CONGRESSMAN ALAN GRAYSON PROUDLY SERVING FLORIDA’S 8th DISTRICT

TO SIGN UP FOR THE CONGRESSMAN'S FEDERAL GRANT EMAIL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, CLICK HERE.

How Best to Find Information (TOP)

There are many ways to 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 also be a great resource.

If eligible, you should search for program information in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). It includes grants, loans, business and non-financial help.  You can also contact the federal office given in the CFDA program description.  If a state or local office is indicated, you can find the addresses for the Regional Agency Offices at the top of the CFDA website. 

You should also check often for current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, obtain a Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number, register with Central Contractor Registration to obtain a CCR number, and apply online (links and instructions given at the website).

Another productive idea is to search foundations for project funding.  You can use the Foundation Center Web site or the Foundation Center Cooperating Collections in libraries to identify national, state and community foundations.

Completing a grant application can be an intimidating task.  The CFDA has tips on Developing and Writing Grant Proposals. You can also take a free online Proposal Writing Short Course. 

Key Federal Funding Sources (TOP)

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)
This federal website 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 it online. The website guides grantseekers in obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number and registering with Central Contractor Registration (CCR).  You can also learn how to register with Grants.gov in order to apply for a grant and track your application. For full federal program descriptions, see CFDA below.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (General Services Administration)
The Catalog (CFDA) is issued annually and updated continuously on the Web.  It describes some 1,600 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 to their respective state for review and comment. The state offices listed here coordinate federal financial assistance.  You can find state-level grants or state government agency websites at: State and Local Agencies by Topic.

CFDA in Local Libraries (Government Printing Office)
Although the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is available on the Internet, you may prefer a print edition. However, only the Web Catalog is continuously updated. The published volume is printed annually with no supplements. The Catalog is available in all states in Federal Depository Libraries.

Related Federal Resources (TOP)

Recovery.gov 
A-Z Index Departments & Agencies 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
Homeland Security Grants 
USA.gov for Business 
USA.gov for Nonprofits
The Grantsmanship Center 
Student Aid on the Web 
GovBenefits.gov 
FTC Consumer Alert 
OMB Circulars 

Recovery.gov (The White House)
Federal assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes grants-in-aid to state and local governments. Agency Recovery Sites link to information about federal agency and department programs. State Recovery Sites cover state projects and state contacts for grants programs. The United States Conference of Mayors Main Street Economic Recovery website gives a State-By-State Breakdown of the ARRA and summaries of key programs.

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 links to Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Department of Energy)
Grants are EERE’s primary funding vehicle for businesses, industries, universities and others. Most EERE grants are awarded on merit on a competitive basis. EERE financial assistance opportunities are listed in the Financial Opportunities by Audience database and on Grants.gov. For state-by-state information on state, local. utility and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, search the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency).

Homeland Security State Contacts & Grant Award Information (Dept. of Homeland Security)
Click on the map for state allocations and contact information. Most Homeland Security non-disaster grant programs are designated for state and local governments and specific entities such as colleges, etc. Unsolicited applications from individuals are generally not accepted. You can find programs for firefighters at Assistance to Firefighters.

USA.gov for Business (GSA)
This opportunity includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. Be sure to look into the financial assistance links at Business.gov and the Small Business Administration websites.

USA.gov for Nonprofits (General Services Administration)
This website links to federal department and agency information and service for nonprofit organizations.  It includes fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, online services, registration and licensing, and tax information.

The Grantsmanship Center (Non-Profit resource center)

Student Aid on the Web (Dept. of Education)
Here you will find information on ways to fund secondary education, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.

GovBenefits.gov (via Department of Labor)
This website includes information on more than 1,000 government assistance programs, and how to apply. They include direct payment, loan, insurance, training or other services.

FTC Consumer Alert (Federal Trade Commission)
The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often a scam.

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.  You can find a full text of those documents on the OMB website.

Private & Corporate Funding Sources (TOP) 

The Foundation Center
This is the gateway to information about private funding sources, the grant seeking process, guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and links to other useful Internet websites. The Center maintains a comprehensive database on foundations; produces print and electronic directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars.

Guide to Funding Research 
The guide provides an overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations and 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
This link will give you daily postings of requests for proposals (RFPs) from private funding sources, broken down by broad subject category. 

Foundation Center Cooperating Collections
HEre you will find free funding information available in libraries, community foundations and other nonprofit centers nationwide. 

Grant Resources by State (Grantsmanship Center)
You can click on a state map to find links to information about a state’s foundations, community foundations, corporate giving programs and the state’s home page.

Tracking Federal Funds (TOP)

USAspending.gov (Office of Management and Budget)
This is a free, searchable database of federal government spending based upon Census and General Services Administration statistical data. You can search for grants and contracts by individual organization or grant recipient, by place of performance, including by congressional district, or by federal department or agency. 

Federal Aid to States (Census Bureau)
FAS details actual expenditures of federal grant funds to state and local governments. Figures are broken down by state, program area and agency. 

Consolidated Federal Funds Report (Census Bureau)
In the CFFR, grants generally represent obligations and include payments both to state and local governments, as well as non-governmental recipients. Data is provided for state and county levels.

TO SIGN UP FOR THE CONGRESSMAN'S FEDERAL GRANT EMAIL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, CLICK HERE.