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skip to primary page contentThe Faith-Based and Community Initiative Empowering America's Grassroots
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 Featured Programs
Discretionary Grants
 Mandatory Grants
Funding Opportunities
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Featured Programs

The goal of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is to level the playing field for all groups applying for government funding, regardless of size and possible faith affiliation. Faith-based and community organizations, therefore, are eligible for many of the dozens of grant opportunities available across the agency each year. Below we highlight a few special programs in which faith-based and community organizations may be particularly interested.

Discretionary Grants

Discretionary Grants are grants that permit the Federal Government, according to specific authorizing legislation, to exercise judgment ("discretion") in selecting the applicant/recipient organization, through a competitive grant process. Types of activities commonly supported by discretionary grants include demonstration, research, training, service, and construction projects or programs. Discretionary grants are sometimes referred to as "project grants."

Mandatory Grants

Mandatory Grants are grants that a Federal agency is required by statute to award if the recipient (usually a State, Territory, or Tribe) submits an acceptable State Plan or application and meets the eligibility and compliance requirements of the statutory and regulatory provisions of the grant program. Mandatory grants include open-ended entitlement grants, closed-ended grants, and block grants. In the past, mandatory grants were sometimes referred to as "formula grants."

For some mandatory grants, organizations and, in some cases, individuals may be able to qualify or compete for funding at the state and/or local levels. To learn more about these state and local opportunities, organizations and individuals should seek information through state and local agencies.

Block Grants are typically regarded as mandatory grants to states, territories, and tribes. Some block grants consist of what had been several smaller, specific-purpose grants consolidated into one "block." Block grants usually provide greater flexibility of use and place fewer federal administrative restrictions on the recipients.

An entitlement grant is a type of mandatory grant where there is no upper limit on the amount of funds the Federal Government will pay for allowable services and activities. Open-ended grants are often referred to as "open-ended entitlement grants" because the Federal Government pays a statutorily-required share of costs without dollar limits.