Find a funding call's eligibility rules before you write the proposal
Eligibility criteria decide whether a proposal is reviewed at all. They cover who may apply, which organizations may host the work, what kinds of projects qualify and how many applications are allowed, and they are often scattered across the call and a separate guide. Upload both to Search+, ask "Who is eligible to apply, and what would make an application ineligible?" and open the cited rules.
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Last updated October 2026
How to find eligibility rules with Search+
- Upload the call and every guide it refers to
Funding calls often point to general terms, program guides or FAQs for the full eligibility rules. Add each of those documents so a question can draw on all of them.
- Ask about the applicant, the organization and the project
Ask who may be a lead applicant, which organizations may apply or host, and what project types are in or out of scope, as separate questions with separate citations.
- Check limits and exceptions
Ask about limits on the number of applications, resubmissions and overlapping funding, and about any exceptions. Open the citations, because these rules are precise.
Questions to ask about eligibility
Who can be the lead applicant, and are there career-stage or degree requirements?
Which types of organizations are eligible to host the award?
Are there geographic restrictions on applicants or on where the work happens?
What kinds of projects does the call say are out of scope?
How many applications may one person or institution submit to this call?
Does our draft proposal address every eligibility statement the call asks applicants to confirm?
What to look for in eligibility criteria
Rules can apply to the person, the institution and the project separately. A proposal must meet all three, so check each.
Calls often say eligibility follows the funder's general terms. Ask what the call refers you to, and add that document if you have it.
Many programs limit how many applications a person or institution can submit, or restrict resubmissions. These are easy to miss and can disqualify an application.
Meeting the eligibility rules gets a proposal reviewed; how well it fits the funder's priorities affects how it scores. Read both parts of the call.
Each answer points to the call's wording with an inline citation, so you can read the exact rule.
Ask across the call, guides and your draft together, or narrow to one document.
Eligibility wording and what to ask next
| Wording you may see | What it usually signals | A follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| "eligible applicants include" | The list of who may apply | Is anyone excluded who is not on this list? |
| "principal investigator must" | Requirements on the lead person | Are there degree, employment or career-stage rules? |
| "limited submission" | A cap on applications per institution | How many applications may each institution submit? |
| "not eligible for funding" | Out-of-scope projects or costs | Which project types are explicitly excluded? |
| "applications that do not meet" | Grounds for rejection without review | What makes an application non-compliant? |
| "in accordance with the general terms" | Rules defined in another document | Which document holds the full terms? |
What are eligibility criteria for a grant?
Eligibility criteria are the funder's rules on who and what can be funded under a call, covering applicants, host organizations, project types, locations and submission limits. An application that does not meet them is usually not reviewed.
Eligibility questions
Can Search+ tell me if I am eligible for this grant?
Can it find eligibility rules in a long program guide?
Will it flag limits on how many applications we can submit?
Can I compare eligibility across several calls?
What if the call is a scanned document?
Can I rely on an answer about eligibility?
Confirm you can apply before you write
Start a workspace, upload the call and its guides, and ask who and what is eligible.
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