What is a Grant Agreement?

A grant agreement sets out conditions for funding—purpose, reporting and responsibilities—so both parties are clear.

• Confirms scope, payment schedule and evidence required.
• Sets expectations for changes and communications.
• Protects both funder and grantee with proportionate terms.

What to include

Keep agreements clear and relevant to the grant.

• Project summary, outcomes and timeline.
• Payments, reporting and eligible costs.
• Data protection, publicity and fraud clauses.

Key takeaway: clarity reduces disputes and delays.

Proportionate terms

Match the level of detail to grant size and risk.

• Short templates for micro‑grants.
• Enhanced clauses for higher‑risk contexts.
• Accessible language for all partners.

Key takeaway: Plinth links agreements to milestones and monitoring.

Managing changes

Projects evolve—plan for it.

• Simple change‑request process and approvals.
• Documented rationale and updated schedules.
• Transparent communication with stakeholders.

Key takeaway: flexibility keeps delivery on track.

FAQs

Is a grant agreement a contract?

Usually. Where the grantee must deliver a project or meet conditions in return for funding, the agreement is typically legally binding, though the wording decides—take legal advice on large or complex awards.

Can we use e‑signatures?

Yes—speedy and auditable when done securely. Plinth generates the agreement from a branded template, supports digital signing by both funder and grantee (including guest signing for grantees without an account), and records each signature with a full audit trail.

Do all grants need agreements?

A written agreement is good practice for every grant, but keep micro‑grant templates concise.