How Best to Find Information

Find funding programs and learn how to write grant proposals:

1. Search or browse the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) by Keyword or other indexes for federal grants, loans, business and nonfinancial assistance.
2. Contact federal office indicated in CFDA program description: State or regional addresses and telephone numbers are given in CFDA  Appendix IV: Federal Agency Contacts in Region/State.
3. Search other Web sites that access federal program and grants information for special grantseekers, for example the Business Advisor , the State and Local [government] Gateway , or the Nonprofit [organizations] Gateway .
4. Search also for Private Foundations that might be interested in a project. 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 guidelines Developing and Writing Grant Proposals, or take the Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course.

Key Federal Funding Sources

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (General Services Administration)
The Catalog (CFDA), issued annually and updated continuously on the Web, describes some 1,400 federal grants and non financial assistance programs administered by the departments and agencies of the federal government. It helps grantseekers identify programs that meet specific objectives of their projects and is intended to improve coordination and communication between the federal government and state and local applicants for federal assistance.

Catalog Indexes and Listings  (GSA and Health and Human Services)
Although keyword searching is often a good place to start, also browse by broad subject, by federal department or agency, or by recipient category to identify more federal funding programs. CFDA program descriptions may provide direct links to local and regional federal office addresses, to related programs, and to Office of and Budget circulars.

• Search by keyword (GSA)
• Broad subject or topic index (HHS)
• Target or beneficiary group index (HHS)
• Programs listed alphabetically (HHS)
• Programs by federal department (HHS)
• Programs by independent and other agencies (HHS)

Federal Agency Contacts in Region/State  (CFDA Appendix IV)
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. Each federal agency has its own procedures: if the CFDA program description refers to a state or regional Information Contact as listed in Appendix IV, grant seekers should contact the federal department or agency office listed here before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.

State Single Points of Contact  (CFDA)
Under Executive Order 12372 of 1962, federal grants applicants may be required 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 provide guidance to grantseekers.

CFDA in Print  (Government Printing Office, GSA)

The Catalog is available in local depository libraries.

Order the Catalog from the Government Printing Office.

Related Federal Resources

Official Federal Government Web Sites
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's Home Page to learn more about its programs and objectives. Some government departments or agencies have Web pages specifically designed for specific types of grant seekers (see below).

Federal Commons
Part of a federal Web site with one-stop access to Internet U.S. government resources for grants. This section groups programs by broad subject categories.

Grants.gov (Dept. of Health and Human Services)
A pilot site for the federal government's E-Grants initiative (FedBizOps) which will provide potential grant applicants with a single location for finding federal funding opportunities, applying for and managing federal grants, as well as facilitating "the quality, coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of operations for grant makers and grant recipients."

U.S. Business Advisor
Small Business Administration Web page intended to provide business with one-stop access to federal government information, services, and transactions. Covers business development, laws and regulations, international trade, work place issues, and buying and selling.

Government Gateway  (for State and Local Governments)

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.

Federal Register   (National Archives)
The Federal Register, printed each business day, publishes updates and notices affecting federal assistance programs. Scroll down to check current year; scroll down further to enter Catalog program number, or subject/keyword "AND CFDA" in Search Terms box.

Federal Funding Report  (House Information Resources)