Grant Tracking in ClickUp: Step-by-Step Guide
Managing grants in ClickUp helps you organize applications, deadlines, and reporting in one place so your team can focus on winning and managing funding instead of chasing spreadsheets and emails.
This how-to article walks you through building a complete grant tracking system using features shown in the ClickUp grant tracking templates. You will learn how to set up your workspace, create repeatable processes, and monitor every stage of your grant pipeline.
Why Use ClickUp for Grant Tracking
Before building your system, it helps to understand why a work management platform is more effective than manual tools.
Using ClickUp for grant tracking lets you:
- Centralize all grant opportunities, documents, and deadlines
- Standardize your application workflow with reusable templates
- Track statuses from prospecting to closeout
- Collaborate with finance, programs, and leadership in one hub
- Improve reporting accuracy with custom fields and views
By mirroring the best practices in the featured templates, you can create a consistent and auditable process for every grant.
Step 1: Plan Your Grant Tracking Structure in ClickUp
Start by deciding how you want to organize your work in ClickUp. A simple and flexible approach is:
- One Space for Grants or Development
- Multiple Folders for pipeline stages or fiscal years
- One or more Lists to store individual grant records
For example, you can set up:
- A “Grant Pipeline” Folder with Lists for Prospects, Active Applications, and Awarded Grants
- A “Grant Management” Folder with Lists for Reporting and Renewals
This structure lets you use separate views for each stage while still giving leadership a complete overview at the Space level.
Step 2: Create a Grant Pipeline List in ClickUp
Next, create a dedicated List in ClickUp to capture all grant opportunities from discovery to submission.
- In your Grants Space, click + New Folder and name it “Grant Pipeline”.
- Inside the Folder, click + New List and name it “Grant Opportunities”.
- Set the default view to Board or List based on your preference.
Now add statuses that reflect each stage of your grant lifecycle. A common setup inspired by the template is:
- Researching
- Planned
- Drafting
- Under Review
- Submitted
- Awarded
- Declined
These statuses make it easy to drag and drop tasks across your pipeline in ClickUp and get an instant visual of where each opportunity stands.
Step 3: Add Custom Fields for Detailed Grant Data in ClickUp
Grant tracking requires more than just task titles and due dates. Configure custom fields in ClickUp to store key details for each opportunity.
From your Grant Opportunities List, add custom fields such as:
- Funder Name (text)
- Funding Type (dropdown: government, foundation, corporate, etc.)
- Max Award Amount (currency)
- Match Requirement (yes/no or percentage)
- Application Deadline (date)
- Decision Date (date)
- Program Area (dropdown)
- Priority Score (number)
These fields mirror the details included in the grant tracking templates and allow you to sort, filter, and report directly inside ClickUp.
Step 4: Build a Reusable Grant Application Template in ClickUp
To make each new application consistent, build a task template in ClickUp that outlines every step in your process.
- In your Grant Opportunities List, click + New Task and name it “Grant Application Master”.
- Open the task and add a detailed description that includes eligibility notes, strategy, and key requirements.
- Create subtasks for each step, such as:
- Review guidelines
- Confirm eligibility
- Draft narrative
- Collect financials
- Secure letters of support
- Finalize budget
- Internal review
- Submit application
- Assign owners and due dates to subtasks relative to the main deadline.
- Click the Templates icon in the task, save it as a Task Template, and give it a clear name.
Now, whenever you add a new opportunity in ClickUp, you can apply this template and instantly generate your entire work plan.
Step 5: Track Active Grants and Reporting in ClickUp
Once a grant is awarded, your focus shifts to compliance and outcomes. Create a dedicated List in ClickUp to manage awarded grants and reporting requirements.
- Add a new List called “Awarded Grants” in your Grants Space.
- Move awarded tasks from the pipeline, or create new tasks for each confirmed grant.
- Add custom fields for grant term, total award amount, and reporting frequency.
For ongoing management, use ClickUp views such as:
- Calendar View to display all report due dates
- Table View to compare budgets, match requirements, and program areas
- Dashboard Widgets (if available in your plan) to monitor total awards and upcoming deadlines
This creates a living grant calendar your team can rely on instead of static spreadsheets.
Step 6: Collaborate with Your Team in ClickUp
Collaboration is critical for grant success. Use ClickUp collaboration tools to keep everyone aligned.
- Assign tasks and subtasks to owners in development, finance, and programs.
- Use comments to ask questions or share clarifications right inside tasks.
- Attach files such as budget spreadsheets, narrative drafts, and signed letters.
- Leverage mentions to loop in stakeholders and approvers.
By keeping all communication inside ClickUp, you build a complete record of decisions and changes for each grant.
Step 7: Use ClickUp Views to Monitor Your Grant Portfolio
With the right views in ClickUp, you can quickly answer leadership questions about pipeline health and awarded funding.
Create Executive Views in ClickUp
Set up high-level views that summarize your entire portfolio:
- A Board View by status showing research, drafting, submitted, and awarded grants
- A Table View grouped by funder or program area
- A Calendar View for all application and report deadlines
Save these views with clear names so executives and program leads can access them instantly.
Filter and Sort Data in ClickUp
Apply filters to focus on specific segments of your data:
- Filter by status to show only active applications
- Filter by priority score to see high-value opportunities first
- Sort by deadline to manage time-sensitive tasks
These options turn your ClickUp workspace into a dynamic grant dashboard that updates in real time.
Optional: Import and Customize Grant Templates in ClickUp
If you prefer to start from a ready-made structure, you can reference the configurations in the official grant tracking templates showcased on the ClickUp grant tracking templates page. Use them as a blueprint to fine-tune your own Lists, custom fields, and workflows.
Next Steps and Further Optimization
Once your basic system is live, continue improving how you use ClickUp by:
- Reviewing your statuses and custom fields quarterly
- Adding automation (where available) for routine updates
- Standardizing naming conventions for tasks and documents
- Creating checklists for internal reviews and sign-offs
If you need broader workflow help beyond grants, consider guidance from productivity and implementation specialists, such as the consultants at Consultevo, who focus on systems and operational efficiency.
By setting up a clear grant pipeline, reusable templates, and structured views in ClickUp, your organization can track every opportunity, meet every deadline, and manage awarded funding with confidence.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.
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