eGrants Webinar Training Goal:

1. eGrants Webinar Training Goal: • To learn how to create an eGrants VISTA Concept Paper and to review Concept Paper components & completion procedure. • Look forward to a productive and meaningful session! • Kapila Wewegama • eGrants Coaching Unit • JBS International/Aguirre Division • 1-888-333-8272

2. To begin your eGrants account creation process, logon to CNCS homepage at www.cns.gov Please click on “eGrants” link to open the eGrants Welcome Page.

3. Please click here to begin creating an eGrants account. If you already have an eGrants account, you will also use this link to log on to your eGrants account.

4. Log into eGrants system by entering your user name and password. If you disable the pictures, it will speed up screen refreshes.

5. To create a new concept paper, please click on this link.

6. Please choose the NOFA (Notice of Funds Availability) and click “Next.” Please check with your CNCS State office to find out which NOFA you should choose.

7. You concept paper will look like this. There are 5 sections in the concept paper: • Applicant Info • Application info • Narratives • Review • Authorize and Submit When you create your concept paper, please write down the ID number, in case if you need it in the future.

8. Until you submit your concept paper, it will be in “initial entry” status. When it is in the “initial entry” status, you can edit information in the concept paper. To create project information, please click on this link.

9. It will open up a secondary window to input your project information. After you enter data, please click on “save and close.”

10. You can choose a project director from the drop down list. The drop down list will show the names of individuals who are already in the system. If the project director’s name is not there, you could enter project director information using the “enter new” link. The information you entered will get populated here.

11. Whenever you enter text into eGrants text fields, we strongly encourage you to create that information on a word document. You can copy the data from your word document and paste it in the eGrants text field by having your cursor in the text field and right clicking your mouse. • Three Good Reasons to do your text on a word document: • You will have a back up record. • You can do a character count to find out the size of your text. • You can spell check your work. Don’t forget: eGrants cannot take formatted text.

12. To enter text into any of the narrative fields, please click on these links. When you click on these links, it will open up the text field for the relevant narrative item.

13. Whenever you enter text into eGrants text fields, we strongly encourage you to create that information on a word document. Then you can copy the data from your word document and paste it in the eGrants text field by having your cursor in the text field and right clicking your mouse and choosing paste function.

14. Once you enter data into a text field and save, a green check mark will appear next to that text filed indicating that you have entered data. Data needs to be entered into all the text fields. Otherwise, you will not be able to submit your concept paper.

16. Review section/screen will show a summary of the data you have input into the concept paper.

17. If you click on “view/print report,” it will pull up a PDF document that will have all the data in your concept paper. You can print it for proof reading purposes or save the PDF document for your own use.

18. Here’s a sample PDF document that gets created when you click on “view/print report.”

20. The staff who is responsible for completing the “authorization” and “certifications” should have an eGrants account to logon to this page to complete this part. When he/she click “I agree”, it will populate their name and date by “I Agree” button.

21. Once you complete the authorization and certifications, you can click on submit link to submit your concept paper. When it get submitted, the status of your concept paper will change from “initial entry” to “submitted.” Once you submit your concept paper, you will not be able to edit it again.

22. When you click on “submit this concept paper” it will get submitted or pull up an errors list, if you have not fully completed the concept paper. On the errors list, it will indicate the specific error that you need to fix.

24. When you submit your Concept Paper, the Status will changed to “Submitted.” Once you submit, please notify your CNCS Program Specialist that you have submitted your Concept Paper.

25. When you logon to your home page you will notice a link that says, “Concept Paper Submitted.”

26. When your concept paper has been approved by your state office, you will see “Concept Paper Accepted” link listed under “View My Grants/Applications.”

27. For Guidance in regard to Application Guidelines and Policies, please contact your CNCS State Office ******** For eGrants related Technical Issue and Problems, please contact: eGrants Help Desk: 1-888-677-7849 (Ext. 533) email: eGrantshelp@cns.gov ********

28. Thank you! All the best with your eGrants application process!!! Kapila Wewegama eGrants Coaching Unit JBS International/Aguirre Division 1-888-333-8272