG asks when matching funding types

What is the funding for?

Look for the program purpose before you look at the dollar amount.

How is it awarded?

Check whether the grant is competitive, formula-based, renewable, or one-time.

What work can it support?

Some awards fund direct service, others support planning, research, or operations.

What happens after award?

Reporting, spending rules, and closeout obligations differ from type to type.

Examples

Grant types AHIG expects applicants to encounter often

Federal project grants

Common for competitive applications with a defined scope and deadline.

Formula and pass-through awards

Funds allocated through policy rules or distributed through another organization.

Private foundation grants

Mission-focused awards with their own intake systems and review cycles.

Recovery and capacity grants

Programs built to strengthen organizations and communities during change.

Next step

When you know the type, move to the application workflow.

The application steps page shows how to gather the right documents and submit on time.

Go to application steps