Federal Grants


 

A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States.

The 26 Federal Agencies offer over 1,000 grant programs annually in various categories.

A Federal Grant Is Not:

  • A Government Benefit or Entitlement
  • Federal assistance or loans to individuals
  • An avenue to acquire property or serves for the federal government’s direct benefit.
  • A continuous funding stream

Where Can Federal Grants Be Found?

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

  • The Catalog (CFDA), is issued annually and updated continuously on the internet, via the website www.cfda.gov. The website describes some 1600 Federal grands and nonfinancial assistance programs. Grant seekers can indentify programs that might support their projects and can learn the program’s objectives, requirements, application procedures and contacts. If you are concerned about which listed programs are currently receiving funding, see Grants.gov
  • Through www.cfda.gov you can:
    • Search or browse the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance by Keyword and other indexes for grants, loans, business and nonfinancial help.
    • Contact Federal offices given in CFDA program descriptions.
    • Find private sources of funding through the Foundation Center
    • Learn how to write grant proposals

Grants.gov

  • Grants.gov was established in 2002 and is a website that serves as a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and it provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards.
  • Helpful Hint: If you are a new grant seeker, please stick with www.cfda.gov to locate grant programs that match your causes or initiatives. Once you have a program number from cfda.gov, you can then enter it into the Grants.gov database to check on current available funding allocations.
     

The Foundation Center

  • The Foundation Center (http://www.foundationcenter.org) is a private organization that seeks to match those looking for grant money with private businesses that have funding to invest.
  • Like Grants.gov, their website can be confusing to the first time grant seeker, so you if you have questions regarding foundationcenter.org, please contact my Grants Coordinator, Brandon Bohning, in our Topeka office.
     

How My Office Can Help

Lee Modesitt, in my Topeka district office serves as Grant Coordinator. He is available by phone or email to assist you with any grant inquiry or general questions you may have.

Lee will be glad to help you navigate the resources available to you when looking for grants, narrow your search criteria, or assist you with any specific questions you may have about certain grant programs.

My office will also be able to assist you with anything you may need during the process of applying for a grant, such as:

  • Answering any specific questions you may have about your specific grant application, including questions about the federal agency you are seeking resources from.
  • Informing you of any changes that may take place during the application process.
     
  • And as your application process concludes, I would be happy to write a letter of support on your behalf as you finalize your grant application.
     

If you have any questions about federal grants, general or complex, please direct them to:

Lee Modesitt
Grant Coordinator
Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins
3550 S.W. 5th Street
Topeka, KS 66606
785-234-LYNN (5966)

Lee.Modesitt@mail.house.gov