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AS OF MAY 2025, NCA HAS ADOPTED A NEW GRANTS PORTAL. ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY THROUGH THIS NEW PORTAL.

NCA's grants management system, Blackbaud, has implemented a new grants portal, YourCause from Blackbaud. The new portal includes some helpful features and updates that will improve the overall grantee and applicant experience. ALL applicants must apply through this new portal and are required to sign in with a new Blackbaud ID (i.e., new login information) or may use an existing Blackbaud ID if they utilize other Blackbaud products (i.e. certain organizations might already have an active Blackbaud ID). 

Detailed directions, important links and easy to reference FAQs are available below.

What You Need to Know


  • All new grant applications must be submitted through the updated Grants Portal, which requires a Blackbaud ID (new login credentials). 
  • Please bookmark the portal link to access and manage any applications submitted on or after June 30, 2025.
  • To support collaboration, applicants and grantees are encouraged to add additional contacts to their applications.
  • Please add noreply@yourcause.com AND mail@grantapplication.com AND grantsadvisor@nca-online.org to your safe senders list to ensure you receive all communications through the grantmaking system and from the NCA Grants Team. 


Creating an Account


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Create an account using the new portal.

Follow this link to create a new account and use our step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. A new Blackbaud ID is required to apply for a grant. However, if you already have an existing Blackbaud ID (i.e. certain organizations might already have an active Blackbaud ID to use programs such as Raiser’s Edge) simply login to the grants portal.

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Follow the steps to create your account.

Once you enter your email, you will be prompted to have a confirmation code sent to you. After confirming the code, you will create your password and add your name. Be aware of the password requirements listed.

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Congratulations! You are ready to apply.

This page includes all grant applications through Blackbaud. Once you have created your new account, you are ready to apply for an NCA grant. Click here to access the main grants page. This page includes links to each individual grant page where links to applications will be available.

For technical assistance when using the grantmaking system please submit your request through the Q&A form on the RFP Questions page.

Watch a recording of the live Q&A to learn more about NCAs applications within the grants portal and other helpful information


Frequently Asked Questions


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Click here to create your Blackbaud ID (i.e., your login information). Instructions are listed at the top of this page, and our step-by-step account creation resources can be found here.
Organizations no longer need to share a login account, each organization can have multiple login accounts for individuals needing to create a Blackbaud account; however, please communicate with your internal staff on who is the primary applicant on the application. Once the primary contact is designated, this individual can Add Applicants to the application, and then those added applicants can create a unique Blackbaud login using the same email address that was included by the primary applicant in the Manage Applicants menu. The steps on adding applicants to an application are covered in the General Sections training video.
There are a few mostly minor changes to applications in the grants portal. Narrative (text) fields have decreased to a maximum of 200 words for most fields (Abstract and Needs Statement remain at 400 words max). Job Descriptions and Resumes must be uploaded as one PDF (if personnel are included in budget). Organization budgets are now a required PDF attachment. Contacts have changed from tables to fields except for the Board President, which remains a table. CAC Applications: Training objectives/outcomes may have been streamlined for some grant types to align more closely with OJJDP reporting requirements. Chapter Applications: outcomes and deliverables have been streamlined to more closely align with the need for aggregate reporting.
It is highly recommended you review all resources available for the grant type(s) you are interested in applying to first. Then download the grant type objectives matrix to complete the project design and implementation portion of the grant application since this typically requires the most time and effort. It is recommended you then use your completed matrix to complete your proposed budget aligning selected objectives/activities with the proposed budget.
No, you will not be able to log into the new grants portal with your username and password from the old application portal. You must sign in using a Blackbaud ID, which just means creating a new login account. However, if you or your organization utilize other Blackbaud products you may already have an active Blackbaud ID.
Each grant type will have a unique URL on the NCA Engage 'Apply' page linking directly to that grant application. Click here and select the grant type to find the application link.
Only enter data that is directly tied to activities funded under this RFP and supported by the proposed scope of work and budget. Do not include data in chosen objectives/outcomes/performance measures that reflect non-grant activities, prior funding, or other funding sources. As a simple rule of thumb, ask: "Am I requesting this objective/activity/outcome be funded with this grant (wholly or in part)?" It is also recommended that each organization create a "data dictionary". Review your proposed objectives/outcomes/performance measures and create a consistent definition for each if not explicitly stated in the application (especially useful for qualitative data: what are we tracking - clearly defined; how are we tracking it; who is responsible; how will success be measured; etc.). This document can be used for all your organization's data as a consistent method of reporting and tracking.
Yes, for most grant types you should include the source of your data in the needs statement narrative. ERA, Rural, and Core Services require supporting documentation and a narrative describing how the supporting documentation demonstrates need.
Please use the RFP Question form (Technical Assistance Drop Down) here to ask your questions about the portal. Current grantees should reach out to their assigned program associate with questions and portal updates.
For qualitative (narrative) objectives, there is often some overlap and inter-dependency. It is quite possible that outcomes can be the same or similar for more than one objective. Use your best judgment to respond to descriptive outcomes and ensure these reflect the proposed scope of work and budget.
This address should reflect where CAC services funded under this award will take place. P.O. Boxes are not considered a "place of performance" for CAC/MDT applicants. If the organization's address displayed in the grants portal is a PO Box, please select "No" to the question: "Is the CAC address for this application the same as the address listed in the Applicant Information above?" And then proceed to complete the address information where grant-funded services will be provided.
If you use a personal google account on the same device(s) as you use to login to the grants portal, it is recommended you use a different browser or turn off automatically sync app data ("yourcause" link) in your google settings to avoid accidentally creating another grants portal account automatically with your personal google account.
If you cannot find your organization by name, please double check by entering the tax ID since the grants portal extracts information from IRS and other databases. Not finding an organization is more common with government-based CACs/Chapters. Once confirmed your organization is not included, click on "+Add organization" at the bottom of the screen and follow the prompts.

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