How to Access AWS Funding - Step by Step
The step-by-step process to claim AWS funding: match the program, check eligibility, submit the SOW, deliver, get credits.
Step 1 - Match the Workload to the Program
Each program funds a specific type of work:
- MAP - migrations to AWS from on-prem, GCP, Azure, or between AWS accounts.
- IW - new production workloads on AWS. Up to 50% of ARR.
- ISV WMP - SaaS vendors moving customer workloads onto AWS.
- ISV Accelerate - co-sell with AWS sellers. Pipeline program, no direct credits.
- POA - POC / pilot funding. $10K-$300K.
- GenAI credits - Bedrock and SageMaker workloads.
- Public Sector / Nimbus - Israeli public-sector incentives.
Step 2 - Eligibility Check
A partner reviews your current spend, planned work, and which programs are open this quarter. This takes one call, about 30 minutes.
Step 3 - SOW and Portal Submission
The partner writes the SOW (scope, milestones, dollar amount) and submits it through AWS Partner Central. AWS requires the SOW to come from a partner with the right tier - Advanced for the larger programs.
Approval timelines: POA 1-3 weeks. MAP and WMP 3-8 weeks.
Step 4 - Deliver and Hit Milestones
Credits are released per milestone, not at approval. If the SOW says "EKS production cutover by week 8", credits arrive when AWS confirms the cutover is done.
Step 5 - How Credits Reach You
Two types. AWS-issued credits appear in your Billing console and apply to future spend - usually compute, storage, and networking.
Partner cash (POA, MAP, IW) is paid by AWS to the partner. It shows up as a discount on your reseller invoice, not in the AWS console.
“The funding is real. The difficult part is matching the right program and completing the SOW without delays.”