Nonprofit General Operating Support Grant Application

Streamline Your Nonprofit Grant Applications with Paperform

Applying for general operating support grants is a critical yet time-consuming process for nonprofit organizations. Our Nonprofit General Operating Support Grant Application template helps foundations, grantmakers, and nonprofits create a professional, comprehensive application process that captures all essential information while providing applicants with a smooth, branded experience.

Built for Nonprofit Fundraising Excellence

This template is designed specifically for:

• Grant-making foundations managing multiple funding rounds and needing consistent application data
• Community foundations supporting local nonprofits with operating grants
• Corporate giving programs evaluating nonprofit partners for multi-year support
• Nonprofit development directors preparing applications for institutional funders
• Fiscal sponsors processing grant applications on behalf of sponsored projects

What Makes This Template Essential

General operating support grants are among the most valuable—and most competitive—funding opportunities for nonprofits. This template ensures you collect all the critical information needed to make informed funding decisions:

501(c)(3) Verification & Organizational Details: Confirm tax-exempt status, collect EIN numbers, and gather essential organizational information upfront to streamline eligibility screening.

Comprehensive Budget Breakdown: Capture detailed financial information including annual operating budget, revenue sources, expenses by category, and how grant funds will be allocated. Built-in calculations help applicants show their math clearly.

Program Impact Metrics: Move beyond storytelling to collect quantifiable data on people served, program outcomes, and community impact. Conditional logic reveals relevant questions based on program areas and populations served.

Board Diversity & Governance: Collect board composition data, diversity metrics, and governance information that funders increasingly require to evaluate organizational equity and leadership.

Mission Alignment: Understand how applicants' work connects to your funding priorities through narrative questions about mission, programs, and community need.

The Paperform Advantage for Grant Applications

Unlike basic form builders or clunky grant portals, Paperform gives you a document-style editor that makes complex applications feel approachable. Add your foundation's branding, embed video instructions, include helpful examples, and create custom success messages that set clear expectations for next steps.

File uploads make it simple to collect required attachments like IRS determination letters, audited financials, board lists, and letters of support—all organized in one submission.

Conditional logic shows or hides questions based on responses, creating a more tailored experience. For example, reveal additional questions about collaborative partnerships only for applicants working with other organizations, or ask about earned revenue strategies only when applicable.

Calculations let applicants see running totals as they complete budget sections, reducing errors and making the math transparent for both parties.

Automate Your Grant Review Workflow with Stepper

Once applications start coming in, Stepper transforms your grant review process from manual chaos into an automated workflow. Connect your Paperform submissions to:

• Send confirmation emails with application reference numbers and review timelines
• Create tasks in project management tools for grant committee members to review specific applications
• Update your CRM or grants database automatically with applicant information
• Route applications to different reviewers based on focus area, grant amount, or geographic region
• Trigger follow-up sequences requesting missing documentation or scheduling interviews with finalists

Stepper's AI-native workflow builder means you can set up these automations in plain language without any coding—perfect for nonprofit teams focused on impact, not IT.

Designed for Transparency and Equity

Modern grantmaking prioritizes transparency, accessibility, and equity in the application process. This template supports those values by:

• Creating a clear, organized application that doesn't overwhelm applicants with unclear requests
• Asking direct questions about board and staff diversity to support equity-focused funding decisions
• Using plain language rather than jargon-heavy grant-speak
• Providing helpful descriptions on complex questions so applicants know exactly what you're looking for
• Offering a mobile-friendly experience so applicants can work from any device

Secure, Compliant, and Trusted

Paperform is SOC 2 Type II compliant and offers enterprise-grade security features that protect sensitive applicant data. With granular permissions, you can control which team members see financial information, HIPAA-adjacent program details, or personally identifiable information about clients served.

For foundations managing multiple grant programs, Paperform's workspace features let you duplicate and customize this template for different funding opportunities while maintaining consistent branding and data structure.

Who Benefits from This Template

Foundations and funders get consistent, complete applications that make comparative review easier and help identify the strongest candidates for general operating support.

Nonprofit development directors and grant writers appreciate clear questions, helpful guidance, and the ability to save progress and return later (when using multi-page layouts).

Grants managers and program officers save hours of follow-up time when applications arrive complete with all necessary attachments and documentation.

Board members and grant committees receive well-organized submissions that make informed decision-making possible.

Start Funding Impact Today

Whether you're a foundation launching a new general operating support program, a corporate giving team refining your application process, or a fiscal sponsor managing applications for multiple projects, this template provides the structure and professionalism your grant program deserves.

With Paperform's intuitive editor, you can customize this template in minutes—adjust questions to match your specific funding priorities, add your organization's branding, and start accepting applications the same day. Plus, with 30,000+ designer templates and an active community of nonprofit users, you're never starting from scratch.

Ready to transform your grant application process? Start with this template and experience how Paperform makes complex forms simple, professional, and actually pleasant to complete.