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ApproveForGood (AFG) is FrontStream's grants and approvals management platform. This article explains how the approvals workflow works from submission through final decision, and answers the most common questions about using AFG.
How the Approvals Workflow Works
The AFG workflow has four stages:
Submission — An applicant (employee, community organization, or external requester) submits a grant or approval request through your organization's AFG portal.
Review — Designated reviewers in your organization receive a notification and can view, comment on, and evaluate the request.
Decision — A reviewer or approver marks the request as Approved, Denied, or sends it back for more information.
Notification — The requester is automatically notified of the decision by email.
Roles in AFG
| Role | What they can do |
|---|---|
| Admin | Full access — configure forms, manage users, set approval rules, view all requests and reports |
| Reviewer | View and evaluate requests assigned to them; can approve, deny, or request more information |
| Requester | Submit requests, view status of their own submissions, respond to requests for more information |
Setting Up Approval Rules
Approval rules determine who reviews which requests and in what order. To configure:
Step 1. Log in as an Admin and go to Settings > Approval Rules.
Step 2. Click Add Rule.
Step 3. Define the conditions (e.g., request type, amount, department).
Step 4. Assign the reviewer(s) or approval group for requests that match those conditions.
Step 5. Set whether approval requires one reviewer or all assigned reviewers.
Step 6. Click Save.
Rules are evaluated in order. If a request matches multiple rules, the first matching rule is applied. Drag rules to reorder them by priority.
Reviewing and Deciding on a Request
When a request is assigned to you for review:
Step 1. You will receive an email notification with a link to the request.
Step 2. Click the link or log in to AFG and go to Requests > Pending Review.
Step 3. Open the request and review the submitted information and any attachments.
Step 4. Select Approve, Deny, or Request More Information.
Step 5. Add a comment (required for denials; optional for approvals).
Step 6. Click Submit Decision.
The requester will receive an automatic email notification of your decision.
Reporting on Approvals
To view reports on your approval activity:
Step 1. Go to Reports from the main navigation.
Step 2. Select a report type: Requests Summary, Approved Requests, Denied Requests, or Custom Report.
Step 3. Filter by date range, request type, department, or reviewer as needed.
Step 4. Click Export to download as a CSV or Excel file.
Common Questions
Q: Can a request be undeleted or restored?
A: Once a request is deleted by an admin, it cannot be restored through the interface. Contact FrontStream Support immediately if a request was deleted in error — recovery may be possible within a short window.
Q: Can I require specific fields before a request can be submitted?
A: Yes. Admins can mark form fields as required in Settings > Form Builder > [Field] > Required. Requesters will not be able to submit without completing those fields.
Q: A requester says they didn't receive their notification email. What should I check?
A: Ask them to check their spam/junk folder. AFG notification emails come from noreply@approveforgood.com — they should add this to their safe senders list. If emails are being blocked by a corporate email filter, they may need to ask their IT team to whitelist the domain.
Q: How do I access login if I forgot my password?
A: Go to your AFG portal URL and click Forgot Password. A reset link will be sent to the email address on your account. If you don't receive it, check spam or contact your AFG Admin to verify the email address associated with your account.
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