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Grants Work in a Congressional Office

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Order Code RL34035 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Updated June 4, 2007 Merete F. Gerli Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Grants Work in a Congressional Office Summary Many Members of Congress receive frequent requests from grant seekers needing funds for projects in districts and states. The congressional office should first determine its priorities about how much assistance to give constituents, from providing information about grants programs to active advocacy of projects. Congressional grants staff can best help grant seekers when they gain some understanding of the entire grants process. Each office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon the Member’s legislative agenda and overall organization and workload. There may be a full-time grants specialist or several staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the area of grants and projects. In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the district or state office; in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff. To assist grant seekers applying for federal funds, congressional offices can develop working relationships with grants officers in federal and state departments and agencies. Because more than 90% of federal funds go to state and local governments that, in turn, manage federal grants and sub-award to applicants in their state, congressional staff need to identify their own state administering offices. To educate constituents, a congressional office may sometimes mail or email selected grant seekers about funding opportunities; or may sponsor seminars on federal and private assistance. Because most funding resources are on the Internet, Member home pages can also link to grants/Internet sources such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Grants.gov so that constituents themselves can search for grants and funding opportunities. The CRS Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student Financial Aid Web page, at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/ WG02001.shtml], covers key CRS products and Internet sources. A second Web page, Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance, can be added to a Member’s home page upon request [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/grants/member-grant.html], and is updated automatically on House and Senate servers by Merete F. Gerli. Congressional staff can use CRS reports to learn about grants work and to provide information on government and private funding. These include CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents with Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell; CRS Report RL34012, Grants Information for Constituents and CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, both by Merete F. Gerli; reports on block grants and the appropriations process; reports covering federal assistance for homeland security and terrorism preparedness; and reports on federal programs on specific subjects and for specific groups such as state and local governments, police and fire departments, libraries and museums, nonprofit organizations, small business, and other topics. An internal grants manual is a valuable tool for grants staff to develop. It can outline office policies and procedures. With reductions in federal programs, grants specialists may suggest other funding sources to their constituents, such as private or corporate foundations, as alternatives or supplements to federal grants. Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Organizing Office Grants Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Managing Grants Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Office Grants Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 File Systems and Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Communicating with Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Assessing Constituent Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Providing Information to Constituents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Proposal Writing Assistance and Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Writing Letters for Grant Seekers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Announcing Grants Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Federal Assistance and Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Federal Grants and the Appropriations Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Types of Federal Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Goods and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Services, Information, Training, and Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Grants.gov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Developing Federal and State Grants Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Role of State Administering Agencies (SAAs) and Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Foundations and Corporate Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Useful Sources of Grants Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 CRS Grants Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Additional Federal Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Introduction Many Members of Congress receive numerous requests from grant seekers, including state and local governments, nonprofit social service and community action organizations, private research groups, small businesses, and individuals, for information and help in obtaining funds for projects. Both government and private foundation funding may be appropriate. Federal grants are not benefits or entitlements to individuals. Most federal funding goes to state and local governments, which in turn sub-award to local entities such as nonprofit organizations. Grants may be available for projects serving communities and needs. For example, government assistance may be available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based groups, for initiatives such as establishing soup kitchens or after-school programs benefitting entire communities; and local governments seeking funds for community services, infrastructure, and economic revitalization may be most eligible for state and federal funds. Congressional offices may often need to direct constituents seeking government aid to funding options other than grants. Community fund-raising may be most suitable for school enrichment activities such as field trips or for band or sports uniforms. Local business or foundation funding might be more appropriate for supporting projects such as construction of local memorials or commemorative programs. For others, such as for starting or expanding a small business or for students, loans may be available. ! ! ! Individuals looking for government benefits may find useful the website GovBenefits.gov at [http://www.govbenefits.gov]. Students seeking financial aid should search the Department of Education website at [http://Studentaid.ed.gov]. To start or expand a small business, the federal government provides assistance in the form of loans, advisory, or technical assistance. See the Small Business Administration website at [http://www.sba.gov]. Given the competition for federal funds, the success rate in obtaining federal assistance is limited. A grants staff’s effectiveness often depends on both an understanding of the grants process and on the relations it establishes with federal departments and agencies, with state grants administering agencies (SAA’s), private and local foundations, and other contacts. This report does not constitute a blueprint for every office involved in grants and projects activity, nor does it present in-depth information about all aspects of CRS-2 staff activity in this area. The discussion describes some basics about the grants process and some of the approaches and techniques used by congressional offices in dealing with this type of constituent service. Organizing Office Grants Operations Senate and House offices allocate staff and other resources to grants and projects activities in order to assist the constituents with projects of potential benefit to their districts, cities, or states. Each congressional office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon such factors as the Member’s philosophy on federal support for local projects, the relation of certain proposals to his or her legislative activity, or the Member’s particular interest in specific locations or types of projects. Other factors may include the degree of economic distress in any given locality and the current level of federal assistance it receives. Grants activities in any congressional office depend very much upon the overall organization, staff, and workload of the office. ! Most offices divide responsibility by function (i.e., legislation is assigned to legislative assistants and correspondents, media relations and newsletters are handles by a press secretary, and caseworkers help with problems of individuals). Offices organized in this way may have a full-time grants specialist or several staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the area of grants and projects. ! Some offices divide responsibilities by subject area (i.e., a specialist in health issues is involved with legislation, correspondence, casework, grants, projects, speeches, and press releases in that subject area). ! DC, state, or district office? In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the district or state office; in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff; still others divide grants and projects activity between the district or state office and the Washington, DC, office. Regardless of how this responsibility is assigned, it is helpful to have at least one person in the district or state office and one person in the Washington, DC, office familiar with the whole process. District or state staff may be more readily able to communicate and develop relationships with federal state and federal regional offices, or state administering agencies, often the preferred contact office for federal programs. ! State delegation cooperation. Since some constituents request the aid of the entire state delegation for a grant or project, cooperation among Members of the delegation can minimize duplication of effort and permit more effective use of staff time. To increase the chances of a project’s funding, Members may solicit the support of other Members either from the same geographic region if the CRS-3 proposal would benefit a wide area, or from those who hold key positions in leadership or on committees which exercise funding and oversight of the federal program. Political considerations can limit the amount of such cooperation. One state’s delegation has established a State Projects Office to help its constituents learn about the grants process and follow through on all applications until awards are made. The grants person in the congressional office can serve constituents not only as a source of information, but also as a facilitator with agencies and foundations, and, in some cases, even as an advocate. The congressional office is seen by constituents as a potential source of assistance, such as ! providing facts about financial and nonfinancial assistance available through federal programs; ! clarifying the intricacies of proposal development, application, and follow-up procedures; ! writing letters of interest or support from the Member to the granting agency; ! resolving problems that occur when an applicant is unsuccessful in obtaining funds or other assistance; and ! suggesting other sources for grant assistance in both the private and public sectors. The congressional office should first determine the priorities of its particular office: ! Where do grants requests fall within the operations of the office? ! Should grants officers be located in Washington, DC or the state or district? ! What should be the role of the congressional office: information source or active advocacy, or sometimes even earmarking appropriations for a project that mirrors the Member’s legislative agenda? ! Assess the volume of incoming grants requests. What criteria determine how much attention should be given to each grants request (e.g., number of people who will be affected, visibility of projects, or political implications)? Congressional grants staff can help their constituents best when they thoroughly understand the entire grants process: ! defining the project; CRS-4 ! searching for likely funding sources; ! writing proposals; ! applying for grants; ! understanding review and award procedures; and ! knowing post-award requirements. Managing Grants Requests To assure continuity, particularly in cases of staff turnover and shifting responsibilities, and to monitor the progress of the grants and projects operation, several resources can be developed. Commercial computer software packages are available to manage correspondence, projects, and workload. Congressional office systems administrators should contact House Information Resources (ext. 56002) or the Senate Sergeant at Arms’ Help Desk (ext. 41517) for recommendations. Office Grants Manual An internal grants manual is a valuable tool for grants staff to develop. It can outline office policies and procedures and ensure continuity when staff changes. Among the items that might be included in such a manual are as follows: ! A statement of the Member’s policy on letters of endorsement and press announcements, along with samples. ! A checklist of procedures to facilitate the training of new staff. ! Sample project worksheets, allowing space for agency contacts, status reports, and follow-up timetables. ! A constantly updated telephone and email listing of contacts in federal, state, and local agencies, and foundations which have proven especially helpful. File Systems and Logs A congressional office may wish to maintain detailed, cross-referenced files such as agency files, constituent files by county, and tracking records. Agency Files ! Agency files, which could also be arranged under broad subjects, or use subject subdivisions: for example, Defense Department, district contracts; Education Department, curriculum development; Justice Department, Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program. CRS-5 ! Program files, which include detailed information on the most frequently used programs in communities in the