What Is a NOFO? How HHS Is Transforming Grant Funding with SimplerNOFOs

What Is a NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity)?

A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the official announcement federal agencies use to communicate available grant funding. It outlines:

• Eligibility requirements
• Program goals and expected outcomes
• Application instructions and deadlines
• Review criteria and funding details

For professionals in research, healthcare, and compliance, understanding NOFOs is essential, as these documents define not only available funding but also the process for competing for it. As federal agencies evolve, these announcements and the new strategies for successful navigation they entail become increasingly important.

Why NOFOs Are Changing

NOFOs have often been lengthy, technical, and hard to navigate. Even experienced applicants struggle with them. Common issues have included:

• Dense, jargon-heavy language
• Inconsistent organization across agencies
• Difficulty locating key requirements

Federal guidance encourages agencies to use plain language and reduce complexity. This makes funding opportunities accessible to more applicants.

For many organizations, this change is welcome, but it also means updating how teams prepare for and respond to funding opportunities. Let’s look at how HHS is driving this transformation.

SimplerNOFOs: HHS’ Mission to Transform the NOFO Process

To address these challenges, HHS launched SimplerNOFOs, a department-wide initiative designed to modernize grant announcements.

The mission is to transform how NOFOs are written and delivered, reducing burden while improving clarity, accessibility, and trust.

SimplerNOFOs aims to make NOFOs:

• More open to competition by clarifying requirements
• Easier for applicants through streamlined, plain-language content
• More efficient for grantors with standardized tools and templates
• More trusted through ongoing stakeholder feedback

Applicants focus less on interpreting instructions and more on creating strong, compliant proposals.

The SimplerNOFOs Roadmap: 5 Key Phases

HHS structured this transformation into five key phases:

1. Research — Understanding the Challenges

HHS analyzed 200 NOFOs. They gathered input from both applicants and internal staff.

Key insights:

• Many NOFOs were difficult to read and navigate.
• Requirements varied widely across agencies.
• Applicants, especially newer or resource-limited teams, felt overwhelmed.

To create clearer NOFOs, identify where the process breaks down.

2. Prototype — Designing a Better Experience

HHS developed simplified NOFO prototypes using user-centered design principles.

Improvements included:

• Stronger visual hierarchy (headings, spacing, layout)
• Use of bullets, tables, and checklists
• Simplified language and shorter sentences
• Improved navigation tools

These changes made NOFOs easier to scan and understand.

3. Evaluate — Measuring What Works

HHS tested whether these changes improved usability and reduced burden.

Evaluation efforts focused on:

• Readability
• Time required to complete applications
• Clarity of instructions
• Ease of navigation

Key takeaway:
Simplification must produce measurable improvements for applicants to be effective.

4. Pilot — Applying Changes to Real NOFOs

HHS expanded the approach across agencies in a pilot phase.

Pilot NOFOs:

• Used plain language
• Removed unnecessary content
• Organized information into clearer steps
• Improved overall usability

These steps simplified and accelerated the funding application process.

5. Scale — Making SimplerNOFOs the Standard

HHS scaled SimplerNOFOs across the department. The goal is for simplifiedNOFOs to become standard practice.

This phase focused on:

• Consistency across agencies
• Shared tools and resources
• Ongoing evaluation and improvement

What This Means for CITI Program’s Community

For CITI Program’s community, including researchers, healthcare professionals, compliance leaders, and institutional administrators, SimplerNOFOs offers streamlined processes and clearer guidance, making compliance and participation easier for all involved.

What’s Changing for You

• Clearer expectations – Eligibility, requirements, and evaluation criteria are easier to identify.
• Faster navigation – Less time spent interpreting instructions
• Broader access to funding – Reduced complexity supports more diverse applicants.

With fewer barriers, strong and well-developed proposals are now even more important for success. As SimplerNOFOs roll out, preparation strategies become increasingly important.

Preparing for This New Era of Funding Opportunities

NOFOs are easier to read, but they still require strong preparation, solid alignment, and awareness of compliance requirements.

That’s why many organizations are investing in:

• Improving internal grant readiness
• Strengthening proposal development skills
• Staying current on evolving funding expectations

Build Your Grant Readiness

CITI Program offers resources to help professionals navigate and respond to funding opportunities more effectively.

• Essentials of Grant Proposal Development – Build skills to create structured, compliant, and competitive proposals from planning to submission.
• Funding and Grant Webinars – Stay up to date on trends, policy updates, and practical strategies for federal funding opportunities.

These resources help applicants understand funding announcements and respond with confidence. Adapting to clearer requirements also means building strong compliance practices.

Why This Matters for Training and Compliance

SimplerNOFOs does not reduce requirements but makes them clearer.

For organizations, this increases the importance of:

• Proper training across compliance areas
• Understanding regulatory expectations tied to funding
• Aligning proposals with clearly defined criteria

As clarity improves, accountability and expectations become more visible. Preparation and training are now more essential.

Final Thoughts

NOFOs are the gateway to federal funding, but complexity has long stood in the way of access and efficiency.

HHS’ SimplerNOFOs initiative is changing that by making NOFOs:

• Clearer
• More consistent
• Easier to navigate

With the right preparation, including focused training and grant development resources, you can fully benefit from this shift.