Federal Grants & Funding Assistance

This page gives guidance and key links to information on Federal Grants and non-financial assistance, as well as to private foundation funding.

1. Use Grants.gov to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies.
   
2. Search or browse the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) for federal grants, loans, business and non-financial assistance. Contact the federal office indicated in the CFDA program description. State or regional addresses and telephone numbers are listed in CFDA Appendix IV: Federal Agency Contacts in Region/State (.pdf).
   
3. Search other web sites that access federal program and grants information for special grant seekers. For example, the Business Advisor, the State and Local Government Gateway, or the Non-Profit Organization Gateway.
   
4. Search also for Private Foundations that might be interested in a project. Use the Foundation Center web site or the Foundation Center book collections in libraries to identify national, state, and community foundations.
   
5. Learn how to write grant proposals: Follow the CFDA guidelines on Developing and Writing Grant Proposals, or take the Foundation Center Proposal Writing "Short Course".

• Grants.gov
  Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.
  
• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
  The Catalog (CFDA), published twice a year by the General Services Administration (GSA), describes some 1,400 federal grants and non financial assistance programs administered by the departments and agencies of the federal government. It helps users identify programs that meet specific objectives of applicant projects and is intended to improve coordination and communication between the federal government and state and local applicants for federal assistance. The printed Catalog is available at federal depository libraries.
  
• Federal Agency Contacts in Region/State
  Much of the federal grant 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, constituents/applicants should contact the federal department or agency office listed there before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.
  
• State Single Points of Contact
  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 grants seekers.

• 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 grant seekers.
  
• 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.
  
• U.S. State and Local Government Gateway
  Web site developed to give state and local governments easy access to federal government information. Includes federal partnership program links for states, city management, counties, legislatures, governors, cities, and mayors.
  
• U.S. Government Nonprofit Gateway
  Links to federal department and agency information and services to assist nonprofit organizations. Examples include:
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Small Business Administration
  • Department of Education
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Health and Human Services
  • Housing and Urban Development
  • Department of Interior
  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Labor
  • Department of Transportation
  • National Institutes of Health
    
• 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.
  
• Today's Federal Register & Archives  (Grantsmanship Center)
  Under section Today's Federal Register, gives current day's grants announcements, department and agency announcements of grant application review meetings, grant awards, deadlines, requests for comments on agency procedures, new rule reminders, and special events.
  
• Notices of Funding Availability (via Department of Agriculture)
  Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) are announcements that appear in the Federal Register inviting applications for federal grant programs. This page allows you to generate a customized listing of NOFAs by date, by broad subject terms, or by department/agency.
  
• Office of Management and Budget - Grants Management
  OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in Catalog program descriptions: some program descriptions on the internet version of the Catalog link directly to OMB Circulars required for program management, others just give OMB Circular numbers which may then be printed from this Web site.

• The Foundation Center
  Gateway to information about private funding sources (including national, state, community, and corporate foundations), the grant seeking 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.
  
• Grantsmanship Center
  In addition to useful links to government resources, this site includes information on community foundations and international funding. Community Foundations (by state) are often particularly interested in local projects and maintain diverse grants programs. TGCI also offers publications, training, and workshops in proposal writing, grantsmanship, and fund raising for nonprofit organizations and government.

• Federal Funds Expre$$ (House Information Resources)
  This resource page, compiled for congressional offices, covers public and private web links under a variety of funding categories, including:
  • 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 Government 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
    
• Federal Aid to States (U.S. Census Bureau)
  The publications are issued approximately 6 months after the close of a fiscal year. This site details the geographic distribution of federal grant funds to state and local governments only. Figures are presented to the state level by program area and agency.
  
• Consolidated Federal Funds Report (U.S. Census Bureau)
  In this report, grants generally represent obligations and include payments both to state and local governments and to nongovernmental recipients. Data is provided for state and county levels.