Grants Page

I am committed to bringing home federal funds to the East Bay. This map shows the location of federal grants (red pins), small business loans (blue pins) and aggregate business support (green pins) received by organizations located in or operating in California’s 13th Congressional district.

I want to ensure that my constituents have the information necessary to identify potential federal funding opportunities.  If you have a project that could benefit from federal grant funding, please use the resources on this page, or contact my Oakland office for assistance.  

FEDERAL RESOURCES
The federal government has many grant programs available and it can be difficult to know where to start to find information about which one is right for you or your organization.  In most cases, federal grants are not awarded to individuals. If you need help with personal financial assistance, please click here; for student aid, please click here

I recommend that you start your search on these two websites.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), issued annually and continuously updated, describes some 1,600 federal grants and non-financial assistance programs. Grantseekers can identify and learn about the program’s objectives, requirements, application procedures and contacts. 
 
Grants.gov is a clearinghouse that 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 online. The website guides grantseekers in obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number and registering with System for Award Management (SAM). Use Grants.gov to apply and track grant applications.
 
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
I am happy to consider writing a letter of support for your federal applications. If you would like to request a letter of support, please contact my Oakland office and be prepared to submit your organization’s 501(c)(3) status, your proposal summary, the requested funding amount, and a sample support letter.  Please note that my office will require at least two weeks to produce a letter, so please plan accordingly when submitting your application. 
 
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
As a former small business owner, I know how important federal loans and grants are to growing your business. Information about these resources can be found on these websites:
 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of loan programs, as well as limited grant programs for research and development.  The SBA also offers business-development support including help starting and managing a business, finding and applying for government contracts, and specific information for service-disabled veterans, women and disadvantaged business owners. 
 
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) supports businesses owned and operated by members of minority communities.  They offer technical assistance, contract opportunities and access to capital.   
 
NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES
In additional to federal investment, there are many local grant sources, including the State of California.  Some sources that may be helpful include:
 
East Bay Community Foundation provides grants to projects in the East Bay to help low-income, disadvantaged, impoverished, underserved, and underrepresented communities. 
 
Foundation Center is a national-non-profit organization that acts as a clearinghouse of information about private grant sources.  Other helpful information includes guidelines on writing a successful grant proposal and information about the grant process,
 
Grantsmanship Center offers training on improving your grant proposal and information about private philanthropy in California.