Grants

My office places a high priority on economic development and job growth. We are pleased to try to help you or your organization find the resources that are necessary to keep our businesses growing and thriving. This page contains guidance and key resources to help eligible grantseekers find information on federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance, as well as on private funding.


If you have questions or concerns about a particular program or application, please contact Tony McEwen, my Economic Development Director at my Wilmington Office 910-815-4959.

 

How Best to Find Information

1. 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 of help.

2. If eligible, search for programs in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The CFDA includes grants, loans, business, and nonfinancial help.

3. Contact the federal office given in CFDA program description. If a state or local office is indicated, you can search by state or agency for their contact information on the Regional Agency Offices page of the CFDA website.

4. The federal websites given in each CFDA program description will have more information including the state administering agencies responsible for managing funding.

5. Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, register and obtain a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number, a Central Contractor Registration (CCR) number, and apply online (links and instructions given at the website).

6. Also search foundations for project funding using the Foundation Center website or Foundation Center Cooperating Collections in libraries to identify national, state, and community foundations.

7. Learn how to write grant proposals following CFDA's Developing and Writing Grant Proposals guide, or take the free online Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course.

 

Key Federal Funding Sources


Grants.gov (managed by the Department of Health and Human Services)
This Federal grants website 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 1600 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.
The CFDA includes a detailed subject index, browsable listing of programs by applicant eligibility, and Appendix VI, Developing and Writing Grant Proposals. Appendix IV includes state, local and regional offices of federal agencies. If the CFDA program description refers to a state or regional information contact, grantseekers should contact them before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information. For current notices of funding availability, please visit 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 state government level review and comment. The state offices listed here coordinate government federal financial assistance and may direct federal development. You can also identify state-level grants through individual state and local agencies.


CFDA in Print (Government Printing Office)
Although the Catalog is available in 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 print Catalog is available in all states in Federal Depository Libraries.

 

Related Federal Resources

A-Z Index of U.S. Government 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.

Economic Development Administration (Department of Commerce)
The EDA partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration, and innovation. The Administration provides grants for public works and development facilities, as well as planning, coordination, economic adjustment and other financial assistance to reduce substantial and persistent unemployment in economically distressed areas. North Carolina is served by the EDA Atlanta Regional Office.

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 DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency).

Homeland Security State Contacts & Grants Award Information (Dept. of Homeland Security)
Click on 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. Includes Urban Area Security Initiative, Citizens Corps, Medical Response System, Operation Stonegarden (border security), Infrastructure Protection. Programs for firefighters may be found at Assistance to Firefighters.

USA.gov for Business (GSA)
Includes contracting with the federal government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also financial assistance links at Business.gov and the Small Business Administration website.

USA.gov for Nonprofits (GSA)
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.

Student Aid on the Web (Department of Education)
Financial assistance for education beyond high school is generally "needs-based" and often includes loans and work-study, in addition to some grants. College and university applications, websites, and brochures usually include financial aid information for prospective and incoming students.

GovBenefits.gov (managed by the Department of Labor)
Government grants are not direct assistance to individuals, but fund state and local programs providing help to those in need. This online screening site can be used to identify state and local government benefits and how to apply. Covers direct payments, loans, 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 (Office of Management and Budget)
OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in CFDA program descriptions and may be printed out fulltext.

 

Private and Corporate Funding Sources

The Foundation Center
A 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 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.

Grants 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 State and Local Resources

Golden Leaf Foundation
The Foundation receives and distributes funds for economic impact assistance to economically affected or tobacco-dependent regions of North Carolina. You can search for grant awards and find links to other funding resources in North Carolina.

North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
The Center seeks to strengthen the nonprofit sector in North Carolina by offering services directly to nonprofits and working closely with other local, state and national groups that assist nonprofits.

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc.
The Rural Center provides a variety of resource including information, technical assistance, leadership development programs, and grant and loan programs.

Small Business Center Network
The Small Business Center Network within the North Carolina Community College System aims to increase the success rate and number of profitable businesses in North Carolina by providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business owners and employees. Each center is community based and provides education and training, counseling, information, and referrals.

The Institute of Minority Economic Development
The Institute represents the interest of underdeveloped and underutilized sectors of North Carolina’s economic base.

Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations
A partnership between UNCW, funders, civic leaders, and other community organizations that offers professional workshops, board development, and organizational assessment and consulting.