Applications and the writing workspace

Applications lists your preparation drafts, one for each grant. GrantCue helps you write the proposal and download it. It does not send it to the funder.

Start a draft

1. Save the grant to My grants first, for example from Discover.
2. Open Applications. In Saved grant, search for the grant and pick it. Only saved grants without a draft are listed.
3. Choose Start preparation draft. The writing workspace opens.

To start before you have picked a grant, choose Start from a template instead. See Start a draft from a template.

If you have grant editing access and at least one draft, Reuse content from an earlier draft lets you copy saved sections, proposed costs and documents from one draft into a new draft for another saved grant in the same organization. You review the selection and tick that you checked it first. It makes a separate draft and never overwrites an existing one.

Find and manage drafts

• The chips above the list filter by status. All shows everything.
• On a wide screen in the full working view, Cards and List switch the layout.
• Open draft opens the workspace.
• Manage application opens the controls for one draft: a status menu (Drafting, Review or Final), Record external submission, Edit title and Delete application, which asks you to confirm.

Write in the workspace

The header shows the funder, the due date and the status. Below it are the sections, and beside them the Insights panel with tabs for Funder requirements, Funding notice (NOFO) analysis, Funder research, Draft review, Voice profile, Content library and Compliance tracker. On narrower screens these open from buttons above the sections.

• Add section takes a New section title and a Template, such as Executive summary, Statement of need, Budget or Timeline. Read the funder's instructions takes pasted text, a link or a PDF or Word file and lists the questions, limits and attachments it finds, in the funder's own words (Team and higher). You tick the items to keep and check them against the current instructions; nothing is saved or added to the draft until you choose.
• Each section saves a few seconds after you stop typing, and Save saves right away. The Review menu (Not reviewed, In review or Complete) is set by hand. Saving text does not mark a section complete.
• Section tools has Rename, Copy text, move up and down, version history and Delete section.
• On Essentials and higher, each section has Generate and Refine, and More writing tools adds Expand, Condense, Review, Guided, Ask AI and a model tier menu: Fast from Essentials, Standard from Team and Premium from Organization. Library inserts saved text from your Content library. The AI copilot button in the header opens a chat about the application. On Free, each section shows AI writing tools marked Essentials and a See plans link instead.
• Compliance tracker lists the funding notice's requirements and marks each one from the words in your sections. On Essentials and higher, Check with AI reads the draft against each requirement by meaning and marks it covered, partly covered, not found or can't tell, quoting the passage it relied on. It shows Out of date after you change the draft. It describes what the draft covers; it does not decide eligibility or whether the application meets the funder's submission rules.

Reuse answers from past proposals

1. Open Content library and choose Import from a past proposal (Essentials and higher).
2. Pick a Word or PDF proposal (up to 3 MB and 60 pages) and choose Find answers. GrantCue splits it into reusable answers, keeping your own wording and the page each came from.
3. Review each answer: edit the Title, Category or Answer, then choose Add to library or Reject. Add all adds everything except answers that look like ones already in your library, which wait for you to decide one by one.

AI output is a draft. Check names, numbers and claims against the funder's instructions before you use it. Drafts can start with generic section titles and suggested word limits that are not verified funder requirements.

Download and submit

Open Downloads and choose Download draft, Word or PDF. GrantCue saves your open sections first, and a failed save stops the download. A dialog then lists the steps: check the funder's instructions, download and review the draft, submit in the funder's own portal or by its stated method, and keep the confirmation. Downloading does not submit anything.

After you submit, choose Record external submission in Manage application, with the method, date and confirmation reference, so My grants and reminders stay accurate. Recording needs grant editing access.