state or district, with a fact sheet describing each program, plus agency brochures, and contacts. ! Project files, which may contain lists of applicants for each project. Some offices keep records on the steps taken in support of all grant applications as documentation. Constituent Files by County ! ! ! These can prove especially useful for the Member’s visits to the state or district. Correspondence on each grant application, and local press coverage of awards can be added. These clippings, along with letters from grateful constituents, can serve as a source for favorable quotations. Tracking Requests ! ! ! ! Monitor grant applications as they move through an agency’s review process. Maintain a follow-up calendar or log. Track all grants awarded in the district or state — even those your office did not work on. For sources that track federal funds by state, by county, and by congressional district, see the CRS Web page Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/ general/geotracking.shtml]. Communicating with Staff A weekly grants and projects report or letter is one way to keep both the Member and other staff fully informed of significant developments. This is particularly important for offices organized by functional responsibility. ! The report prepares the Member for the types of questions that may be asked during visits to the state or district and provides topics to be addressed in speeches. ! The legislative staff may benefit from knowing about pending state or local government actions that would have an impact on grants and projects. Conversely, grants and projects staff should also be able to rely on the legislative staff for information about pending bills that would alter or create federal programs or change relevant funding levels. Sometimes, comments from constituents can supply data on whether programs are carrying out legislative intent and whether changes in agency regulations or legislation are needed. Such recommendations might then be the subject of congressional CRS-6 oversight hearings or might result in recommending changes in legislation. ! The press secretary should also be kept up to date on programs of interest in the district, so that current information can be presented in newsletters and press releases. Assessing Constituent Requests If a proposal or serious inquiry is submitted to a congressional office, an assessment of the stated problem should be made. First, this benefits the grant seeker, since any application for assistance will require that the problem be clearly stated and that the proposed solution provide some remedy. Secondly, this initial assessment can provide staff with a sense of direction: Are there other projects currently under way that address the problem? Is there already an appropriate federal or state program that is designed for such a project, or is the issue better addressed through local, state, or private organizations, or through legislation? Will the soughtafter aid produce other problems for the community? What are its chances for success? The initial review of the request should also involve an assessment of the applicant. A formal grant proposal will require an applicant to establish credibility. Individuals connected with a proposal might mention education, training, and professional credentials. Credibility for an organization may be established by giving its history, goals, activities, and primary accomplishments, as well as by letters of support, including by local governments. By reviewing such information, an office may avoid the hazard of offering support for a questionable applicant and may be in a better position to make decisions about support when several communities or organizations are applying for the same program — will all be treated equally or will support be given to selected applicants? A written request from a constituent should always be acknowledged. If the request is a fairly common one, the office may be able to respond with a prepared packet of materials on available programs. Another alternative would be to send a copy of your constituent’s letter to the agency with a buck slip, asking the agency’s attention, and to inform your constituent of your action and advise that he or she will be hearing more from the office once the agency reports back. Another approach is to call the agency contact. This procedure is generally more time consuming for a congressional staffer than a simple referral, but it is often more informative. The agency may provide facts about budget levels, authorizations and appropriations, the amount of money available for the program, the total amount requested in applications on file, the number of applications received, and the number likely to be approved, agency priorities, categories of competition or targets by region, key dates and deadlines, and information on who makes recommendations and decisions. If your constituent decides to submit a formal grant application for a particular program, the congressional office may recommend or arrange a meeting with agency CRS-7 offices in the district or state. Another way to get input from the agency early in the process is a pre-review of the application. Many agencies provide procedural review of proposals one or two months before the application deadline. Such a review, while not dealing with the substance of the proposal, allows an agency to inform the applicant of any technical problems or omissions to be corrected before the proposal is formally submitted. When a constituent notifies the congressional office that a proposal has been submitted, the office can send a letter to the agency expressing the Member’s interest in being kept informed of developments relating to the application. In addition, the letter may also request a list of all applicants for the particular grant. This enables the office to consider initiating letters of support from the Member to those applicants in his or her state or district who did not approach the office prior to submission of their application. Whether the Member chooses to support an applicant or extends support to all applicants from the state or district, the office should maintain contact with all interested parties as it is notified of progress reports from agency contacts. Providing Information to Constituents Cutbacks in federal programs mean many projects are made possible only through a combination of funding sources — federal and state government grants as well as private or corporate foundation grants should be considered. Grant seekers should know that most federal funding goes to states in the form of formula or block grants. For many programs, application for federal funds must be made through state administering agencies (SAAs). Whatever the funding source, it is important to emphasize that once a project has been clearly defined, constituents can improve their likelihood of success by doing preliminary research in order to find potential funding sources whose goals are most nearly consistent with their own. Because the state, local, or private groups needing assistance may be unaware of available funding, or uncertain how to go about obtaining it, congressional offices can help identify sources. Congressional grants staff can also serve as liaison between grant seekers and government executive offices, including their own state offices that administer federal grants. To assist Members in their representational duties, and to help congressional offices respond to grants questions, CRS has developed two Grants Web pages: ! For congressional staff, the Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student Financial Aid Web page focuses on key CRS reports and Internet products at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/ WG02001.shtml]. It includes CRS publications on grants and programs that congressional offices can forward to their constituents; and a separate Web page of key sources (see next bullet) that Members may add to their home page for constituents; ! For grant seekers in districts and states, Members may add to their website the CRS Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance Web CRS-8 page, sample at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/grants/ member-grant.html] to provide useful information directly to constituents. It gives guidance and links to key Internet sources and includes a slide program, Grants Information for Constituents, covering information readily available to the public. CRS automatically updates the Web page for Members on the House and Senate servers. CRS also has a number of publications to help both congressional staff and grant seekers. Sources described cover key Internet sources and publications about federal and private funding. Constituents may search Internet sites from home computers or in local libraries, and can consult many of the published sources at public or university libraries or in government depository libraries in every state. Key useful CRS reports (in addition to the current report) to assist staff undertaking grants work include ! ! ! CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell; CRS Report RL34012, Grants Information for Constituents, by Merete F. Gerli; and CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal by Merete F. Gerli. Some congressional offices may wish to help grant seekers by forwarding to them descriptions and contact information on federal grants programs for particular projects. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is available full text on the Internet. The site [http://www.cfda.gov/] offers keyword searching, broad subject and recipient indexes, and listings by department, agency, and program title. The CFDA program descriptions also link to related websites such as federal department and agency home pages and Office of Management and Budget grants management circulars. Grant seekers themselves can then track notices of actual federal funding opportunities under CFDA programs at the website Grants.gov at [http://www.grants.gov]. Congressional offices can also prepare their own information packets on federal grants programs which are requested most frequently. Such packets could include program descriptions, brochures, the latest rules and regulations, changes in agency policy, application forms, and so on. For example, Members of rural states can become familiar with Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs; Members with urban constituencies and projects may want to consider Department of Housing and Urban Development programs. Newsletters (print or e-mail) are a good way of reaching a large number of people. Some offices choose to send out either a special grants and projects newsletter or include a section on grants and projects in their regular newsletter. Subjects that could be developed include new programs, new appropriations, and descriptions of recently awarded grants. CRS-9 A congressional office may occasionally choose to communicate with selected audiences through targeted mailings to inform constituents of the possible impact of new legislative or executive actions that might revise existing programs, create new ones, or alter funding levels; important dates and deadlines; and the advantages and limitations of various programs. This is especially important as new programs for are created and receive congressional appropriations: for example, a newly funded economic development program may be announced on Grants.gov with short application deadline, of which constituents should be made aware. Another way to get information to interested constituents is for a congressional office to coordinate seminars on federal and private assistance at state and district locations. An office can sponsor programs bringing together federal, state, and local officials, as well as foundation, academic and corporate specialists, experienced volunteers, and constituents who share common concerns. Many agencies, foundations or the Foundation Center at [http://www.fdncenter.org], and corporations are willing to provide speakers for district seminars arranged by congressional offices and also to provide such materials as brochures, sample proposals, and lists of information contacts. For telephone numbers to contact speakers from federal departments and agencies, congressional staff can use CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies. For constituent orientation and group seminars, Member may consider use of CRS products as handouts and presentation materials. Although well-planned, balanced programs tailored to a particular audience can create good will, coordinating and following through on such seminars take a great deal of staff work and time. Such programs may also result in additional requests and demands on the sponsoring office. Proposal Writing Assistance and Sources Although most offices do not write proposals, they are frequently approached by inexperienced constituents seeking guidance on what makes a good proposal. Offices aiding such constituents may find helpful CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, which discusses preliminary information gathering and preparation, developing ideas for the proposal, gathering community support, identifying funding resources, and seeking preliminary review of the proposal and support of relevant administrative officials. It also covers all aspects of writing the proposal, from outlining of project goals, stating the purpose and objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, and how the results of the project will be evaluated, to long-term project planning, and developing the proposal budget. The last section of the report lists free grants writing websites, some in Spanish as well as English. The Foundation Center and other organizations also publish guides to writing proposals; the Foundation Center offers a mini “Proposal Writing Course”on its website at [http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html] and includes versions in Spanish, French, and other foreign languages. Constituents may also be advised that computer software templates can be found by searching the Internet under terms such as grant proposal AND template. CRS-10 Congressional offices may wish to pass on the following suggestions: ! Allow sufficient time to prepare a thoroughly documented proposal, well before the application deadline. If possible, have someone outside the organization critique the proposal prior to submission. ! Follow the instructions given in the application form or in other material provided by the agency or foundation. Answer questions as asked. ! See that the proposal is clear and brief. Avoid jargon. Take pains to make the proposal interesting. Reviewing panels have limited time to devote to any single proposal. Whenever possible, fit the style of the proposal to the style of the agency or foundation being approached. ! When no form or instructions for submitting grant proposals are provided, the proposal should include the following: 1. A cover letter on the applicant’s letterhead giving a brief description of the purpose and amount of the grant proposal, conveying the applicant’s willingness to discuss the proposal in further detail. 