Getting the award feels like the finish line. It's actually the starting gun. What you do after the award decides whether you keep the funding and whether you're eligible for the next one.
The grant agreement is the document that now governs everything. Read it in full — not just the amount, but the obligations buried in it:
- Prior-approval requirements — which budget or project changes need written funder approval before you act.
- Restricted or capped cost categories — what you can and can't spend on.
- Performance benchmarks — specific milestones and deliverables with deadlines.
- Reporting schedule — what's due, when, and in what format.
- Carryover rules — whether unspent funds can roll over or must be returned.
Set aside real time to read it the week you're awarded, not the week the first report is due.
The takeaway: the award is the beginning of obligations, not the end of work. Read the agreement in full immediately and build your plan around it.