Claude (desktop app and browser) and ChatGPT are documented for connecting to GLM/SLM through MCP today. Microsoft Copilot can also connect, but setup currently requires more configuration than Claude or ChatGPT.

Confirm the following before connecting an AI chat tool to a GLM or SLM site through MCP:

• Access to Claude (desktop app installed and signed in, or the browser version at claude.ai) or ChatGPT (browser version at chatgpt.com, or the desktop app), depending on the AI chat tool being connected.
• Admin credentials for the GLM or SLM site.
• The correct MCP URL for the environment:
  • Sandbox site: https://mcp.data.sandbox.grantinterface.com/mcp
  • Live site: https://mcp.data.grantinterface.com/mcp

These steps work the same way in the Claude desktop app and in the browser at claude.ai.

To connect a GLM or SLM site to Claude using MCP:

1. Open the Claude desktop app, or go to claude.ai in a browser, and sign in.
2. Click Customize in the left side menu.
3. Click Connectors in the sidebar, and then click the plus icon at the top of the Connectors column.
4. In the Add custom connector dialog, enter GLM MCP in the Name field and the MCP URL for the environment in the URL field.
5. Click Add.
6. Click GLM MCP in the Not Connected list, and then click Connect.
7. On the Foundant login page that opens, enter the admin email and password for the GLM or SLM site.
8. Close the confirmation tab, or click Open Desktop App, to return to Claude.

Ask Claude About GLM or SLM Data

Once connected, start a new chat in Claude and ask a question about GLM or SLM data in plain language, examples are included below:

• List the top ten most recent grant or scholarship requests.
• Show applications submitted in the last 30 days.
• Summarize the awards made in the current fiscal year.

Custom MCP connectors in ChatGPT sit behind a Developer mode toggle and require a brief security acknowledgment. Setup takes about the same amount of time as Claude, roughly 3 to 5 minutes.

These steps work the same way in the ChatGPT browser version at chatgpt.com and in the desktop app.

To connect a GLM or SLM site to ChatGPT using MCP:

1. Open chatgpt.com in a browser, or launch the ChatGPT desktop app, and sign in.
2. Click the account name at the bottom-left of the sidebar, and then click Settings.
3. Click Apps in the left sidebar of the Settings dialog.
4. Click Advanced settings on the Apps page.
5. Toggle Developer mode on. Leave Enforce CSP in developer mode unchecked, which is the default setting. A Create app button appears at the top-right of the page once Developer mode is on.
6. Click Back to return to the main Apps page, and then click Create.
7. Add the applicable information to the New App dialog. Asterisks indicate a required field. Advanced OAuth settings do not need to be changed; the defaults are correct.
   • Name - GLM MCP
   • Description (optional) - Access my GLM data
   • MCP Server URL - The MCP URL for the environment being connected
   • Authentication - Select OAuth from the drop-down menu
8. Check the I understand and want to continue box, and then click Create.
9. Enter the admin email and password for the GLM or SLM site on the Foundant login page that opens.
10. Confirm that ChatGPT returns with a "GLM MCP is now connected" banner, and that GLM MCP appears under Enabled apps.

Ask ChatGPT About GLM or SLM Data

Once connected, start a new chat in ChatGPT and ask a question about GLM or SLM data in plain language, examples are included below:

• List the top ten most recent grant or scholarship requests.
• Show applications submitted in the last 30 days.
• Summarize the awards made in the current fiscal year.

The first time ChatGPT uses the connector for a particular type of data, it displays a permission dialog describing the data being retrieved, for example, "Query GLM request records?" Review the details, and then click Query Data to allow it, or Deny to cancel. This per-action consent step is expected and keeps visibility into what data is shared.

Is MCP Read-Only?

MCP is read only in its current state, with access to the same data available in Foundant Reporting. Accessing documents through MCP may require IT support on the organization's side.

Is My Data Secure When Connected via MCP?

Each connection is scoped to the credentials the administrator sets up during connection, so only that site's own data is exposed. Only users with the full Administrator role can connect to MCP, and existing portal permissions are honored through the connection.

Can SLM Clients Use the Same Connector as GLM?

Yes, SLM clients use the same MCP connector as GLM. Each product requires its own authentication.

Troubleshoot a Claude MCP Connection

• Sign-in fails or loops back to the login page - Confirm the admin credentials match the correct GLM or SLM site, and verify the URL matches the environment (Sandbox or Live).
• Browser does not open after clicking Connect - Confirm the default browser is set and pop-ups are not blocked for claude.ai.
• "Not connected" persists after signing in - Return to the Connectors panel and click Connect again. If the issue continues, remove the connector and add it again using the correct URL.
• Wrong environment connected - Remove the existing GLM MCP connector, and add a new one using the correct sandbox or live URL.

Troubleshoot a ChatGPT MCP Connection

• "Create" button does not appear - Confirm Developer mode is toggled on under Apps, Advanced settings, and that the main Apps page has been returned to after enabling it.
• Sign-in fails or loops back to the login page - Confirm the admin credentials match the correct GLM or SLM site, and verify the URL matches the environment (sandbox or live).
• Browser does not redirect to the GLM login page - Confirm pop-ups are not blocked for chatgpt.com. If the redirect fails, click Create again from the New App dialog.
• "Not connected" persists after authentication - Return to the Apps page and check the Drafts and Enabled apps sections. If GLM MCP appears in Drafts only, click into it to complete setup. As a last resort, delete the connector and add it again.
• Wrong environment connected - Delete the existing GLM MCP connector, and add a new one using the correct sandbox or live URL.
• Permission dialog appears every time - This is expected for new types of data requests. ChatGPT asks for explicit consent before each new kind of operation to keep the administrator in control of what is accessed.

Get Accurate Results

If a result from MCP looks unexpected, compare it against the same information in Foundant Reporting. It can also help to tell the AI tool which data source to use, since it may need direction to use the approval data set for grant amounts instead of payment data, for example.