2. A half-page summary that includes identification of the applicant, the reasons for the request, proposed objectives and means to accomplish them, along with the total cost of the project, an indication of funds already obtained, and the amount being requested for this grant. 3. An introduction in which the history, credentials, and accomplishments of the applicant are presented briefly (supporting documents can be included in an appendix). 4. A description of current conditions demonstrating the need for the proposed project. 5. A statement of the project’s objectives in specific, measurable terms. 6. A description of the methods to be used to accomplish these objectives. 7. A description of the means by which the project will be monitored and evaluated. 8. A discussion of plans for continuing the project beyond the period covered by the grant. 9. A detailed budget. CRS-11 Writing Letters for Grant Seekers Constituents seeking funds for projects frequently ask congressional offices to write letters to federal departments and agencies on their behalf. CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grants Requests Before Federal Agencies, provides some guidance. Some grants, such as for firefighters and other funding for homeland security, are determined by formula to states and jurisdictions and letters may not be needed. Explain to your constituent that the federal grants process is competitive, that your office can consider writing a letter to the department or agency once the individual submits a fully developed grant proposal. For most requests, use neutral language expressing the Member’s “interest” in a proposal, rather than “support.” Lending “support” to a proposal that might not be funded under the competitive process (and when there are competing applications from several constituents) might lead to disappointment and reflect negatively on the Member. For most constituent requests for letters: ! Write a letter only when your constituent has submitted the grant proposal to the department or agency. Information needed from the grant seeker: — Name of applicant; contact person for the project if different; — Grant program name and number; — Agency contact address, grants officer’s name if available; — Deadline for proposal submission; — Project name and summary. ! The project summary should highlight: — What the project/program does and who it serves; — Why this program is important to the community; — Any unique features of the project, needs not already being met; — Other support for the project such as local government; — Specifically how the grant money will be used. ! ! Write directly to the person in the department of agency; provide a copy of the letter to your constituent to submit with the proposal. ! The Member’s letter could say why this is important to his district, what needs are being met, etc. — the summary supplied by the constituent should give the objectives of the propsal/project. ! Close by asking the grants officer to let the Member know when a decision will be made; and to keep your office informed about the progress of the proposal. In cases where your constituent’s proposal is unsuccessful, tell them they may ask the department or agency to review the proposal to suggest how to improve it, CRS-12 and that they may be able to resubmit the proposal if the program continues to be funded. Announcing Grants Awards Although there is some variation, the usual announcement procedure in cases of allocated federal funds is for the agency making the award to notify the Senate office first (a Senator of the President’s party may be first notified), then the House office, and finally the recipient. This allows Members of Congress an opportunity to notify recipients of grants. Not all awards are announced publicly. In the case of block grants, the Office of Management and Budget notifies Senate offices of the allocations among the states. The state’s decision on how to distribute funds among local communities is, however, not necessarily communicated to congressional offices. In these cases, a good state agency contact may be willing to provide the office with this information. Announcements of grants awarded are often posted on Member Web pages. Many congressional offices develop files or databases of grants awarded, to track funding to their districts and states. Detailed information is difficult to obtain, though legislation in the 109th Congress, P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 calls for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a database beginning July, 2007. For a summary of sources and limitations of currently available data, and the new law’s requirements, see CRS Web page, Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds, at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/geotracking.shtml]; and CRS Report RL33680, The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act: Background, Overview, and Implementation Issues, by Garrett L. Hatch. To avoid disappointment, congressional staff might consider cautioning people from making requests that are unlikely to be approved at the federal level. Suggest considering other funding sources early in the process. In cases where grant applications are made and turned down, the congressional office may notify constituents of their right to know why the award was not granted and what the appeals process is. Constituents may ask the agency for an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, or may give the agency permission to provide the congressional office with this information. Alternative programs or other approaches may be suggested following an adverse decision. Your constituent might also decide to improve the initial application and start the process again. Federal Assistance and Sources There are hundreds of grants or loans for various purposes available from federal departments and agencies. Most federal funding (over 90%) goes to state and local governments that determine state and local needs, and that themselves offer competitive grants and funding opportunities. New programs and federal funding to enhance homeland security or enhance emergency services are of particular interest to many local jurisdictions. Other federal funds not dispensed through grants, but CRS-13 much sought after, are used for defense procurement, construction of federal installations, or infrastructure (e.g., military bases, federal office buildings, and federal projects such as flood control and highway construction). Congressional offices can assist state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and other grant seekers become aware of available funds and how to go about obtaining them. Staff members can contact federal agencies to find agency interest in certain projects; relay the findings to those interested and qualified for assistance in their states and districts; and notify home state governments, organizations, businesses, and people of what funds are available. Once a grant application is filed, offices frequently keep in touch with agencies. Contact can be maintained by letter, phone, e-mail, or in person as the situation dictates. Concerted action on the part of the staff may result in more federal funds being spent in a state or district, thereby providing greater benefit to the constituency. Federal program and contact information is given in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) [http://www.cfda.gov]. Current notices of grant opportunities appear on the website Grants.gov at [http://www.grants.gov]. See sections below for more information about these key sources. Federal Grants and the Appropriations Process Congress may also designate or “earmark” federal funds for projects in districts and states in annual appropriations legislation. Because much of the annual U.S. budget consists of expenditures for entitlement programs such as Social Security, mandatory spending through authorizing legislation and interest payments, or allocations in the form of formula and block grants to states and local governments, discretionary funding for new grant awards is limited. The appropriations measure that a congressional office chooses to submit often reflects the Member’s legislative agenda as well as the needs of the state or district. Grant seekers who wish to ask support of their Senator or Representative for project funding should consider the congressional budget process calendar. Appropriations measures for the next fiscal year (October 1-September 30) are usually submitted as early as February. If congressionally directed spending seems appropriate, applicants may be asked by the Member to make a formal request accompanied by supporting materials, including ! ! ! ! project description; research and documentation of the need for the project (such as a feasibility study and history of community support); letters of support from elected officials and local community leaders; and amount requested, anticipated total project cost, sources of other funding (state, private, local match), and any history of past funding. CRS-14 Grant seekers may contact both Representatives and Senators about their project. Although an “earmark” may appear in either a House or Senate committee report, a conference committee (composed of an equal number of House and Senate members) makes the final decisions on funding. Having support of both Representative and Senator(s) for a project may enhance a grant seeker’s success for an “earmark.” The congressional appropriations process follows an annual time line, beginning in February of each year. Grant seekers such as state and local governments or nonprofit organizations can submit requests for project support and funding to Representatives and Senators before the beginning of the budget cycle. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! February: The President submits to Congress the proposed Budget of the United States. Members submit requests for discretionary funding on behalf of projects in their districts or states prior to the start of appropriations hearings in early March. Early March: The House Appropriations Committee’s 12 subcommittees begin hearings on proposed spending bills. May - August: The House votes on appropriations bills beginning in May and tries to finish before the end of the fiscal year, September 30. The Senate generally follows the House in considering appropriations measures. In recent years, voting has continued into the fall, and continuing resolutions are passed to ensure that federal offices and programs do not close down. After each chamber votes on its version of an appropriations bill, a conference committee, consisting of equal numbers of House and Senate members, meets to reconcile any differences and makes final decisions on spending. Funding for district and state projects included in both House and Senate appropriations bills will generally be approved by the conferees, and submitted for floor vote by the full House and Senate. After approval, appropriations bills are forwarded to the President for signature. Members notify grant seekers of projects successfully funded. Types of Federal Assistance Currently, programs in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), the key source to federal program information (see below), are classified into several types of financial and nonfinancial assistance. For a fuller explanation of these categories, see the CFDA program descriptions themselves. Grants. Grants are generally considered desirable by applicants since they are an outright award 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. CRS-15 ! 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. Since loans must be repaid, they are often viewed by applicants as less desirable than grants. However, 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. CRS-16 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. