>>Constituent
Services: Grants
This web page connects constituents with guidance and Internet resources
on Federal grants and nonfinancial assistance, as well as on private
foundation funding.
How Best to Find
Information
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Find funding programs and learn how to write grant proposals:
1. Search or browse the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
by Keyword
and other indexes for grants, loans, business and nonfinancial
help.
2. 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).
3. Search Federal Web sites given in each CFDA program description
for more information and for State Administering Agencies responsible
for managing these programs.
4. Check current Federal grants postings at Grants.gov
and apply online.
5. 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.
6. 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
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* 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 1500 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: 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
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* A-Z Index Departments & Agencies
* Homeland Security Grants
* Disaster Assistance
* FirstGov for Government-to-Government
* FirstGov for Business
* FirstGov for Nonprofits
* Faith-Based Initiatives
* GovBenefits.gov
* FTC Consumer Alert
* Federal Register (for CFDA Updates)
* 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
FirstGov.gov also has an A-Z Index of Government Benefits, Grants
and Financial Aid.
Homeland
Security Grants (Dept. of Homeland Security)
Information on Federal homeland security and public safety grant opportunities,
whether administered by DHS or other departments and agencies. Covers
First Responder Grants (which includes Assistance to Firefighters,
Disaster/Response Program, and State Homeland Security Contacts).
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. Also
use portal to other federal disaster programs at DisasterHelp.gov.
FirstGov
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.
FirstGov
for Business (GSA)
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.
FirstGov
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.
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)
Weekly compilation of items published in the Federal Register which
affect Federal domestic assistance programs. The summary consists
of three parts:(1) Federal Register Summary, (2) Early Warning Grants
Report, and (3) Disaster Loan Applications.
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
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The
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.
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
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Geographic Tracking of Federal Funds
Two U.S. Census Bureau publications are the Federal government's
primary printed documents detailing the geographic distribution of
Federal monies to States and Counties:
- Federal
Aid to States
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
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.
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