Sign Applications and Documents Electronically

You may need to provide an electronic signature in one of two ways:

  • When you complete an application form, you may need to add your signature before you submit the application.

  • You may receive a separate email from Adobe Acrobat Sign asking you to sign a document, such as a grant agreement.

Tip: You may receive both a built-in form-signature request and an Adobe Acrobat Sign request during the same application process. Follow the instructions for each document.

Sign When Submitting An Application

If the program you're applying to requires a signature, you'll need to provide an electronic signature before submitting the application. Your application's status will not change until it is signed and submitted.

Since only one applicant can edit an application at a time, only one applicant signature is required. When you've completed the form, click on the Sign and submit button. In the Sign and Submit modal that appears, you'll be presented with several signature options, including:

  • Type - Enter your full name and select a font style from the Style field.

  • Upload - Provide an image file of your handwritten signature.

    Note: Accepted file types are listed in the Guidelines for File Uploads and Attachments.

  • Draw - Use your computer's mouse or trackpad to draw your signature by clicking within the box and signing.

Note: If a signature has already been created, it will appear in a Saved tab. Your signature can also be managed in My Account.

After providing your signature, you can submit your application for review.

 

Sign A Document From An Adobe Acrobat Sign Email

Your grant program may use Adobe Acrobat Sign to request a signature for a document that is separate from the application form. For example, the program may email you a request to sign a grant agreement.

The email identifies the document and includes a link to an Adobe Acrobat Sign signing page. You do not need a Blackbaud ID or a GrantsConnect account to sign the document.

You may be one of several people asked to sign the same document. The program sets the order people sign in. Adobe Acrobat Sign sends you the email only after the people before you in the order have signed. When you finish, Adobe Acrobat Sign sends the document to the next person.

  1. Open the Adobe Acrobat Sign email that identifies the document.

  2. Follow the link to the signing page.

  3. Review the document and complete the required signing fields.

  4. Submit your signature.

When everyone has signed, the signed document appears in the Attachments area of your application if you were one of the signers. If you were not one of the signers, the signed document is not available to you. Signed documents may look like other attachments. Review the document details when you need to identify a signed document.

The grant program manages Adobe Acrobat Sign requests; you do not manage requests or view request statuses from the Applicant Portal. You also cannot see who else has signed.

Note: If you cannot complete the document from the Adobe Acrobat Sign email link, contact the grant program administrator.

 

Sign A Document If You Are Not An Applicant

A grant program may ask you to sign a document even if you are not an applicant on the application. For example, you may be a board member, an authorized representative of an organization, or a member of the grant program's team who is asked to counter-sign an agreement.

You sign the document in the same way as an applicant, from an email sent by Adobe Acrobat Sign.

What To Expect

  • The email comes from Adobe Acrobat Sign, not from GrantsConnect. It identifies the document you need to sign.

  • The email uses a template controlled by Adobe Acrobat Sign. It may not mention the organization that sent the request.

  • If several people are asked to sign, you receive the email only after the people before you have signed.

  • You do not need a Blackbaud ID or a GrantsConnect account. You do not sign in to GrantsConnect to sign the document.

  • The signing page shows the document you are asked to sign.

Sign The Document

  1. Open the Adobe Acrobat Sign email that identifies the document.

  2. Follow the link to the signing page.

  3. Review the document and complete the required signing fields.

  4. Submit your signature.

The grant program tracks the request in GrantsConnect. After you sign, no further action is needed from you.

Note: If you cannot complete the document from the email link, contact the person or organization that asked you to sign.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

You will see a Sign and submit button. When clicked, you will be taken through the simple process of providing or updating your electronic signature before submitting the application.

Note: Applications that do not need to be signed only have a Submit button.

 

Yes. If you receive a Revision Request, you'll need to sign again when resubmitting the application. If the revision is canceled, the original signature provided will be used and a new signature will not be required.

 

If several people are asked to sign a document, each person receives the email only after the person before them has signed. If you expect to be asked to sign and have not received an email, contact the grant program administrator.

 

The signed document is saved only after every person has signed. It is available to you only if you were one of the signers.

 

If a person declines to sign, the request ends and the people after them are not asked to sign. Contact the grant program administrator if you have questions about a request.

 

No. You do not need a Blackbaud ID or a GrantsConnect account to sign a document from an Adobe Acrobat Sign email.