"Grant" is a general term for the thousands of federal programs available to assist state and local governments, nonprofit social service groups, and community based organizations. This assistance takes many forms, including direct funding, low-interest loans, surplus property, technical advice and assistance, and resources. Individuals needing help with personal financial obligations are not eligible, although small business owners may seek some forms of assistance.

Some people believe that grants are "free money" from the federal government, but the truth is that all federal assistance comes with prerequisites and obligations that must be carefully understood and met. As you consider whether to seek federal assistance for your project, bear in mind that all grant programs are:

  • Targeted. Any given grant program was authorized by Congress to address a particular problem, and to do so within specified parameters. Consequently, a grant will only fund projects and initiatives that fall within scope of that purpose.
  • Competitive. Grant programs almost always have many more applicants than their available resources can fund. Due to the high demand, even many strong applications fail to receive funding.
  • Conditional. Each federal grant program has its own specifications regarding eligibility criteria, grantee obligations, and reporting requirements. ALL these must be strictly adhered to in order to receive funding.

As you begin the search for grant funding, a useful first step is to write a clear, concise summary of your project. This statement should document and articulate a pressing need in your community. Examples might include a need for local workforce training after a plant closure, or a new firefighting vehicle to replace an outdated truck. The need should be a real concern to a large segment of the community, one that is not being adequately addressed through current programs.

Having identified the need, you should describe how your project will help remediate the problem. You should identify goals and outcomes that your project will produce. Consider and explain why your proposal is particularly well suited to realize these outcomes, and how it is different from other initiatives in your community that might already be working on these same goals. You will find it much easier to target your search, and to be persuasive in applying for funding, if you can clearly articulate all these points.

When you search for funding, make sure you are exploring ALL sources of assistance that might be applicable. In addition to federal government programs, you should consider assistance that might be available through state government agencies, councils of governments, philanthropic institutions and private foundation funding. Grant-making government agencies and foundations whose interest and intentions are consistent with yours will be most likely to provide support. You may find it necessary to solicit funds from a combination of sources, including federal, state, or local programs and grants from private or corporate foundations. You should cast a wide, but targeted, net.

To ensure an effective search, you should pay close attention to the purpose and requirements of any particular grant to ensure that it is appropriate to your project. It is a waste of your time to apply for a grant that won't fit your needs or for which your organization is not eligible. Among the factors you should pay particular attention to are:

  • Program purpose. As mentioned, each grant program has a specific purpose it was created to achieve. No matter how worthy, your project will not be considered if it does not fall within the mission area of the grant.
  • Eligible applicants. A grant will often restrict which entities are able to apply to the program. Some grants are limited to state and/or local governments, while others may be available to non-profit organizations, educational institutions or faith-based entities.
  • Eligible activities. Grant funds often have several conditions on how they may be used. For instance, many grants will fund equipment purchases, but few will pay for property acquisition or building construction. Be sure the grant will let you do what you want to do.
  • Matching requirements. Most grant programs require applicants to match a certain percentage of the grant amount with funds from non-federal sources. In fact, a granting agency may require the applicant to contribute an amount equal to 25% or more of the total provided by the agency.
  • Deadlines and formatting. Each grant will have a deadline and specified format for submitting a completed application. Increasingly, an agency may require that an application be submitted in electronic form through the Internet. Those received late, or formatted incorrectly, will often be rejected. Be certain that you can complete and submit the application within their timeframe.

You can use my site's Federal Resource Locator to find agencies and departments offering grants. A tremendous amount of information regarding funding resources is readily available on the Internet. The following list contains several recommended resources for locating grant opportunities.