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance The key sources of information about federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the public are the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov. The Catalog, produced by the General Services Administration (GSA) and searchable for free on the Internet [http://www.cfda.gov/], describes some 1,600 authorized financial and nonfinancial assistance programs of federal departments and agencies. The Government Printing Office publishes and sells an annual print edition for government depository libraries and the public [http://bookstore.gpo.gov/]. Only the Internet version, available free to the public, is updated continuously throughout the year. About 1,000 CFDA programs are grants. For grants programs, funding notices and application information appear in notices of current funding opportunities posted at Grants.gov [http://www.grants.gov]. CFDA program descriptions include the following: ! ! Federal agency administering a program; Legislation authorizing the program; CRS-17 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Objectives and goals of program; Types of financial or nonfinancial assistance provided; Uses and restrictions; Eligibility requirements; Application and award process; Criteria for selecting proposals; Amount of obligations for the past, current, and estimates for future fiscal years; Funding caps and range of awards; Regulations, guidelines, and literature relevant to a program; Information contacts and headquarters, regional, and local offices; Related programs; Examples of funded projects; Formula and matching requirements, where applicable; and Requirements for post-assistance reports. Updated information on federal programs also appears in the daily Federal Register [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html]. House Information Resources (HIR) makes available to Congress and to the general public at [http://www.house.gov/ffr/federal_funding_reports.shtml] the Federal Funding Report, a weekly compilation of notices from the previous week’s Federal Register dealing with federal domestic assistance programs. Federal departments and agencies may also provide information and guidelines for specific programs on their websites. These websites may also provide a list of grantees from the previous fiscal year and indicate the amount of money still available for the coming year. Congressional staff may suggest that constituents seeking federal funding search CFDA themselves by subject, keyword, beneficiary and other options for identifying appropriate program information. Some congressional offices may wish to forward to constituents a preliminary CFDA search of potential federal funding. Descriptions of programs identified will have to be carefully analyzed by grant seekers themselves to see whether they may be appropriate. Early in the process, the grant seeker should contact the department or agency indicated in the CFDA program description for latest information on funding availability, program requirements, and deadlines. Often a referral to a local or state office will be given. Many may be project or formula (block) grants to states that in turn accept grants applications and determine award recipients. Grants.gov As part of the federal government’s e-grants initiative, originating in the Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, P.L. 106-107, federal departments and agencies are required to post grants opportunities notices on Grants.gov [http://www.grants.gov]. Grants.gov posts funding notices from over 1,000 federal grant programs and provides a uniform application process for all federal grants opportunities. Except for familiarizing themselves with information provided on this site, and sometimes posting funding notices on Member websites if they wish, congressional CRS-18 staff generally need not search this website for funding opportunties for constituents. CRS grants websites and reports include Grants.gov as a key source for grant seekers themselves to access and search. Grants.gov is free to the public and is intended for grant seekers to search themselves. For grant seekers who have identified appropriate federal funding programs (through CFDA or department and agency websites), Grants.gov enables them to ! ! ! ! search for current notices (including by CFDA program number); sign up for e-mail notification of future grant opportunities; download grants application packages and instructions; and submit applications electronically through a uniform process for all federal grant-making agencies. Registration by the grant seeker who will be making the application is required. Using unique IDs and passwords, grants applicants can track the progress of their applications. For questions about Grants.gov, congressional staff can call the Grants.gov program office at (202) 205-1154. The managing federal agency for the program is the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government’s largest grant-making department. Developing Federal and State Grants Contacts Many federal agencies have a number of offices: a central office in Washington, DC; a series of regional and state offices; and, in some cases, local or area offices. Each program in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance includes information contacts, either giving the name, address, and telephone number of the program officer, or referring applicants to the regional, state, or local office of the agency. Federal Regional and Local Office Addresses are given in Appendix IV of the Catalog, by department or agency at [http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web.pdf]; and by state at [http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web_state.pdf]. Congressional offices can channel their requests for program funding information and get help identifying appropriate grants officers through federal department and agency congressional liaison offices (see CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies, by Zina L. Watkins and Carla Berry, for telephone numbers). Establishing a good relationship with program grants officers is usually beneficial — they are normally well informed and willing to share information with congressional grants and projects staff. The liaison office may also be willing to brief congressional staff so that they may become more familiar with the way the agency is organized and where responsibilities are assigned, as well as with published materials that may be available on various programs. State and district grants and projects staff usually work closely with federal agency representatives in their areas, with their state Members of Congress and Senators, with state and local elected officials, and with state councils of government. Many federal programs are administered directly by state agencies or other entities within the state, and many states have programs funded out of their own appropriations that supplement or complement federal programs. Local councils of government, where they exist, have access to federal funds for providing technical assistance, guidance, and counseling in the grants process. Constituents are, as a CRS-19 rule, best served by being put in touch with program officers closest to them as early as possible. Some congressional grants and projects veterans report that a congressional office that encourages cooperation among local organizations, foundations, units of government, and councils of government can serve as a catalyst for applicants by improving communications, which may in turn enhance the chances for proposal approval. When congressional staff take the time to express appreciation for assistance provided by federal personnel, foundation officials, and others involved in the grants process, they may possibly improve their chances for future assistance. Role of State Administering Agencies (SAAs) and Contacts 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. To help constituents, congressional grants staff need to learn their SAAs, the state counterpart offices accepting grants applications and disbursing federal formula and other grants. For more information on how a state intends to distribute formula grant funds, grant seekers need to contact the state administering agency. Many federal department and agency websites provide state contacts. Often the site will have an interactive U.S. map where grant seekers can click on their state and obtain program and funding contact information. State government agencies provide coordination of local efforts to obtain federal funds through grant programs that are already allocated to the state; and state government agencies are familiar with federal program requirements, can assist with proposals, and can provide other guidance. In fact, many federal grant programs require that an applicant complete a preapplication screening at the state level before submitting requests. ! Federal congressional liaison offices can help congressional staff identify SAAs for their programs: use CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies, by Zina L. Watkins and Carla Berry. ! Many states require federal grants applicant to submit a copy of their application for state government-level review and comment, and have designated a ‘Single Point of Contact’ under Executive Order 12372, listed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html]. The State offices listed here coordinate government (both federal and state) grants development and may provide guidance to grant seekers. ! Other state government agency websites may be identified at the federal government site USA.gov, State and Local Agencies by Topic at [http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories/ Agencies_by_Topic.shtml]. ! Federal department and agency regional, state, and local offices which grant seekers should contact early in their proposal development are given in CFDA Appendix IV, Regional and Local CRS-20 Office Addresses, by departmen t or agency at [http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web.pdf]; and by state at [http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web_state.pdf]. ! Many federal executive department and agency websites include state contacts or state administering agencies (SAAs) to which grant seekers can be referred: a selection of such SAA websites are given in the table below. CRS-21 Table 1. Selected State Administering Agencies and Contacts Agriculture Rural Development State Contacts [http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html] National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Partners [http://www.arts.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html] Commerce Offices and Services [http://www.commerce.gov/statemap2.html] Education (ED) State Contacts [http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html] Energy (DOE) State Contacts [http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy_program/seo_ contacts.cfm] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant Regional Office [http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/regional.htm] Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) State Offices and Agencies [http://www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm] Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration on Children and Families: State Contacts [http://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_contact_us.html#state] Homeland Security (DHS) State Contacts and Grant Award Information [http://www.dhs.gov/xgovt/grants/index.shtm] Housing and Urban Development (HUD) State/Local Offices [http://www.hud.gov/localoffices.cfm] National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) State Councils [http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/statecouncils.html] Office of Justice Programs (OJP) State Administering Agencies [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/] Labor (DOL) Services by Location [http://www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm] Small Business Administration [http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html] Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Offices [http://www.fta.dot.gov/regional_offices.html] Veterans Affairs State/Territory Offices [http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm] CRS-22 Foundations and Corporate Grants With reductions in federal programs, congressional grants specialists may wish to suggest other funding possibilities to their constituents as alternatives or supplements to federal grants. Private foundation funding can be used for federal grants that have matching requirements. Small local projects should begin their search for help at the community level from local businesses or institutions. Support may be available in the form of cash contributions or in-kind contributions of property, buildings, equipment, or professional expertise. Evidence of such community-based support may strengthen a federal grant proposal. Grant making foundations are established for the express purpose of providing funds for projects in their areas of interest, and all must comply with specific Internal Revenue Service regulations to maintain their tax-exempt status. Every year, each is required to give away money equal to at least 5% of the market value of its assets, and each must make its tax records public. Although there are all kinds of foundation and corporate grants available, competition for these funds is great, and, just as is the case in searching for federal support, grant seekers enhance their chances for success by doing preliminary research to find grant makers whose priorities and goals match their own. By searching foundation websites, grant seekers can find guidelines, copies of annual reports and tax returns to learn whether their proposals match a foundation’s areas of interest and geographic guidelines; whether the proposal is within its budgetary constraints; and whether it normally funds the type of project being considered. There are many different kinds of foundations, with widely varying resources and purposes. Some are national in scope; others are set up purely for the purpose of local giving. Some are endowed by an individual or family to provide funds for specific social, educational, or religious purposes; others are company-sponsored; still others are publicly supported community foundations. Grant seekers might begin by identifying state or local foundations. These may have a greater interest in local projects than larger foundations mainly concerned with programs of national significance. Direct corporate giving should also be explored: many corporations support local projects in areas where they have their headquarters or plants, or sponsor projects which somehow enhance their corporate image. Because of this variety, different strategies may be needed for dealing with different foundations. There are a few foundations that publicize their funding policies, and even initiate projects, but generally they do not. Usually, the grant seeker must take the first step and approach the foundation about his or her proposal. Although it is hard to generalize about foundations, they tend to be more flexible than federal funding agencies and to have fewer bureaucratic requirements. Many foundations see their purpose as providing short-term, startup funding for demonstration projects. Frequently, such foundations are the best source to turn to for funding emergency situations or small, high-risk, innovative programs. In some cases, foundation officials will work closely with inexperienced grant seekers to help them develop realistic proposals. CRS-23 The Foundation Center serves as a clearinghouse of information on private philanthropic giving and is a good starting point for identifying likely funding sources. The center’s office in Washington, DC, provides each congressional office with its yearly Foundation Directory and can advise staff on other sources of private funding. The Foundation Center can be contacted via phone at (202) 331-1400. The center’s website, [http://www.foundationcenter.org], includes extensive information about private funders; posts requests for proposals (RFPs) for funding opportunities from foundations in all subject fields; offers web and in-person training, many of them free, including a “Proposal Writing Short Course;” and produces a number of directories and guides to private and corporate funding sources, in print, CD-ROM, Web, and other electronic formats. The Foundation Center also posts IRS Form 990 for nonprofit organizations at [http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/]. In addition to its major reference collections in New York, Washington, DC, Cleveland, and San Francisco, the Foundation Center maintains a national network of cooperating library collections in each state, with print and electronic resources available free to the public. Addresses of these library collections are provided on the Foundation Center website at [http://foundationcenter.org/collections/]. At these libraries, grant seekers may search the Foundation Directory Online by field of interest, by foundation location, and other categories to produce lists of likely funding sources for grant seekers. For congressional staff, the Library of Congress maintains a subscription to the Foundation Directory Online. Other websites that provide free listings of foundations include the Council on Foundations Web page, Community Foundations by State, at [http://www.cof.org/ Locator/index.cfm?crumb=2]; and the Grantsmanship Center’s Funding Sources, which for each state lists “top,” corporate, and community foundations, at [http://tgci.com/funding.shtml]. Congressional offices may wish to send constituents state listings from these websites. Useful Sources of Grants Information CRS Grants Web Pages Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student Financial Aid [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/WG02001.shtml] Focuses on CRS grants Web products and publications. CRS reports provide guidance to congressional staff on federal programs and funding; and may be considered for delivery to constituents in response to grants requests. Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/grants/member-grant.html] Provides Internet links to free key federal and private grants and funding information, including the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Grants.gov, and other federal websites; and the Foundation Center, and other Internet funding resources. Members may add this CRS Web page to their home page so grant seekers in districts and states can access Internet information directly using the Member’s home page as portal to key grants sources. CRS-24 Additional Federal Sources For Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Grants.gov, see sections of this report and the CRS websites described above. A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration) [http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml] To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency’s homepage to learn more about its programs and objectives. The website USA.gov [http://www.usa.gov] also includes: Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid for citizens [http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml]; Government- to- Government [http://www.usa.gov/Government/State_Local/Grants.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; Grants, Loans, and Other Assistance for nonprofit organizations [http://www.usa.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml] links to federal department and agency information and service, including fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, registration and licensing, and tax information; Information by Topic for Business provides financial assistance information for small business, government contractors, and foreign business in the United States. [http://www.usa.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml] Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Office of the President) [http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/centers.html] The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor operate a number of programs to serve Americans in need for which faith-based and community organizations may apply. Two publications can be of help: Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government [http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/guidance_docu ment_01-06.pdf] Federal Funds for Organizations That Help Those in Need [http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/grants-catalog- CRS-25 05-2006.pdf] Some are “formula grants” made available to States and local governments, which in turn award grants to grassroots and local organizations. To learn about them, contact local and State agencies responsible for managing these programs. Federal Funding Report [http://www.house.gov/ffr/federal_funding_reports.shtml] Weekly compilation of items published in the Federal Register which affect federal domestic assistance programs. The summary consists of three parts: (1) Federal Register Summary, (2) Early Warning Grants Report, and (3) Disaster Loan Applications. Some House Members add these notices to their website. Grants Management Circulars (Office of Management and Budget) [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/index.html] 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 in full-text. Other Resources Grants and Related Resources (Michigan State University Libraries) [http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/index.htm] The site provides government and private grants resources, primarily Internet, by subject or group categories, and are updated frequently. It includes Funding for Business and Economic Development [http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2biz.htm] Grants for Nonprofits [http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2sgalpha.htm] Grants for Individuals [http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3subject.htm]Grants Work in a Congressional Office Merete F. Gerli Information Research Specialist April 3, 2013 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 http://www.crs.gov/ RL34035 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net Congressional Briefing Conference: Capitol Hill Workshop Politics, Policy, and Process The definitive overview of how Congress works. This intensive course is offered as a 3-day public Briefing and as a tailored on-site 3, 4 or 5-day program. Public Briefings are offered throughout the year in Washington, DC. Space is limited. Dates, Agenda, Previous Faculty, and Secure Online Registration: TCNCHW.com On-site Congressional Briefings and Capitol Hill Workshops for agencies: CLCHW.com 703-739-3790 TheCapitol.Net All of our courses and workshops include extensive interaction with our faculty, making our courses and workshops both educational as well as miniconsulting sessions with substantive experts. Non-partisan training and publications that show how Washington works.™ PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA 22313-5706 703-739-3790 • www.thecapitol.net TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X Courses approved for CEUs from George Mason University Our Upcoming Schedule of Courses can be seen online on our web site or at TCNCourses.com. All of our courses and any combination of their topics can be customized for on-site training for your organization—we are on GSA Advantage, Contract GS02F0192X. thecapitol.net 703-739-3790 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Summary Members of Congress receive frequent requests from grant seekers needing funds for projects in districts and states. The congressional office should first determine its priorities regarding the appropriate assistance to give constituents, from providing information on grants programs to active advocacy of projects. Congressional grants staff can best help grant seekers by first themselves gaining some understanding of the grants process. Each office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon the Member’s legislative agenda and overall organization and workload. There may be a full-time grants specialist or several staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the area of grants and projects. In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the district or state office; in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff. To assist grant seekers applying for federal funds, congressional offices can develop working relationships with grants officers in federal and state departments and agencies. Because more than 80% of federal funds go to state and local governments that, in turn, manage federal grants and sub-award to applicants in their state, congressional staff need to identify their own state administering offices. To educate constituents, a congressional office may provide selected grant seekers information on funding programs or may sometimes sponsor workshops on federal and private assistance. Because most funding resources are on the Internet, Member home pages can also link to grants sources such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov so that constituents themselves can search for grants programs and funding opportunities. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) web page, Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance, by Merete F. Gerli (see sample at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/member-grant.html), can be added to a Member’s home page upon request and is updated automatically on House and Senate servers. Another CRS web page, Grants and Federal Assistance, by Merete F. Gerli, at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/CS-Grants.aspx, covers key CRS products. Congressional staff can use CRS reports to learn about grants work and to provide information on government and private funding. In addition to the current report, these include CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell; CRS Report RL34012, Resources for Grantseekers, by Merete F. Gerli; and CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete F. Gerli. CRS also offers reports on block grants and the appropriations process; federal assistance for homeland security and terrorism preparedness; and federal programs on specific subjects and for specific groups, such as state and local governments, police and fire departments, libraries and museums, nonprofit organizations, small business, and other topics. An internal grants manual outlining office policies and procedures, including perhaps templates for letters of support, might be developed to help grants staff. With reductions in federal programs, and with most government grants requiring matching funds, grants staff should also become familiar with other funding, such as private or corporate foundations, as alternatives or supplements to federal grants. This report will be updated at the beginning of each Congress and as needed. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net Grants Work in a Congressional Office Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1 Organizing Office Grants Operations .............................................................................................. 2 Managing Grants Requests ........................................................................................................ 3 Office Grants Manual ................................................................................................................ 4 File Systems and Logs ............................................................................................................... 4 Communicating with Staff......................................................................................................... 5 Assessing Constituent Requests....................................................................................................... 5 Providing Information to Constituents ............................................................................................ 6 Proposal Writing Assistance and Sources ........................................................................................ 8 Writing Letters for Grant Seekers .................................................................................................. 10 Announcing Grants Awards ........................................................................................................... 12 Federal Assistance and Sources ..................................................................................................... 12 Federal Grants and the Appropriations Process ....................................................................... 13 Types of Federal Assistance .................................................................................................... 14 Grants ................................................................................................................................ 14 Loans ................................................................................................................................. 15 Insurance ........................................................................................................................... 15 Goods and Properties ........................................................................................................ 15 Services, Information, Training, and Employment ........................................................... 15 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance ................................................................................. 16 Grants.gov and FedConnect .................................................................................................... 17 Developing Federal and State Grants Contacts ....................................................................... 18 Role of State Administering Agencies and Contacts ............................................................... 18 Foundations and Corporate Grants ................................................................................................ 20 Useful Sources of Grants Information ........................................................................................... 22 CRS Grants Web Pages ........................................................................................................... 22 Additional Federal Sources ..................................................................................................... 22 Other Resources....................................................................................................................... 