How to navigate North Carolina Arts Council’s online grant forms

If you are new  to North Carolina Arts Council's online grant forms, use this tutorial to learn how to:

  • Creating a new account in the online granting system
  • Start and resume an application
  • Manage your media library and attach files to applications
  • Complete application processes
  • Find additional help

Using GO Smart, the grant application portal

  • 1

    Review eligibility requirements and grant guidelines

    Before opening the online grant application portal, we suggest that you take the following steps:

    1. Familiarize yourself with the general eligibility requirements for all Arts Council grants.
       
    2. Review guidelines for the specific types of grants we offer to determine where you best fit. These guidelines provide a preview of what to expect in the application form, helping you begin drafting your narrative and gathering the required documents.
       
    3. Get in touch with the Arts Council program staff whose expertise best aligns with your organization's field of work. Even if you've applied for grants in the past, we highly recommend reaching out to our staff to help them anticipate your proposal and offer you valuable assistance.
  • 2

    Create a new account in our online grant portal

    1. If you need assistance accessing an existing account, please contact our staff for assistance.
       
    2. Navigate to the GO Smart online grant portal. You can find the our online grant portal at ncarts.gosmart.org. We recommend using the latest versions of Chrome or Firefox browsers for the best application experience. 
       
    3. From the GO Smart online grant portal homepage, locate and click on the Create New Account button at the top right corner of the page.
    Create new account in GO Smart
    1. Answer the questions on the registration page and click Save to create your new account.
       
    2. If you want multiple people to work on a single application, they will all need to login with the same username and password. For organizations where several people might be working on the same grant, please DO NOT submit duplicate applications.
    Accordion
    Tab/Accordion Items

    You can update information in your profile at anytime. Once logged in, click Edit Profile in the navigation bar to access and edit your registration information (i.e., contact name, email address, password).
     

    GO Smart edit profile tab

    If you forget your username or password, click the Log In button from the home page.

    Log In button on GO Smart

    Then use the Forgot Username? or Forgot Password? links to retrieve your login credentials

    GO Smart password and username retrieval

    Please note that to reset your password, a reset link will be sent to the email address listed on the GO Smart account profile. 

    Continue to log in with your existing account rather than creating multiple duplicate accounts. If you no longer has access to the email address used to register the GO Smart account, please contact our staff for assistance.

  • 3

    Begin an application

    When you are ready to work on an application, you will use your Grant Application & Forms tab to find the appropriate application(s).  

    GO Smart Grant Applications & Forms tab
    1. Log in to GO Smart and navigate to the Grant Applications & Forms tab.
       
    2. Scroll through your list of available grant programs, noting the name in the gray heading along the top of each box.
       
    3. If the application is currently available to you, click the START button to begin working on the form. If the cycle is not yet available, you can click on the Preview button to view a read-only version. If you have missed the deadline, you will not see any action buttons available to you at this time. A deadline displayed in red is approaching within 72 hours. 
  • 4

    Work on an existing application

    GO Smart edit existing application
    1. Log in to GO Smart and navigate to your grant program from the Grant Applications & Forms tab. Click the EDIT button for the application form you have begun and want to continue working on.
       
    2. Navigate through the form by using the Table of Contents OR by using the Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of the page. Your application will look different than the short example below. Close the Table of Contents if desired by clicking the small down arrow.
    GO Smart application table of content
    1.  Answer the questions and click the Save and Next button to save your work and advance to the next page.
       
    2. Where available, click the Save Work button at the bottom of the page to check if any required item was not answered.
       
    3. You must click Save Work or Save and Next at the bottom of EVERY page before clicking Previous, clicking the title of a different page in the Table of Contents, or leaving the page.
       
    4. Use the View PDF link at the bottom of any page to view your application exactly as admin and panelists will view your application.
       
    5. Submit your form on the “Submission Page”. Once you submit the item it becomes read-only and can only be edited upon request to N.C. Arts Council staff.
  • 5

    Work samples / Media Library Selection

    You may see a page within your GO Smart application that gives you the opportunity to submit work samples using an Attach [Media] button. This is different from the regular "upload file" button.

    If you see these buttons you are on a Media Library Selection page. In order to utilize this page, you will need to upload files to your Media Library that you will then attach to this page. Within the application, this page may be called "Work Samples" or something similar such as "Work sample selection."

    GO Smart work sample selection
    1. Click any of the Attach [Media] buttons (e.g., Attach Image, Attach Audio, Attach Document).
       
    2. Check the box for the desired file(s). Uncheck a box to detach the file.

      If you have not yet uploaded your desired media to your Media Library:
      • Click the green Upload New Media file button. This will take you to the upload form in your Media Library.
      • Follow the Media Library instructions to upload your file(s). Upload or modify additional files while in the Media Library.
      • Click the Return to Application button to return to your application, interim, or final report.
      • Click the Attach [Media] button.
      • Check the box for the desired file(s).
    3. Click Save.
       
    4. Repeat as needed for each media type
       
    5. Review the Attached Media section at the bottom of the page to verify your selection.
    Accordion
    Tab/Accordion Items

    First Sidebar

    GO Smart Applicant Tutorial: Media Library Selection Page

  • 6

    Complete application processes

    1. After completing and submitting an application, you should receive a confirmation email with a PDF copy of your application attached.
       
    2. Watch for communications from the N.C. Arts Council and our program directors regarding awards, necessary follow-up reports and other items.
       
    3. If you are awarded or invited to work on follow up items such as final reports, return to your Grant Applications & Forms tab, locate the cycle and click START or EDIT on the available cycle item.
  • 7

    For additional help

    Please reach out to N.C. Arts Council staff if you need additional help or guidance on your application.