Typically, most of the groups or organizations that are eligible for federal grants fall into one of the following categories:

• Government Organizations

• State, Local, City or Township Governments

• Native American Tribal Governments

• Education Organizations

• Independent School Districts

• Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

• Private Institutions of Higher Education

• Public Housing Organizations and Authorities

• Non-Profit Organizations

• Small Businesses

• Individuals

GRANTS

Grants are outright awards of funds.

• Formula Grants: allocations of money to states or their subdivisions for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project. Includes block grants to states and local governments.

• Project Grants: funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects or the delivery of specific services or products, including fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, construction grants, and unsolicited contractual agreements. Can also be referred to as discretionary or categorical grants or funding.

• Direct Payments for Specified Use: federal financial assistance provided directly to individuals, private firms and other private institutions to encourage or subsidize a particular activity.

• Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use: federal financial assistance provided directly to beneficiaries who satisfy federal eligibility requirements with no restrictions as to how the money is spent.

LOANS

Unlike grants, loans must be repaid.  With the reduction of federal funds available for grants and the increasing level of competition for such funds, loans are often the only form of assistance available.

• Direct Loans: lending of federal funds for a specific period of times, with a reasonable expectation of repayment; may or may not require the payment of interest.

• Guaranteed/Insured Loans: programs in which the federal government makes an arrangement to indemnify a lender against part or all of any defaults by those responsible for repayment of loans.

INSURANCE

Some federal programs provide financial assistance to assure reimbursement for losses sustained under specified conditions. Coverage may be provided directly by the federal government or through private carriers and may or may not require the payment of premiums.

GOODS AND PROPERTIES

The federal government has programs both for the sale, exchange or donation of property and for temporary use or loan of goods and property.

• Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property and Goods: programs which provide for the sale, exchange or donation of federal real property, personal property, commodities and other goods including land, buildings, equipment, food and drugs.

• Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment: programs which provide for the loan of, use of or access to federal facilities or property wherein the federally-owned facilities or property do not remain in the possession of the recipient of the assistance.

SERVICES, INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT

The federal government offers a variety of programs to assist communities and citizens.

• Provision of Specialized Services: programs which provide federal personnel to directly perform certain tasks for the benefit of communities or individuals.

• Advisory Services and Counseling: programs which provide federal specialists to consult, advise or counsel communities or individuals, to include conferences, workshops or personal contacts.

• Dissemination of Technical Information: programs which provide for the publication and distribution of information or data of a specialized technical nature frequently through clearinghouses or libraries.

• Training: programs which provide instructional activities conducted directly by a federal agency for individuals not employed by the federal government.

• Investigation of Complaints: federal administrative agency activities that are initiated in response to requests, either formal or informal, to examine or investigate claims of violations of federal statutes, policy or procedure.

• Federal Employment: programs which reflect the government-wide responsibilities of the Office of Personnel Management in the recruitment and hiring of federal civilian agency personnel.

• Find out who is eligible for a grant.
• If eligible, search for program information in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
• Contact federal office given in CFDA program description: if state or local office is indicated, check Regional Agency Offices at top of CFDA website for addresses.
• Go to federal websites given in each CFDA program description for more information and for state administering agencies responsible for managing these programs.
• Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, obtain a Dun and Bradstreet a DUNS number, register with Central Contractor Registration CCR number, and apply online (links and instructions given at the website).
• Search foundations for project funding: use the Foundation Center Web site or Foundation Center Cooperating Collections in libraries to identify national, state, and community foundations.

GRANTS.GOV

Federal grants Web site that allows organizations to electronically find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from all 26 federal grant-making agencies. Grant seekers can check on notices of funding availability posted in the last 7 days, sign up to receive email notification of future grant opportunities and apply for Federal grants online.  Grants.gov provides a uniform application process for all federal grant opportunities.

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE 

The Catalog, which is 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. For current notices of funding availability, however, grantseekers should use Grants.gov.

FEDERAL REGIONAL OR LOCAL OFFICE ADDRESSES

Much of the Federal grants budget moves to the states through formula and block grants.  State, regional and local federal offices often handle grants applications and funds disbursement.  Each federal agency has its own procedures.  Applicants should call the department or agency in question before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.