  • Grants.gov - http://www.grants.gov
    This is the primary government online portal for active federal grants. It lists nearly all competitive federal grant programs that are currently soliciting applications. It has a very flexible search engine, and grant seekers can peruse available grants by subject category, agency, date, eligible applicants, funding type, and keywords (accessible at http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do). You may also sign up to receive a variety of targeted email notifications of upcoming grant opportunities at http://www.grants.gov/search/searchHome.do#receive. Many of the grants listed on Grants.gov allow you to apply online.
  • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - http://www.cfda.gov
    The Catalog (CFDA) describes some 1,500 federal domestic assistance programs administered by the departments and agencies of the federal government. It is the definitive source of information about all federal grant programs, although most will not be seeking applicants at any given time. For each program listed, the Catalog defines objectives of the program, eligibility requirements, the application and award process, post-award requirements, program accomplishments, and examples of funded projects. Information contacts, including regional or local offices of federal agencies, are also included when applicable. Grant seekers may search the Catalog by keyword, functional area, beneficiary group, eligible applicants, program title, or agency. Although more easily searchable on the Internet, the printed Catalog is available to the public in local federal depository libraries. To locate a library carrying the printed Catalog near you, visit http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html. The Catalog is also for sale from the Government Printing Office at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.
  • State Grant Information - http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/stategrants
    This Governor's Office website offers links for grant proposal training information and classes, funding opportunities through state agencies, and resources to locate funding through private foundations. It allows you to search for funding information based on a specific area of interest, such as agriculture or faith-based initiatives. This is a good resource for Texas organizations and entities looking for various funding opportunities or information on how to locate and effectively apply for grants.
  • The Foundation Center - http://www.foundationcenter.org
    This is a gateway to information about private funding sources (including national, State, community, and corporate foundations), 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, Web, and CD-ROM directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars.
  • Developing and Writing Grant Proposals - http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.GRANT_PROPOSAL_DYN.show
    This site provides an excellent introduction on how to draft a strong application for a federal grant, including initial proposal development, basic components of a proposal, review recommendations, and referral to Federal guidelines and literature.
  • FirstGov for Nonprofits - http://www.firstgov.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml#grants
    This site contains a network of links to federal government services and grants information devised to assist nonprofit organizations. It provides information on fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, online services, registration and licensing, and tax information.
  • FirstGov Government-to-Government - http://www.firstgov.gov/Government/Government_Gateway.shtml
    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.
  • Federal Disaster Assistance - https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml
    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance falls into three general categories: Individual and Households; Public Assistance for emergency services and repair of damaged public facilities; and Hazard Mitigation funding to reduce future losses to public and private property.
  • Homeland Security Grants and Training - http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0355.xml
    This site simplifies access to homeland security and public safety grants information offered by various federal agencies. Critical state and local operations supported through these grants include the preparedness of first responders and citizens, public health, infrastructure security, and other public safety activities. A popular program for municipal and volunteer fire departments is the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (http://www.firegrantsupport.com).

Unfortunately, our office does not have the resources to assist in drafting or reviewing individual grant applications. The Internet sites previously noted provide a wealth of information on how to write a strong application, and all grant seekers are strongly encouraged to utilize the grant writing advice available at www. grants.gov and www.cfda.gov. Some applicants chose to employ professional grant writers; however, federal grant applications may also be properly and successfully prepared directly by the applicant.

The importance of carefully following all directions, deadlines and requirements listed in the applications package cannot be stressed enough. Many agencies will summarily reject an application that arrives after the application deadline, is missing required documentation or contains incomplete information, or was not submitted electronically when such was required. You should carefully read all directions in the application to make sure you understand them, and thoroughly review your completed application before submitting to the agency. If the application must be submitted over the Internet, make sure you know how to log onto your account and submit the information well before the deadline.

If you have any question regarding the application, you should contact the agency person listed on the grant announcement. Be sure to contact the agency well in advance of the application deadline to ensure adequate time to make necessary changes and submit an effective proposal. It is always helpful to establish a good working relationship with the grantor agency. It may also be helpful to ask the grantor agency personnel for suggestions, criticisms, and advice about the proposed project. Many federal agencies and foundations are willing to provide an assessment of a preliminary one- or two-page concept paper before a formal proposal is prepared.

Senator Cornyn is happy to provide all appropriate assistance in helping Texans identify and apply for funding opportunities. In many cases, Senator Cornyn can provide a letter of support for Texas organizations and entities applying to federal agencies for grant funding. Texas organizations and communities interested in a letter of support and other assistance may submit their request in writing and fax it to 202-228-1930 or contact one of the Senator's regional offices. Be sure to contact Senator Cornyn well in advance of the application deadline so he has enough to time to provide the necessary support.

In order for Senator Cornyn to be an effective advocate for your proposal, it is helpful for him to have a good understanding of the project and why it is worthy of the specific funding for which you are applying. Senator Cornyn does not need a full copy of your application. But it is helpful for him to have:

  1. The title and an executive summary of the project,
  2. The grant program's name and CFDA number,
  3. Agency point of contact for the grant,
  4. A brief description of how this project will benefit the state, region or specific population,
  5. A list of other community leaders supporting the project.

The more concise and precise information you can provide Senator Cornyn, the better he will be able to effectively support your initiative.