Information Web page, prepared by the Congressional
Research Service for Members of Congress, which gives guidance and
Internet resources on Federal grants and nonfinancial assistance, as well as on
private foundation funding. The Slide show "Grants Information for
Constituents" provides overview and tips, reviews key sources, and
demonstrates doing a typical grants request. [Updated March 2007 ]
How Best to Find Information
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Find funding programs and learn how to write grant proposals:
- Search or browse the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
by Keyword
and other indexes for grants, loans, business and nonfinancial
help.
- Contact Federal
office given in CFDA
program description: if indicated, use CFDA
Appendix IV: Federal Regional or Local Office Addresses (by Agency or
by State).
- Search Federal Web
sites given in each CFDA
program description for more information and for State Administering
Agencies responsible for managing these programs.
- Check current Federal
grants postings at Grants.gov and apply online.
- Search also
foundations for project funding: use the Foundation Center Web site or Foundation Center book collections in libraries to
identify national, State, and community foundations.
- Learn how to write
grant proposals: follow CFDA's
Developing and Writing Grant Proposals, or take the
Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course.
Key Federal Funding Sources
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Grants.gov (via
Dept. of Health and Human Services)
Federal grants Web site that allows organizations to electronically find and
apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL Federal agencies.
Grant seekers can check on notices of funding availability posted in the last 7
days; sign up to receive e-mail notification of future grant opportunities; and
apply for Federal grants online through a unified process. For full Federal
program descriptions, see CFDA
below.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (General Services Administration)
The Catalog (CFDA),
issued annually and updated continuously on the Web, describes some 1600
Federal grants and non financial assistance programs. Grantseekers can identify
programs that might support their projects and can learn the program's
objectives, requirements, application procedures and contacts. For current
notices of funding availability, see Grants.gov.
Catalog
Indexes and Listings (GSA)
Although keyword searching is often a good place to start, also browse by broad
subject (Functional Area), by Federal Department or Agency, or by Beneficiary
to identify more Federal funding programs. CFDA
program descriptions refer to local and regional Federal office addresses, to
related programs, and to Office of Management and Budget circulars, all
available full text on the Internet.
Developing
and Writing Grant Proposals (CFDA)
Guidance in formulating Federal grant applications, including initial proposal
development, basic components of a proposal, review recommendations, and
referral to Federal guidelines and literature.
Federal Regional or Local Office
Addresses (CFDA
Appendix IV; by Agency or by State)
Much of the Federal grants budget moves to the States through formula and block
grants -- State, regional, and local Federal offices often handle grants
applications and funds disbursement. If the CFDA
program description refers to a State or regional Information Contact as listed
in Appendix IV, grantseekers should contact
them before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date
information.
State 'Single
Points of Contact' (Office of Management and
Budget)
Under Executive Order 12372, some States require Federal grants applicants to
submit a copy of their application for State government level review and
comment. The State offices listed here coordinate government (both Federal and
State) grants development and may provide guidance to grantseekers. For help in
identifying State-level grants, other State government agencies Web sites
include: State and Local Agencies by Topic, the Library of Congress' State Government Information and National Association of State Development Agencies.
CFDA
in Print (Government Printing Office)
Although the Catalog is available full-text on the Internet, some may
prefer a print edition. However, only the Web Catalog is continuously
updated-the published volume is annual with no supplements.
Related Federal Resources
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A-Z Index of
U.S. Departments and Agencies (General
Services Administration)
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's Home Page
to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site USA.gov also has an Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid.
Homeland
Security State Contacts & Grant Award Information
(Dept. of Homeland Security)
(Scroll down for state map and programs) Information on federal homeland
security and public safety grants. Includes Urban Area Security Initiative
Grant Program (UASI), Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP), and
Assistance to Firefighters.
Disaster Assistance
(Federal Emergency Management Agency)
FEMA disaster assistance falls into three general categories: Individual and
Households; Public Assistance for emergency services and repair or replacement
of damaged public facilities; and Hazard Mitigation funding to reduce future
losses to public and private property.
USA.gov for
Business (General Services Administration)
Includes contracting with the U.S.
government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also Business.gov
and the Small
Business Administration Web sites.
USA.gov Government-to-Government
(General Services Administration)
Thousands of grants and loans are made by the Federal government to State and
local governments and other public entities. This site provides one-stop access
to grants management and Federal assistance programs, in addition to resources
about acquisition and procurement, financial management, and taxes.
USA.gov for
Nonprofits (General
Services Administration)
Links to Federal department and agency information and service for nonprofit
organizations, including fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other
assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, online services,
registration and licensing, and tax information.
Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives (Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives)
The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
Development, Justice, and Labor operate a number of programs to serve Americans
in need for which faith-based and community organizations may apply. Consult Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering
with the Federal Government and Federal Funds for Organizations That Help Those in Need. Many
are "formula grants" made available to States and local governments,
which in turn award grants to grassroots and local organizations. To learn
about them, contact local and State agencies responsible for managing these
programs. [Download a free PDF
reader]
GovBenefits.gov
(GSA)
Free online screening tool to identify government benefits and how to apply.
Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training, or other services. Browse
programs by State, by category, or ‘Get Results by Questionnaire'.
FTC
Consumer Alert (Federal Trade Commission)
Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business,
unpaid bills are often a scam. Most sources of grants don't give money to
individuals for personal need (except in disaster situations). The FTC,
the nation's consumer protection agency, also warns consumers to beware of
paying "processing fees" for free information.
OMB
Grants Management Web Site (Office of Management
and Budget)
OMB establishes
government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and
common rules. OMB Circulars
are cited in Catalog program descriptions and may be printed out
fulltext.
Private & Corporate Funding Sources
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The
Foundation Center
Gateway to information about private funding sources, the grantseeking process,
guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of State libraries with
grants reference collections, and links to other useful Internet Web sites. The
Center maintains a comprehensive database on foundations; produces print, Web,
and CD-ROM directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in
the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars.
Grant Resources by State (Grantsmanship Center
Click on state map to find links to information about a state's foundations,
community foundations, corporate giving programs and the state's home page.
Community Foundation Locator (Council on
Foundations)
Community foundations have special interest in funding local and community
projects.
Tracking of Federal Funds
- Federal
Aid to States (Census Bureau)
FAS details actual expenditures
of Federal grant funds to State and local governments. Figures are
presented to the State level by program area and agency.
- Consolidated
Federal Funds Report (Census Bureau)
In CFFR, grants
generally represent obligations and include payments both to State and
local governments and to nongovernmental recipients. Data are provided for
State and county levels.
- FedSpending.org
(OMB Watch)
A free, searchable database of federal government spending based upon
Census and General Services Administration statistics.
Grants and Other Funding Sources (House
Information Resources)
Resource page, compiled for congressional offices, covering public and private
Web links under funding categories such as:
- Where to Find Federal Grants
- How to Apply for Grants
- Help with Managing the Grant
Process
- Foundations
- Nonprofit Charitable
Organizations
- Corporate Charitable Giving
- Small Business Resources
- International Trade &
Development
- State & Local Govt.
Funding Resources
- Disaster Assistance
- Money for College
- Scholarships - Specific
Fields of Study
- Internships/Summer Employment
- Computers for Schools and
Communities
- Other Educational Resources
- Surplus & Unclaimed
Property
- Consumer Protection
- Demographic and Statistical
Resources
- Other Helpful Resources
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