GO Smart Help Center

GO Smart Help Center

New to GO Smart?

Typical Grant Workflow

A Program Cycle serves as the container for your grant forms. Most granting activities occur within a cycle, while review and reporting functions are handled in other specialized areas of the system. Some activities, such as contract creation and payment tasks, take place outside of the system.

Last updated on 24 Mar, 2026

1.png
📸 Click here for image alt-text.

An infographic titled "3 Core Stages of a GO Smart Grant Cycle" is divided into three color-coded phases. Stage 1 (Collecting Data): Features a purple box containing application and report forms where data is initially gathered. Stage 2 (Reviewing and Deciding): Shows teal icons for the internal Panel and Selection processes where applications are scored. Stage 3 (Finalizing): Shows orange icons for contracts and payments, noting these final steps happen outside the GO Smart system. Large arrows connect the stages to show the forward progression of a grant.

📦 Inside the Program Cycle

These four forms are built within the Grant Editor tab. They are the primary way you collect data from applicants.

  1. Intent to Apply (Optional): Vet applicants or receive basic info before they start a full application.

  2. Application: Gather all data needed for panelists to make their decisions.

  3. Interim Report (Optional/Additional Cost): An optional mid-grant form used to gather data from grantees while their project is still in progress.

  4. Final Report (Optional): An optional form used at the end of the grant to gather spending summaries and impact data.

👉 Learn how to create an Intent to Apply or Application page.

👉 Learn how to create an Interim or Final Report.

🛠️ Management and Review

These steps happen in other areas of GO Smart, using the data collected in your Program Cycle.

  • Panel Process: Create custom panels in the Panel Editor to invite reviewers to score and comment on applications. You can use the Panelist Report to select your grantees.

  • Award Process: Change an applicant's status to "Funded" in the Grant Manager Dashboard and communicate next steps and obligations through a status or mass mailer.

  • Flex Cycles: (Optional/Additional Cost): These are optional, separate forms used for reimbursement requests, invoices, or secondary applications. These are created separately from your main cycle.

👉 Learn how to create a panel.

👉 Learn how to change an application's status.

👉 Learn how to create a status mailer.

👉 Learn how to create a flex form cycle.

📂 Outside of GO Smart

While GO Smart handles the data, some tasks happen elsewhere:

  • Contracts and Payments: Financial and contractual processes typically occur outside the system. You can use GO Smart Reports and Mail Merges to help create these documents.

💵 Important Billing Notes

  • Unique Applications: Each Program Cycle centers on a single Application. If you have several different Applications, each is considered a separate Cycle and will incur a charge.

  • Flex Cycles: If your application cycle requires additional forms, such as an interim report or reimbursement requests, invoices, or secondary applications, you will incur a Mid-Year Form fee ($500/cycle).

Did you find this tutorial helpful?
Previous

GO Smart 10-Minute Demo

Next

© 2026 GO Smart™ | Creative West (formerly WESTAF)

InstantDocs Logo