23 Contacts Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 23 Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net Grants Work in a Congressional Office Introduction Members of Congress receive numerous requests from grant seekers, including state and local governments, nonprofit social service and community action organizations, private research groups, small businesses, and individuals, for information and help in obtaining funds for projects. Both government and private foundation funding may be appropriate. Federal grants are not benefits or entitlements to individuals. Most federal grants funding goes to state and local governments, which in turn sub-award to local entities such as nonprofit organizations. Grants may be available for projects serving communities and needs. For example, government assistance may be available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based groups, for initiatives such as establishing soup kitchens or after-school programs benefitting entire communities; and local governments seeking funds for community services, infrastructure, and economic revitalization may be most eligible for state and federal funds. Congressional offices may often need to direct constituents seeking government aid to funding options other than grants. Community fund-raising may be most suitable for school enrichment activities such as field trips or for band or sports uniforms. Local business or private foundation funding might be more appropriate for supporting projects such as construction of local memorials or commemorative programs. For others, such as for starting or expanding a small business or for students, loans may be available. • Individuals looking for government benefits may find useful the website GovBenefits.gov at http://www.govbenefits.gov. • Students seeking financial aid should search the Department of Education website at http://studentaid.ed.gov. • To start or expand a small business, the federal government provides assistance in the form of loans, advisory, or technical assistance. See the Small Business Administration website at http://www.sba.gov. To respond to constituents who have seen ads promising federal grants for personal expenses, refer them to the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert “Free Government Grants: Don’t Take Them For Grant-ed” (September 2006) at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/ alt134.shtm. Given the competition for federal funds, the success rate in obtaining federal assistance is limited. A grants staff’s effectiveness often depends on both an understanding of the grants process and on the relations it establishes with federal departments and agencies, with state grants administering agencies (SAAs), private and local foundations, and other contacts. This report does not constitute a blueprint for every office involved in grants and projects activity, nor does it present in-depth information about all aspects of staff activity in this area. The discussion describes some basics about the grants process and some of the approaches and techniques used by congressional offices in dealing with this type of constituent service. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 1 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Organizing Office Grants Operations Senate and House offices allocate staff and other resources to grants work in order to assist the constituents with projects of potential benefit to their districts, cities, or states. Each congressional office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon such factors as the Member’s philosophy on federal support for local projects, the relation of certain proposals to his or her legislative activity, or the Member’s particular interest in specific locations or types of projects. Other factors may include the degree of economic distress in any given locality and the current level of federal assistance it receives. Grants activities in any congressional office depend very much upon the overall organization, staff, and workload of the office. • Most offices divide responsibility by function (i.e., legislation is assigned to legislative assistants and correspondents, media relations and newsletters are handled by a press secretary, and caseworkers help with problems of individuals). Offices organized in this way may have a full-time grants specialist or several staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the area of grants and projects. • Some offices divide responsibilities by subject area; that is, a specialist in health issues is involved with legislation, correspondence, casework, grants, projects, speeches, and press releases in that subject area. • DC, state, or district office? In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the district or state office; in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff; still others divide grants and projects activity between the district or state office and the Washington, DC, office. Regardless of how this responsibility is assigned, it is helpful to have at least one person in the district or state office and one person in the Washington, DC, office familiar with the whole process. District or state staff may be more readily able to communicate and develop relationships with federal state and federal regional offices, or state administering agencies, often the preferred contact office for federal programs. • State delegation cooperation. Since some constituents request the aid of the entire state delegation for a grant or project, cooperation among Members of the delegation can minimize duplication of effort and permit more effective use of staff time. To increase the chances of a project’s funding, Members may solicit the support of other Members either from the same geographic region if the proposal would benefit a wide area, or from those who hold key positions in leadership or on committees which exercise funding and oversight of the federal program. Political considerations can limit the amount of such cooperation. One state’s delegation has established a State Projects Office to help its constituents learn about the grants process and follow through on all applications until awards are made. The grants person in the congressional office can serve constituents not only as a source of information but also as a facilitator with agencies and foundations and, in some cases, even as an advocate. The congressional office is seen by constituents as a potential source of assistance, which includes Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 2 Grants Work in a Congressional Office • providing facts about financial and nonfinancial assistance available through federal programs; • clarifying the intricacies of proposal development, application, and follow-up procedures; • writing letters of interest or support from the Member to the granting agency once a grant proposal is ready for submission; • resolving problems that occur when an applicant is unsuccessful in obtaining funds or other assistance; and • suggesting other sources for grant assistance in both the private and public sectors. The congressional office should first determine the priorities of its particular office: • assess the volume of incoming grants requests; • determine criteria for how much attention should be given to each grants request, for example, number of people who will be affected, visibility of projects, or political implications; • decide the role of the congressional office: information source or active advocacy, or sometimes even earmarking appropriations for a project that mirrors the Member’s legislative agenda. Congressional grants staff can help their constituents best when they thoroughly understand the entire grants process: • defining the project; • searching for likely funding sources, including federal grants administered and sub-awarded by states; • developing and writing proposals; • applying for grants; • understanding review and award procedures; and • knowing post-award requirements. Managing Grants Requests To assure continuity, particularly in cases of staff turnover and shifting responsibilities, and to monitor the progress of the grants and projects operation, several resources can be developed. Commercial computer software packages are available to manage correspondence, projects, and workload. Congressional office systems administrators should contact House Information Resources (ext. 56002) or the Senate Sergeant at Arms’ Help Desk (ext. 41517) for recommendations. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 3 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Office Grants Manual An internal grants manual is a valuable tool for grants staff to develop. It can outline office policies and procedures and ensure continuity when staff changes. Among the items that might be included in such a manual are • a statement of the Member’s policy on letters of endorsement and press announcements, along with samples; • a checklist of procedures to facilitate the training of new staff; • sample project worksheets, allowing space for agency contacts, status reports, and follow-up timetables; and • a constantly updated telephone and email listing of contacts in federal, state, and local agencies, and foundations that have proven especially helpful. File Systems and Logs Whether electronic or paper, a congressional office may wish to maintain detailed, crossreferenced files such as agency files, constituent files by county, and tracking records. Agency Files • Agency files, which could also be arranged under broad subjects, or use subject subdivisions: for example, Defense Department, district contracts; Education Department, curriculum development; Justice Department, Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program. • Program files, which include detailed information on the most frequently used programs in communities in the state or district, with a fact sheet describing each program, plus agency brochures, and contacts. • Project files, which may contain lists of applicants for each project. Some offices keep records on the steps taken in support of all grant applications as documentation. Constituent Files by County • These can prove especially useful for the Member’s visits to the state or district. • Correspondence on each grant application, and local press coverage of awards can be added. • These clippings, along with letters from grateful constituents, can serve as a source for favorable quotations. Tracking Requests • Monitor grant applications as they move through an agency’s review process— develop contacts in agency congressional liaison offices or state or regional administering agencies. • Maintain a follow-up calendar or log. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 4 Grants Work in a Congressional Office • Track all grants awarded in the district or state—even those your office did not work on. • For sources that track federal funds by state, by county, and by congressional district, see the CRS web page, Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds, by Merete F. Gerli, at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/federalfundstracking.aspx. Contact the CRS author for search strategies and best sources. Communicating with Staff A weekly grants and projects report or letter is one way to keep both the Member and other staff fully informed of significant developments. This is particularly important for offices organized by functional responsibility. • The report prepares the Member for the types of questions that may be asked during visits to the state or district and provides topics to be addressed in speeches. • The legislative staff may benefit from knowing about pending state or local government actions that would have an impact on grants and projects. Conversely, grants and projects staff should also be able to rely on the legislative staff for information about pending bills that would alter or create federal programs or change relevant funding levels. Sometimes, comments from constituents can supply data on whether programs are carrying out legislative intent and whether changes in agency regulations or legislation are needed. Such recommendations might then be the subject of congressional oversight hearings or might result in recommending changes in legislation. • The press secretary should also be kept up to date on programs of interest in the district, so that current information can be presented in newsletters and press releases. Assessing Constituent Requests If a proposal or serious inquiry is submitted to a congressional office, an assessment of the stated problem should be made. First, this benefits the grant seeker, since any application for assistance will require that the problem be clearly stated and that the proposed solution provide some remedy. Secondly, this initial assessment can provide staff with a sense of direction: Are there other projects currently under way that address the problem? Is there already an appropriate federal or state program that is designed for such a project, or is the issue better addressed through local, state, or private organizations, or through legislation? Will the sought-after aid produce other problems for the community? What are its chances for success? The initial review of the request should also involve an assessment of the applicant. A formal grant proposal will require an applicant to establish credibility. Individuals connected with a proposal might mention education, training, and professional credentials. Credibility for an organization may be established by giving its history, goals, activities, and primary accomplishments, as well as by letters of support, including by local governments. By reviewing such information, an office may avoid the hazard of offering support for a questionable applicant and may be in a better position to make decisions about support when several communities or Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 5 Grants Work in a Congressional Office organizations are applying for the same program—will all be treated equally or will support be given to selected applicants? A written request from a constituent should always be acknowledged. If the request is a fairly common one, the office may be able to respond with a prepared packet of materials on available programs. For large grants-in-aid projects, the congressional office may wish to contact the federal or state agency congressional liaison and ask to speak to a grants specialist for a particular program or funding need. This procedure is generally more time consuming for a congressional staffer than a simple referral, but it is often more informative. The agency may provide facts about budget levels, authorizations and appropriations, the amount of money