STATE ADMINISTERING AGENCIES

Many federal grants, such as formula and block grants, are awarded directly to state governments, which then set priorities and allocate funds within that state. For more information on how a state intends to distribute federal formula funds, grantseekers can contact the State Administering Agency (SAA). State government agencies are familiar with federal program requirements, can assist local governments and nonprofit organizations with proposals and can provide other guidance.  Many federal department and agency websites include SAAs. Grantseekers can click on their state and obtain program and state contact information. A selection of some executive department websites includes the following:

• Administration on Children and Families State Contacts

• Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Contacts

• Department of Commerce Local Offices and Services

• Department of Education State Contacts

• Department of Energy Renewal Energy State Activities and Partnerships

• Department of Housing and Urban Development Local Offices

• Department of Justice State Administering Agencies

• Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration, State Contacts

• Department of Veterans Affairs State/Territory Offices

• Environmental Protection Agency Grant Regional Offices

• Federal Emergency Management Agency State Offices and Agencies

• Homeland Security State Contacts and Grant Award Information

• National Endowment for the Arts Partners

• National Endowment for the Humanities State Councils

• Small Business Administration Local Offices

• Transportation, Federal Transit Administration Regional Office

STATE SINGLE POINTS OF CONTACT

States often require federal grants applicants to submit a copy of their application for state government review and comment, and many (but not all) have designated a state Single Point of Contact (SPOC).  The state offices listed here coordinate government (both Federal and State) grants development and may provide guidance to grantseekers.

THE FOUNDATION CENTER

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 Web sites. 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.

• Guide to Funding Research.  An overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and grantmaking public charities.

• Proposal Writing Short Course.  Free tutorial on developing a good grant proposal (also in Spanish, French and other languages).

• Foundation Finder. Search for information about more than 70,000 private and community foundations.

• Requests for Proposals. Daily postings of requests for proposals from private funding sources by broad subject category.

• Foundation Center Cooperating Collections. Free funding information available in libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit centers nationwide.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS LOCATOR

Community foundations are often particularly interested in local projects and maintain diverse grants programs to aid local initiatives.

PRIVATE FUNDING RESOURCES

The website provides listings by state of top grantmaking, community, and corporate foundations that grantseekers might consider in identifying likely sources of private foundation funding.

A-Z INDEX OF US GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's home page to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site also includes the following:

• Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid

• Grants and Financial Management. 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.

• Grants, Loans and Other Assistance for Nonprofits. Links to federal department and agency information and services, fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, registration and licensing, and taxes.

• Resources for Businesses and Nonprofits. Links to useful sites, including financial assistance, for small business, government contractors, and foreign business in the United States.

GOVBENEFITS.GOV

Free online screening tool to identify over 1000 government assistance programs and how to apply. Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training or other services.  This site is helpful for individuals looking for government benefits, such as child or health care, housing or energy costs, disability or veterans needs or ‘living assistance.’  Browse programs by State, by category or ‘Get Results by Questionnaire’.

SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING

To start or expand a small business, the federal government provides assistance in the form of loans, advisory, or technical assistance.

• Business.usa.gov

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANTS

Grants are EERE's primary funding vehicle for businesses, industries, universities and others. Most EERE grants are awarded on merit on a competitive basis.

• Financial Opportunities by Audience Database

• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

FEMA disaster assistance falls into three general categories: Individual and Households; Public Assistance for emergency services and repair or replacement of damaged public facilities; and Hazard Mitigation funding to reduce future losses to public and private property.  If applying for individual and household assistance, the site walks you through the entire application process from whether you are eligible for assistance to completion.

HOMELAND SECURITY STATE CONTACTS & GRANTS AWARD INFORMATION

Click on map for state allocations and information on federal homeland security and public safety grants. 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), and Infrastructure Protection.

• Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

USA.GOV FOR NONPROFITS

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.

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.

CFDA’s Developing and Writing Grant Proposals
Proposal Writing Short Course
Developing and Writing Grant Proposals