Grants.gov and SAM.gov are two different federal systems you’ll use to apply for grants — and confusing them is a common, costly mistake. In short: SAM.gov is where you register your organization; Grants.gov is where you find and submit applications.
What is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov is the federal government’s official system for registering your organization to be eligible for grants and contracts. It issues your Unique Entity ID (UEI), validates that your organization is real, and stores your banking and tax details for payment. Without an active SAM.gov registration, you cannot receive federal funding.
What is Grants.gov?
Grants.gov is the central website where you search for and apply to federal grant opportunities. Nearly every federal agency posts its funding opportunities (NOFOs) here, and you submit your completed application through its Workspace tool.
How the two work together
You register in SAM.gov first, then use that identity to apply through Grants.gov. Your UEI from SAM.gov links the two systems, and the email of your SAM.gov E-Business Point of Contact must match your Grants.gov organization account. See the full walkthrough in how to register on SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
Which one do I use, and when?
Use SAM.gov once to register and annually to renew; use Grants.gov every time you search or apply. Here’s the split:
| SAM.gov | Grants.gov | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Register your organization | Find & apply for grants |
| You get | UEI, active registration | Application submission, tracking number |
| How often | Once + annual renewal | Every search and application |
| Run by | GSA | Dept. of Health & Human Services (for OMB) |
Common points of confusion
The most common mistake is assuming one registration covers both — it doesn’t. You must complete SAM.gov first (it takes 1–2 weeks), then register separately on Grants.gov using your UEI. Both are completely free.
Federal grants open right now
Live from Grantoria — updated daily from Grants.gov & SAM.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register on both SAM.gov and Grants.gov?
Yes. SAM.gov registers and validates your organization (and issues your UEI); Grants.gov is where you actually apply. You need both, and SAM.gov must be done first.
Is there a fee for SAM.gov or Grants.gov?
No. Both are free federal systems. Never pay a third party for access or registration.
Which comes first, SAM.gov or Grants.gov?
SAM.gov first. You need an active SAM.gov registration and UEI before you can complete your Grants.gov organization registration.