available for the program, the total amount requested in applications on file, the number of applications received, and the number likely to be approved, agency priorities, categories of competition or targets by region, key dates and deadlines, and information on who makes recommendations and decisions. If your constituent decides to submit a formal grant application for a particular program, the congressional office may recommend or arrange a meeting with agency offices in the district or state. Another way to get input from the agency early in the process is a pre-review of the application. Some agencies provide procedural review of proposals one or two months before the application deadline. Such a review, while not dealing with the substance of the proposal, allows an agency to inform the applicant of any technical problems or omissions to be corrected before the proposal is formally submitted. When a constituent notifies the congressional office that a proposal has been submitted, the office can send a letter to the agency expressing the Member’s interest in being kept informed of developments relating to the application. In addition, the letter may also request a list of all applicants for the particular grant from the Member’s state or district. This enables the office to consider initiating letters of support from the Member to those applicants in his or her state or district who did not approach the office prior to submission of their application. Whether the Member chooses to support an applicant or extends support to all applicants from the state or district, the office should maintain contact with all interested parties as it is notified of progress reports from agency contacts. Providing Information to Constituents Cutbacks in federal programs mean many projects are made possible only through a combination of funding sources—federal and state government grants as well as private or corporate foundation grants should be considered. Grant seekers should know that most federal funding goes to states in the form of formula or block grants. For many programs, application for federal funds must be made through state administering agencies (SAAs). Whatever the funding source, it is important to emphasize that once a project has been clearly defined, constituents can improve their likelihood of success by doing preliminary research to find potential funding sources whose goals are most nearly consistent with their own. Because the state, local, or private groups needing assistance may be unaware of available funding, or uncertain how to go about obtaining it, congressional offices can help identify sources. Congressional grants staff can also serve as liaison between grant seekers and government executive offices, including their own state offices that administer federal grants. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 6 Certificate Programs Our comprehensive certificate programs support the education and career goals of public and private sector professionals. We offer two Certificate Programs: the Certificate in Congressional Operations and the Certificate in Communication and Advocacy. Certificate in Congressional Operations Our Certificate in Congressional Operations explores the legislative process and congressional communication. This program supports the education and career goals of employees and staff who want to more effectively participate in the legislative arena. Many Congressional and Legislative Fellows complement and enhance their fellowship with our Certificate in Congressional Operations. Our courses help students understand the legislative process, prepare congressional testimony, draft federal legislation, research legislative histories, monitor legislation, communicate with Congress, and work with federal regulatory agencies. The Certificate in Congressional Operations and its hands-on training is ideal for staff and employees of >> Federal Agencies >> Law Firms >> Associations >> NGOs >> Media Organizations For more information, see our web site, and directly at TCNCCO.com. Certificate in Communication and Advocacy Our Certificate in Communication and Advocacy supports the education and career goals of public affairs and legislative affairs professionals by giving them the background they need to effectively communicate and advocate in Washington, DC. The Certificate in Communication and Advocacy and its hands-on training is ideal for staff and employees of >> Federal Agencies >> Law Firms >> NGOs >> Public Relations Firms >> Interest Groups >> Media Organizations >> Legislative Affairs Firms Courses emphasize key skills in media relations, crisis communication, executive briefings, speechwriting, writing congressional correspondence, critical thinking and writing, Internet use in public affairs, working with Congress, and effective communication and advocacy in Washington, DC. For more information, see our web site, and directly at TCNCCA.com. All of our courses and workshops include extensive interaction with our faculty, making our courses and workshops both educational as well as mini-consulting sessions with substantive experts. Non-partisan training and publications that show how Washington works.™ PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA 22313-5706 703-739-3790 • www.thecapitol.net TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X Our Upcoming Schedule of Courses can be seen online on our web site or at TCNCourses.com. All of our courses and any combination of their topics can be customized for on-site training for your organization— we are on GSA Advantage, Contract GS02F0192X. thecapitol.net 703-739-3790 Grants Work in a Congressional Office To assist Members in their representational duties, and to help congressional offices respond to grants questions, CRS has developed two Grants web pages: • For congressional staff, the Grants and Federal Assistance web page, by Merete F. Gerli, focuses on key CRS products, available at http://crs.gov/resources/ Pages/CS-Grants.aspx. It includes CRS publications on grants and programs that congressional offices can forward to their constituents and a separate web page of key sources (see next bullet) that Members may add to their home page for constituents. • For grant seekers in districts and states, Members may add to their website the CRS Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance web page, by Merete F. Gerli (see sample at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/member-grant.html) to provide useful information directly to constituents. It gives guidance and links to key Internet sources covering information readily available to the public. CRS automatically updates the web page for Members on the House and Senate servers. CRS also has a number of publications to help both congressional staff and grant seekers. Sources described cover key Internet sources and publications about federal and private funding. Constituents may search Internet sites from home computers or in local libraries and can consult many of the published sources at public or university libraries or in government depository libraries in every state. Key useful CRS reports (in addition to the current report) to assist staff undertaking grants work include • CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell; • CRS Report RL34012, Resources for Grantseekers, by Merete F. Gerli; and • CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete F. Gerli. Some congressional offices may wish to help grant seekers by forwarding to them descriptions and contact information on federal grants programs for particular projects. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is available full text on the Internet. The site http://www.cfda.gov offers keyword searching, broad subject and recipient indexes, and listings by department, agency, and program title. The CFDA program descriptions also link to related websites, such as federal department and agency home pages and Office of Management and Budget grants management circulars. Grant seekers themselves can then track notices of actual federal funding opportunities under CFDA programs at websites such as Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov and FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net. Congressional offices can also prepare their own information packets on federal grants programs, which are requested most frequently. Such packets could include program descriptions, brochures, the latest rules and regulations, changes in agency policy, application forms, and so on. For example, Members of rural states can become familiar with Department of Agriculture Rural Development programs; Members with urban constituencies and projects may want to consider Department of Housing and Urban Development programs. Newsletters (print or e-mail) or Member web page news releases are a good way of reaching a large number of people. Some offices choose to send out either a special grants and projects newsletter or include a section on grants and projects in their regular newsletter. Subjects that Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 7 Grants Work in a Congressional Office could be developed include new programs, new appropriations, and descriptions of recently awarded grants. A congressional office may occasionally choose to communicate with selected audiences through targeted mailings to inform constituents of the possible impact of new legislative or executive actions that might revise existing programs, create new ones, or alter funding levels; important dates and deadlines; and the advantages and limitations of various programs. This is especially important as new programs are created and receive congressional appropriations: for example, a newly funded economic development program may be announced on Grants.gov with a short application deadline, of which constituents should be made aware. Another way to get information to interested constituents is for a congressional office to coordinate seminars on federal and private assistance at state and district locations. An office can sponsor programs bringing together federal, state, and local officials, as well as foundation, academic and corporate specialists, experienced volunteers, and constituents who share common concerns. Many agencies, foundations or the Foundation Center at http://www.fdncenter.org, and corporations are willing to provide speakers for district seminars arranged by congressional offices and also to provide materials such as brochures, sample proposals, and lists of information contacts. For telephone numbers to contact speakers from federal departments and agencies, congressional staff can use the CRS Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies, http://www.crs.gov/resources/Pages/liaisonoffices.aspx?branch=i, or use their own state contacts for government speakers. For constituent orientation and group seminars, Members may consider use of CRS products as handouts and presentation materials. Although well-planned, balanced programs tailored to a particular audience can create good will, coordinating and following through on such seminars takes a great deal of staff work and time. Such programs may also result in additional requests and demands on the sponsoring office. Proposal Writing Assistance and Sources Although congressional staff do not write grant proposals, they are frequently approached by inexperienced constituents seeking guidance on what makes a good proposal. Offices aiding such constituents may find helpful CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete F. Gerli, which discusses preliminary information gathering and preparation, developing ideas for the proposal, gathering community support, identifying funding resources, and seeking preliminary review of the proposal and support of relevant administrative officials. It also covers all aspects of writing the proposal, from outlining of project goals, stating the purpose and objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, and how the results of the project will be evaluated, to long-term project planning, and developing the proposal budget. The last section of the report lists free grants writing websites. The Foundation Center and other organizations also publish guides to writing proposals; the Foundation Center offers a mini “Proposal Writing Course” on its website at http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html and includes versions in Spanish, French, and other foreign languages. Constituents may also be advised that computer software templates can be found by searching the Internet under terms such as grant proposal AND template. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 8 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Congressional offices may wish to pass on the following suggestions: • Allow sufficient time to prepare a thoroughly documented proposal, well before the application deadline. If possible, have someone outside the organization critique the proposal prior to submission. • Follow the instructions given in the application form or in other material provided by the agency or foundation. Answer questions as asked. • See that the proposal is clear and brief. Avoid jargon. Take pains to make the proposal interesting. Reviewing panels have limited time to devote to any single proposal. Whenever possible, fit the style of the proposal to the style of the agency or foundation being approached. • When no form or instructions for submitting grant proposals are provided, the proposal should include the following: 1. a cover letter on the applicant’s letterhead giving a brief description of the purpose and amount of the grant proposal, conveying the applicant’s willingness to discuss the proposal in further detail; 2. a half-page summary that includes identification of the applicant, the reasons for the request, proposed objectives and means to accomplish them, along with the total cost of the project, an indication of funds already obtained, and the amount being requested for this grant; 3. an introduction in which the history, credentials, and accomplishments of the applicant are presented briefly (supporting documents can be included in an appendix); 4. a description of current conditions demonstrating the need for the proposed project; 5. a statement of the project’s objectives in specific, measurable terms; 6. a description of the methods to be used to accomplish these objectives; 7. a description of the means by which the project will be monitored and evaluated; 8. a discussion of plans for continuing the project beyond the period covered by the grant; and 9. a detailed budget. