The Congressional Research Service (CRS) 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.

In addition, Grants.gov gives information on current funding opportunities from federal grant-making agencies, providing access to over 900 grant programs of the United States government through its 26 federal grant-making agencies. Users can register on this site to receive, via e-mail, notices of funding opportunities as soon as they are announced. 

Writing a grant application can be a complicated process.  The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance provides a tutorial on how to write a grant application, and the Foundation Center offers a short course on writing a proposal. 

Here are some other helpful web sites for obtaining federal grants:

USA.gov for Business

Includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. 

USA.gov Government-to-Government

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.

USA.gov for Non-Profits

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.