The Grant Management Lifecycle Explained

The grant lifecycle covers pre‑award planning, assessment, award, delivery and close‑out with impact reporting.

• A shared model keeps decisions fair and auditable.
• Right‑sized checks reduce burden for applicants.
• Platforms like Plinth tie the stages together.

1) Pre‑award: set aims and open the call

Define what success looks like and how you will assess it. Clear criteria lead to better applications and faster decisions.

• Publish guidance, eligibility and timelines.
• Prepare an application form that maps to assessment criteria.
• Configure reviewer roles, conflicts and scoring scales.

Key takeaway: clarity at the start prevents confusion later.

2) Assessment: eligibility and review

Screen applications, then evaluate against the criteria using consistent scoring.

• Automatic eligibility filters reduce manual triage.
• AI summarises long answers and highlights evidence.
• Reviewers record scores and comments in one workspace.

Key takeaway: structured reviews are faster and more defensible.

3) Award and delivery

Issue agreements and plan payments aligned to milestones and risk.

• Standard terms and proportionate conditions.
• Scheduled payments with automated reminders and holds.
• Change‑request process for scope or timeline shifts.

Key takeaway: predictable steps reduce admin for both sides.

4) Monitoring, impact and close‑out

Collect the minimum useful data, then close grants with learning that feeds future rounds.

• Short progress check‑ins, then a final outcome summary.
• Dashboards for portfolio‑level analysis.
• Auto‑drafted impact summaries ready for boards and websites.

Key takeaway: Plinth makes reporting continuous, not a scramble at the end.

FAQs

How long should each stage take?

Timelines vary by programme; using automation, small rounds often complete within 6–10 weeks.

What evidence is required?

Evidence should be proportionate to grant size and risk, with examples given in guidance.

Can grantees reuse data across reports?

Yes. Plinth reuses application and progress data to avoid duplicate entry.