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Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
This is an informational webpage 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.
Securing Federal Resources
Check out the links below for more information on obtaining grants and federal domestic assistance. The following was prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, updated June 2009.
Current Grant Opportunities
GRANT: Green Jobs Innovation Fund. DEADLINE: MARCH 29, 2011
GRANT: Serving Juvenile Offenders. DEADLINE: APRIL 12, 2011
How to Best Find Information
- Find out Who is Eligible for a Grant?Other government websites may be more suitable for personal needs, student loans, small business assistance , or other business opportunities such as government contracting. The website Government Benefits, Grants, and Financial Aid may help as well.
- If eligible, search for program information in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). Includes grants, loans, business and nonfinancial help.
- Contact the federal office given in CFDA program description: if state or local office is indicated, check Regional Agency Offices tab at top of CFDA website for addresses.
- Go to federal websites given in each CFDA program description for more information and for state administering agencies responsible for managing these programs.
- Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, register and obtain a DUNS number, a CCR number, and apply online (links and instructions given at the website).
- Search foundations for project funding: use the Foundation Center Web site or Foundation Center Cooperating 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 free online Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course.
Key Federal Funding Sources
- Grants.gov
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
- State Single Points of Contact
- CFDA in Local Libraries
Grants.gov (managed by Dept. of Health and Human Services)
Federal website that allows eligible grantseekers (see Who is Eligible for a Grant?) to find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL federal agencies. Grantseekers can check on notices of funding availability (NOFA) posted in the last 7 days; access an RSS feed of grant opportunities; and apply for federal grants through a unified process by downloading the application and submitting online. The website guides grantseekers in obtaining a DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number and registering at Grants.gov to apply and to track applications. 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.
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 federal financial assistance and may direct federal development. For help in identifying state-level grants, other state government agencies websites may be found at: State and Local Agencies by Topic.
CFDA in Local Libraries (Government Printin