> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.oscollective.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.oscollective.org/for-hosted-member-projects/applying-for-and-accepting-grants.md).

# Applying for and Accepting Grants

### How it works

When your project applies for a grant, OSC acts as the receiving organization on your behalf. Grant funders pay us, and we deposit the funds into your account on the platform, where you can use them for reimbursements or invoices just like any other contribution.

Because **we're the receiving organization**, we need to be involved from the early stages of your application, not just once the money arrives. Many grant applications ask for details about the fiscal sponsor (our EIN, financial or organizational information, sometimes signatures), so reach out to us as soon as you start putting an application together, and we can help fill in any paperwork that nam.

### A note on nonprofit status

Some grants are restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations. Open Source Collective is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, so before applying, confirm that the grant you're interested in allows funding to a 501(c)(6). If you're not sure, ask us; we're happy to help you check.

### NSF grants

We can help with National Science Foundation (NSF) grants, but there's a structural limit to our involvement. OSC can only act as a secondary awardee (subawardee), never as the primary awardee.

That means:

* Your university (or other primary awardee) applies for and receives the award directly from the NSF.
* Your university names OSC as a subawardee on the application and issues us a subaward agreement.
* OSC invoices the university — not the NSF — and deposits the funds into your account on the platform, which you can use to pay out reimbursements or invoices.

**Primary awardee** — receives the total award directly from the NSF. Responsible for distributing the approved budget to subawardees and for overall financial reporting.

**Secondary awardee (subawardee)** — receives funding through a subaward agreement issued by the primary awardee, and invoices the primary awardee rather than billing the NSF directly.

If your project is considering an NSF grant, reach out early so we can help structure the subaward relationship with your university.

### Getting started

Thinking about applying for a grant — NSF or otherwise? Email us at <hello@oscollective.org> as soon as you start the process. The earlier we're looped in, the easier it is to get any required paperwork sorted before a deadline.