Get Started with Custom Forms

The Program Setup > Custom Forms area is used to build forms for grant and nomination programs, including forms submitted by applicants and used by Grant Managers to review applications.

Key Features

  • Create forms to be used for applications, reviews, and program routing

  • Provide translations for forms to better support a global audience

  • Configure forms with conditional logic and validation options

  • Require applicants to provide an electronic signature when submitting a form

Learn More

Note: For more information, see the Create and Configure Custom Forms resources.

There are several types of forms available in GrantsConnect. These types are organized based on their audience - Applicant or Grant Manager.

Note: The audience dictates who can access the form and in what portal it will be made available.

Applicant forms

Forms with an Applicant audience are intended to be completed by external parties (i.e., applicants) in the Applicant Portal. Also called External Forms, these consist of Eligibility, Request, Routing Forms, etc.

Note: For a complete list of Applicant form types, see the About Form Types resource.

Grant Manager forms

Forms with a Grant Manager audience are intended by completed by internal parties (i.e., Grant Managers and Reviewers) in the Grant Manager Portal. They are never available in the Applicant Portal. These consist of Approval, Award, Review, etc.

Note: For a complete list of Grant Manager form types, see the About Form Types resource.

Forms are built in the Grant Manager Portal using a combination of form fields and layout components. The recommended steps for creating a form are outlined below.

  1. Create your custom form fields.

    Tip: New fields can be created from scratch or templates.

  2. Create a new form.

    Tip: New forms can be created from scratch or templates.

  3. Add fields to the form using the Quick Add tool.

    Note: This step is optional. Instead of using the Quick Add tool, you can add fields in the Form Builder.

  4. Add pages to the form in the Form Builder.

  5. Add layout components like columns and wells to the form in the Form Builder.

  6. Add any additional fields to the form in the Form Builder.

  7. Customize and configure form fields.

  8. Publish your form for use in your programs.

Custom forms are not automatically translated by the system. However, you can choose to provide your own translations or opt-in for machine translations if you are working in non-English languages.

Note: For more information, see the Manage Form Translations resource.

Forms can be assigned to a program in the program's configuration and workflow.

Once an application has been submitted, you can export the form's responses by either downloading the form or downloading the application as a whole. This information can then be stored in your own records, reviewed outside of GrantsConnect, etc.

Revisions can be made to a form if the information being collected as part of the application process changes, errors need to be corrected, etc. You can either create a new revision or update the current revision. The action you choose will depend on whether you want to make the changes to the form available to new submissions only or both new and previously submitted applications.

Note: For more information, see the Manage Form Revisions resource.