For those of you still waiting to hear back on FY25 submissions: a new FY26 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) going live for the next cycle doesn't indicate anything negative about the status of your FY25 award.
Why the Timelines Don't Line Up
Federal grant award notifications often lag behind the release of the next cycle's NOFO, sometimes by several months, so the two timelines don't necessarily track one another. A new cycle opening is a function of the agency's statutory or administrative calendar, not a signal about where your prior application stands in review.
There may also be Administration leadership still awaiting appointment or confirmation behind the scenes for key offices, which is another common reason award decisions can be delayed without reflecting on the merits of a given application.
Our Recommendation
If you're still eligible, it doesn't harm you to apply for FY26 grants. Doing so protects you in case FY25 doesn't come through, and keeps you in the pipeline for the next award cycle without any downside to your existing submission.
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