Grants Federal Personnel Certificate Program

Monitoring, Performance, and Compliance Oversight Course

• Explain the role of monitoring as a risk management and performance oversight function.
• Apply monitoring requirements from 2 CFR 200 to oversight decisions.
• Differentiate between compliance monitoring, performance monitoring, and financial oversight.
• Design proportional, risk-based monitoring strategies.
• Interpret financial and performance data to identify emerging program risks.
• Identify monitoring weaknesses that commonly lead to audit findings.
• Document monitoring decisions clearly and defensibly.
• Respond effectively to noncompliance and performance challenges.
• Coordinate corrective actions, technical assistance, and escalation when necessary.
• Demonstrate oversight practices that withstand audit and Inspector General review.

Monitoring and Managing Cooperative Agreements Course

• Differentiate cooperative agreements from grants in purpose, structure, and oversight expectations.
• Identify the legal and regulatory basis for substantial federal involvement.
• Clarify and apply distinct roles and responsibilities for federal staff and recipients to preserve accountability.
• Design monitoring strategies that reflect shared responsibility and increased federal engagement.
• Document federal involvement in a clear, consistent, and defensible manner.
• Interpret performance and financial information within a cooperative agreement context to identify risk signals.
• Recognize risks unique to cooperative agreements, including role confusion and over-involvement.
• Select appropriate response options to performance and compliance issues while sustaining collaboration.
• Apply corrective actions and enforcement tools consistent with cooperative agreement authority.
• Demonstrate management practices that withstand audit and oversight scrutiny.

Grant Performance, Outcomes, and Results Management Course

• Design performance frameworks that align activities, outputs, and outcomes
• Distinguish between compliance reporting and results management
• Identify and prioritize material performance risks
• Develop performance measures that are credible, measurable, and decision-useful
• Use performance data to inform oversight, technical assistance, and corrective action
• Respond to underperformance in a structured, defensible manner
• Document performance decisions in ways that withstand audit and oversight review

Program Design and Risk Assessment Course

• Explain how program design decisions influence grant risk
• Identify programmatic, financial, compliance, capacity, and external risks during program planning
• Analyze how eligibility criteria, application requirements, and funding structures affect risk
• Apply risk-informed strategies to program design
• Align program design with internal controls and 2 CFR 200
• Document intentional design decisions that address identified risks
• Support effective oversight through proactive, risk-aware program design

Pre-Award Risk Assessment and Award Structuring Course

• Apply pre-award risk assessment as a decision-making and governance tool
• Identify and evaluate financial, programmatic, compliance, capacity, and external risks
• Assess the likelihood and impact of risk to determine materiality
• Use professional judgment to analyze application, audit, and financial information
• Document risk assessment conclusions clearly and defensibly
• Design award structures that appropriately address identified risk
• Align pre-award risk decisions with post-award oversight and monitoring strategies

Negotiating Award Terms and Special Conditions Course

• Explain the legal and regulatory authority governing award terms and special conditions.
• Apply risk assessment findings to determine when special conditions are appropriate.
• Differentiate between standard terms, agency-specific terms, and risk-based special conditions.
• Draft clear, enforceable award conditions that address documented risks.
• Evaluate common drafting failures that weaken enforceability or audit defensibility.
• Translate risk categories into proportionate and monitorable award controls.
• Apply negotiation strategies that balance collaboration with federal oversight authority.
• Document conditioning decisions clearly to support consistency and defensibility.
• Monitor and manage special conditions throughout the award lifecycle.
• Modify or remove special conditions based on evidence and defined exit criteria.

AI for Federal Grants Management Course

• Explain AI fundamentals and responsible use principles in a federal grants management context
• Use AI to research and interpret 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and agency-specific grants regulations
• Apply AI tools to analyze grant applications, budgets, and financial reports for compliance and risk indicators
• Leverage AI for grants monitoring, site visit preparation, and recipient risk assessment
• Construct effective prompts for grants-specific scenarios including closeout review and audit resolution
• Verify AI-generated grants analysis against authoritative sources (2 CFR 200, agency policy, SAM.gov, GrantSolutions)
• Recognize when AI output requires review by grants officers, legal counsel, or program experts

Federal Grant Law and Policy Framework Course

• Identify the primary legal authorities governing federal grants and cooperative agreements
• Explain the relationship between statutes, regulations, and policy guidance
• Distinguish grants from cooperative agreements and procurement contracts
• Interpret key provisions of the Uniform Guidance
• Apply legal and policy requirements to grant program design and administration
• Recognize areas of discretion and limitation in grant management decisions
• Identify common legal and policy misinterpretations that create risk
• Support defensible decision-making under audit and oversight review
• Communicate legal and policy requirements clearly to stakeholders
• Demonstrate compliance grounded in legal authority rather than custom or habit

Developing a Federal Grant Application Course

• Analyze funding opportunity announcements and application instructions
• Interpret eligibility, selection criteria, and program priorities
• Translate program concepts into responsive application narratives
• Develop compliant budgets and budget justifications
• Align performance measures with program objectives
• Integrate compliance, risk, and capacity considerations into applications
• Identify common application errors and disqualifying issues
• Coordinate roles across program, fiscal, and leadership staff
• Prepare applications that support successful award management
• Submit complete, organized, and compliant federal applications

Developing and Negotiating Indirect Cost Rates Course

• Distinguish direct and indirect costs using federal cost principles under 2 CFR 200.
• Explain the regulatory framework governing indirect cost allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.
• Develop defensible indirect cost pools and allocation bases aligned with organizational operations.
• Prepare indirect cost rate proposals supported by financial data and documentation.
• Interpret the roles and expectations of cognizant agencies during rate negotiation.
• Apply negotiation strategies that support both regulatory compliance and organizational sustainability.
• Identify common audit risks and documentation gaps related to indirect cost practices.
• Align indirect cost rates with financial systems, policies, and organizational structures.
• Apply approved indirect cost rates consistently across federal awards.
• Manage indirect cost rates throughout the grant lifecycle, including revisions, extensions, and closeout.

Detecting and Preventing Federal Grant Fraud Course

• Conduct fraud-focused risk assessments in the context of federal grants.
• Design monitoring processes that emphasize prevention and include actionable steps.
• Evaluate internal controls to identify gaps and vulnerabilities.
• Apply fraud detection techniques through case-based exercises.
• Analyze real-world scenarios to identify how fraud could have been prevented or detected.
• Build a practical toolkit for reducing fraud risk across awards and subawards.

Internal Control for Grants Course

• Define risk in the context of grants management and oversight.
• Explain legislative and administrative requirements for internal controls.
• Describe how risk and internal controls are connected throughout the assistance lifecycle.
• Translate internal control frameworks into practical grants management activities.
• Design, document, and test controls that promote compliance and performance.
• Apply best practices for monitoring and oversight through case-based exercises.
• Link Green Book principles to grant management by ensuring control activities align with compliance requirements, allowable costs, and program objectives.
• Apply risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities in grant spending, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Document and monitor control activities (e.g., approvals, reconciliations, and segregation of duties) to strengthen accountability for grant funds.
• Use ongoing evaluation and corrective actions to address internal control deficiencies and demonstrate compliance with federal standards.

Auditing Grants Course

• Understanding the grants management process and regulatory requirements.
• Developing audit objectives and procedures for compliance and performance.
• Applying cost principles and performance measurement techniques.
• Providing constructive feedback and recommendations for corrective actions.
• Conducting audits through case studies and practical exercises.