CATALOG OF
FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

INTRODUCTION

• Overview
• Types of Assistance
• Explanation of Program Descriptions
• Appendix VI:  Developing and Writing Grant Proposals

OVERVIEW

The Catalog describes all 1,499 federal domestic assistance programs.  It contains information on all financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by the departments and establishments of the Federal government.  The Catalog is published by the General Services Administration (GSA) twice a year:  in June and December.  This is the June 2002 update of the content. GSA also publishes a searchable version of the Catalog; if you cannot find what you are looking for here, try the GSA web site.

As the basic reference source of Federal programs, the Catalog assists users in identifying programs that meet specific objectives of the potential applicant and obtaining general information on Federal assistance programs.  In addition, the Catalog is intended to improve coordination and communication between the Federal government and State and local governments.

Programs selected for inclusion in the Federal assistance data base are defined as any function of a Federal agency that provides assistance or benefits for a State or States, territorial possession, county, city, other political subdivision, grouping, or instrumentality thereof; any domestic profit or nonprofit corporation, institution, or individual, other than an agency of the Federal government.

A Federal domestic assistance program may in practice be called a program, an activity, a service, a project, a process, or some other name, regardless of whether it is identified as a separate program by statute or regulation.  It is identified as a program by its legal authority, administering office, funding, purpose, benefits, and beneficiaries.

Assistance or benefits refers to the transfer of money, property, services, or anything of value, the principal purpose of which is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute.  Assistance includes, but is not limited to, grants, loans, loan guarantees, scholarships, mortgage loans, insurance, and other types of financial assistance, including cooperative agreements; property, technical assistance, counseling, statistical, and other expert information; and service activities of regulatory agencies.  It does not include the provision of conventional public information services.