How do I apply for a Federal grant for a faith-based or community organization? How do I find a grant to apply for?

Answer

All Federal grants are announced to the public. These announcements (sometimes called a “Program Announcement,” “Request for Proposal,” “Notice of Funding Availability,” or “Solicitation for Grant Applications”) are the Federal governments method of looking for charities and other groups to provide a Federally-funded services. Each grant announcement will contain:

• instructions on how to apply, including where to get an application packet,
• information the application should contain,
• the date the application is due, and
• agency contact information.

Finding a Funding Opportunity

Grants.gov  allows organizations to electronically find and apply for more than $400 billion in Federal grants. Grants.gov is THE single access point for more than 1,000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant making agencies. Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions for registering on the site. Then you may search for grant opportunities. (You do not have to be registered to search for a grant, but you must be registered to apply for a grant.) You may also want to sign up for grant opportunity email alerts.

Currently, most grant announcements are also listed in the Federal Register, a daily publication that can be accessed on the Internet (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html) and at major public libraries. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (www.cfda.gov ) also contains information about grant programs. 

HHS also provides information about grants that are being considered for possible release to Grants.gov: http://www.hhs.gov/grantsforecast/. 

In addition, HHS agency web sites contain information on specific funding opportunities that you will find on Grants.gov:

• Administration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html
• Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov/doingbus/doingbus.aspx
• Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/info/funding.shtml
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm
• Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: (http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/funding.html)
• Health Resources Services Administration: http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/default.htm
• Indian Health Service: http://www.grants.ihs.gov/
• National Institutes of Health: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/index.aspx

Many States and cities also have liaisons that can help applicants identify grant opportunities.

If you are looking for government funding for yourself, family, or friends, you may wish to visit the GovBenefits.gov Web site. Government loans can be found at GovLoans.gov.

Last Updated: 06/17/2008