Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
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 ]
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How Best to Find Information
TOPFind 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
TOP- Grants.gov
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
- CFDA Indexes and Listings
- Writing Grant Proposals
- Federal Agency Contacts in States
- State Single Points of Contact
- CFDA in Print
- CFDA in Local Libraries
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.
- The Catalog is available in all States in Federal Depository Libraries.
- Order the published Catalog from the Government Printing Office (search "Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance" or "CFDA" for cost and availability).
Related Federal Resources
TOP- A-Z Index Departments & Agencies
- Homeland Security Grants
- Disaster Assistance
- USA.gov for Business
- USA.gov for Government-to-Government
- USA.gov for Nonprofits
- Faith-Based Initiatives
- GovBenefits.gov
- FTC Consumer Alert
- Office of Management & Budget (OMB Circulars)
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
TOPThe 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.
- Guide to Funding Research An overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and grantmaking public charities.
- Proposal Writing Short Course (also in Spanish, French and other languages)
- Foundation Finder Search for information about more than 70,000 private and community foundations.
- Requests for Proposals Daily postings of requests for proposals (RFPs) from private funding sources by broad subject category.
- Foundation Center Cooperating Collections Free funding information available in libraries, community foundations,
and other nonprofit centers nationwide.
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.
Additional Sources
TOP- 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