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Grants

This guide provides information on grant opportunities in Pennsylvania.

Grants must be signed and dated by the authorized representative of the grantee.  

Public library

If the applicant is a public library, the grant should be signed by the public library director.

Local political subdivision

If the applicant is owned/operated by a local political subdivision, then the person(s) who is/are authorized to sign for the entity should sign for the library grant as well. 

Parent agency such as a historical society or hospital

If the applicant is owned/operated by a parent agency such as a historical society or hospital, then the grant must be signed by the president or vice president, and the secretary or treasurer of the organization. 

Community-based organizations and all other entities

Grants to community-based organizations and all other entities must be signed by the president or vice president, and secretary or treasurer of the organization.  If only one officer signs, the requirement for a second signature may be waived so long as evidence of the person’s signature authority is provided.

Authorizing a non-chief administrative officer

In cases where it is necessary to demonstrate or document the authority of the person who signed the grant contract, such documentation can be obtained in any one of the following four ways: 

  1. a copy of the minutes of the Board of Trustees indicating that the person was authorized to sign contracts or the specific contract in question;
  2. a copy of Board by-laws indicating that the person was authorized to sign contracts;
  3. a signed certification by the Secretary of the Board that either minutes or by-laws exist that authorize the signatory to sign; or
  4. a letter signed by appropriate Board officers indicating that they ratify the signature of the individual who signed the contract.

Contracts have to be signed in ink or digital signature. 

Signature Types

Applicants that elect to use eSignatures are not required to manually sign grant documents.  Instead, authorized representatives are able to conveniently affix eSignatures and submit the eSigned documents via the eGrants system.

Organizations that adopt the eGrants eSignature Resolution (preferred):

If your organization is awarded a contract, the eSignature option will appear for the authorized representative to sign the grant agreement directly on eGrants.

There are two ways the authorized representative can manually sign contracts.

  1. Print the grant documents from eGrants and sign in ink OR
  2. Digitally sign with Adobe

Stamped and typed signatures are not acceptable on the original copy.

There are two ways to submit manually signed grant documents.

  1. Upload the signed documents in the Uploads section of eGrants OR
  2. Email the signed documents to:  ra-edbldadmin@pa.gov.  Manually signed documents are due within 10 business days from original signature date.

Organizations that opt not to adopt the eGrants eSignature Resolution:

If your organization is awarded the contract, the paper signature option will appear for your authorized representative to sign.

eSignature is the preferred method for signing documents.   Learn more about eGrants eSignature Resolutions on the Get Ready to Apply LibGuide.