Short answer: verify a grant by tracing it to the donor’s official website, checking that the application route and contact details belong to that donor, and confirming the same deadline, eligibility and documents across official sources. A professional-looking message or PDF is not proof.
Sources last checked 26 September 2026. The U.S. examples below illustrate common scam patterns; reporting and legal routes differ by country.
Use the source-chain test
- Open the donor’s official website by typing or independently searching the organization name.
- Find the opportunity from the donor’s funding, grants or procurement section.
- Confirm the title, reference number, deadline, applicant type and application link.
- Check amendments and questions-and-answers on the same official channel.
- Verify contact addresses use the donor’s real domain. Lookalike spelling is a warning sign.
If the opportunity appears only in a forwarded message, WhatsApp post, Facebook group or third-party database, treat that source as a lead—not verification.
High-risk warning signs
- A guaranteed award or claim that you were selected without applying
- An upfront “release,” “processing,” “tax” or “clearance” payment sent to an individual
- Pressure to pay through gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash transfer or a personal wallet
- Requests for bank passwords, one-time codes or full card details
- A contact using a free or lookalike email domain while claiming to represent a major institution
- No official guideline, reference number, application portal or verifiable donor page
- Urgency designed to prevent independent checks
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns that government-grant scammers may contact people unexpectedly, promise “free money,” seek personal or bank information, or demand upfront payment. It also states that real U.S. federal grants require an application and directs users to Grants.gov. See the FTC government grant scam guidance.
Grants.gov’s grant-related scam guidance provides additional U.S.-specific verification and reporting information.
Separate application support from an application fee
Paying a legitimate consultant for research, review or writing support is different from paying someone who claims the money will unlock or guarantee an award. A service provider should describe the work, price and boundaries clearly and should not impersonate the donor.
Verify before sharing sensitive information
Donors may request banking, governance and identity documents during a legitimate process. Before sending them:
- Confirm the recipient and application channel independently.
- Share only what the stage and official guidance require.
- Use secure portals or protected channels where available.
- Record who sent what, when and for which requirement.
- Escalate suspicious requests to leadership, the real donor and the appropriate local authority.
A five-minute verification record
| Check | Record |
|---|---|
| Official donor page | URL and access date |
| Opportunity identity | Title and reference number |
| Contact | Name, official email domain and published contact route |
| Application route | Official portal or submission instructions |
| Decision | Verified / unresolved / do not proceed |
After the source is verified, use the Should We Apply? Grant Checker to assess eligibility, fit, evidence and capacity. Verification establishes that the opportunity is real; it does not establish that it is right for your organization.
What to do next
Use the Africads Grant Funding Toolkit to choose the right free self-check for your current decision. These tools support planning; they do not predict or guarantee a donor decision.
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