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 9 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Writing Letters for Grant Seekers Constituents seeking funds for projects frequently ask congressional offices to write letters to federal departments and agencies on their behalf. CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell, provides some guidance. Some grants, such as for firefighters and other funding for homeland security, are determined by formula to states and jurisdictions and letters may not be needed. Explain to constituents that the federal grants process is competitive and that your office can consider writing a letter to the department or agency once they submit a fully developed grant proposal. For most requests, use neutral language expressing the Member’s “interest” in a proposal, rather than “support.” Lending “support” to a proposal that might not be funded under the competitive process (and when there are competing applications from several constituents) might lead to disappointment and reflect negatively on the Member. For most constituent requests, write a letter only when the grantseeker is ready to submit the grant proposal to the department or agency. Check with the department or agency congressional liaison to learn where letters should be sent. • • Information needed from the grant seeker: • name of applicant; contact person for the project if different • grant program name and number • agency contact address, grants officer’s name if available • deadline for proposal submission • project name and summary The project summary should highlight: • what the project/program does and how many people will benefit • why this program is important to the community • any unique features of the project, needs not already being met • other support for the project such as local government • specifically how the grant money will be used • Write directly to the person in the department of agency; provide a copy of the letter to the constituent to submit with the proposal. • The Member’s letter could say why this is important to his or her district, what needs are being met, etc.—the summary supplied by the constituent should give the objectives of the proposal/project. • Close by asking the grants officer to let the Member know when a decision will be made and to keep your office informed about the progress of the proposal. A sample letter of support, written on the Member’s letterhead, might read as follows: Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 10 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Ms. Ronda Mason, Acting Administrator Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 810 Seventh Street N.W. Washington, DC 20531 Dear Ms. Mason, I am writing to express my support for the Local Youth Mentoring Initiative grant application submitted by a coalition of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) affiliates from across the state to expand their mentoring programs for at-risk youth. The three coalition member groups have been working with families in our state for more than 40 years. Each of the affiliates currently serves between 350 and 500 children, matching each young person with a professionally supported mentor. Since 2000, the state’s BBS agencies have expanded their program offerings. With the support of grants from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, they now serve the children of prisoners and children in after-school and in-school sites. This funding will allow the coalition to offer mentoring programs to 500 more at-risk youth in the state, including those in foster care. Each agency already has more than 100 children currently on waiting lists and all are ready to expand their programs as soon as new resources become available. I am proud to support programs to improve the criminal justice system, assist victims of crime, and support youth mentoring. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention studies have documented that mentoring leads to significant reductions in illegal drug and alcohol use, truancy and aggressive behavior, as well as improvements in confidence and school performance. In the midst of this economic recession the good work of organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters is critical to maintaining the strength of families and communities. I fully support the BBS coalition’s application and urge your serious consideration of this worthy project. If you have any questions, please contact my Grants Coordinator, Natalie Keegan, at (202) 555-1212. Sincerely, Mike Firestone United States Member of Congress Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 11 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Announcing Grants Awards Although there is some variation, the usual announcement procedure in cases of allocated federal funds is for the agency making the award to notify the Senate office first (a Senator of the President’s party may be first notified), then the House office, and finally the recipient. This allows Members of Congress an opportunity to notify recipients of grants. Not all awards are announced publicly. In the case of block grants, the Office of Management and Budget notifies Senate offices of the allocations among the states. The state’s decision on how to distribute funds among local communities is, however, not necessarily communicated to congressional offices. In these cases, a good state agency contact may be willing to provide the office with this information. Announcements of grants awarded are often posted on Member websites. Many congressional offices develop files or databases of grants awarded to track funding to their districts and states. Detailed information is difficult to obtain. P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, called for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a database, which became USAspending.gov. For a summary of sources and limitations of currently available data, and the new law’s requirements, see CRS web page, Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds, by Merete F. Gerli, at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/ federalfundstracking.aspx. Contact the CRS author for search strategies and best sources. To avoid disappointment, congressional staff might consider cautioning grant seekers from making requests that are unlikely to be approved at the federal level. Suggest considering other funding sources early in the process. In cases where grant applications are made and turned down, the congressional office may notify constituents of their right to know why the award was not granted and what the appeals process is. Constituents may ask the agency for an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal or may give the agency permission to provide the congressional office with this information. Alternative programs or other approaches may be suggested following an adverse decision. The constituent might also decide to improve the initial application and start the process again. Federal Assistance and Sources Hundreds of grants or loans for various purposes are available from federal departments and agencies. Most federal funding (more than 80%) goes to state and local governments that determine state and local needs, and that themselves offer competitive grants and funding opportunities. New programs and federal funding to enhance homeland security or enhance emergency services are of particular interest to many local jurisdictions. Other federal funds not dispensed through grants, but much sought after, are used for defense procurement, construction of federal installations, or infrastructure (e.g., military bases, federal office buildings, and federal projects such as flood control and highway construction). Congressional offices can assist state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and other grant seekers become aware of available funds and how to go about obtaining them. Staff members can contact federal agencies to find agency interest in certain projects; relay the findings to those interested and qualified for assistance in their states and districts; and notify home state governments, organizations, businesses, and people of what funds are available. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 12 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Once a grant application is filed, offices frequently keep in touch with agencies. Contact can be maintained by e-mail, phone, letter, or in person as the situation dictates. Concerted action on the part of the staff may result in more federal funds being spent in a state or district, thereby providing greater benefit to the constituency. Federal program and contact information is given in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), at http://www.cfda.gov. Current notices of grant opportunities for grant seekers themselves appear on the websites Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov and FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net. See sections below for more information about these key sources. Federal Grants and the Appropriations Process Congress may also designate or “earmark” federal funds for projects in districts and states in annual appropriations legislation, though Appropriations Committees in recent years have chosen to limit the practice. Because much of the annual U.S. budget consists of expenditures for entitlement programs such as Social Security, mandatory spending through authorizing legislation and interest payments, or allocations in the form of formula and block grants to states and local governments, discretionary funding for new grant awards is limited. The appropriations measure that a congressional office chooses to submit often reflects the Member’s legislative agenda as well as the needs of the state or district. Grant seekers who wish to ask support of their Senator or Representative for project funding should consider the congressional budget process calendar. Appropriations measures for the next fiscal year (October 1-September 30) are usually submitted as early as February. If congressionally directed spending seems appropriate, applicants may be asked by the Member to make a formal request accompanied by supporting materials, including • project description; • research and documentation of the need for the project (such as a feasibility study and history of community support); • letters of support from elected officials and local community leaders; and • amount requested, anticipated total project cost, sources of other funding (state, private, local match), and any history of past funding. Grant seekers may contact both Representatives and Senators about their project. Although an “earmark” may appear in either a House or Senate committee report, a conference committee (composed of an equal number of House and Senate Members) makes the final decisions on funding. Having support of both Representatives and Senators for a project may enhance a grant seeker’s success for an “earmark.” The congressional appropriations process follows an annual time line, beginning in February of each year. Grant seekers such as state and local governments or nonprofit organizations can submit requests for project support and funding to Representatives and Senators before the beginning of the budget cycle. • February: The President submits to Congress the proposed Budget of the United States. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 13 Grants Work in a Congressional Office • Members submit requests for discretionary funding on behalf of projects in their districts or states prior to the start of appropriations hearings in early March. • Early March: The House Appropriations Committee’s 12 subcommittees begin hearings on proposed spending bills. • May-August: The House votes on appropriations bills beginning in May and tries to finish before the end of the fiscal year, September 30. The Senate generally follows the House in considering appropriations measures. In recent years, voting has continued into the fall, and continuing resolutions are passed to ensure that federal offices and programs do not close down. • After each chamber votes on its version of an appropriations bill, a conference committee, consisting of equal numbers of House and Senate Members, meets to reconcile any differences and makes final decisions on spending. • Funding for district and state projects included in both House and Senate appropriations bills will generally be approved by the conferees, and submitted for floor vote by the full House and Senate. • After approval, appropriations bills are forwarded to the President for signature. • Members notify grant seekers of projects successfully funded. Types of Federal Assistance Currently, programs in the CFDA, the key source to federal program information (see “Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,” below), are classified into several types of financial and nonfinancial assistance. For a fuller explanation of these categories, see the CFDA program descriptions themselves. Grants Grants are generally considered desirable by applicants because they are an outright award 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. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 14 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Loans Because loans must be repaid, they are often viewed by applicants as less desirable than grants. However, 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 that 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 that 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 that provide federal personnel to directly perform certain tasks for the benefit of communities or individuals. • Advisory Services and Counseling: programs that provide federal specialists to consult, advise, or counsel communities or individuals, to include conferences, workshops, or personal contacts. • Dissemination of Technical Information: programs that provide for the publication and distribution of information or data of a specialized technical nature frequently through clearinghouses or libraries. • Training: programs that provide instructional activities conducted directly by a federal agency for individuals not employed by the federal government. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 15 Learn how Capitol Hill really works All of our programs and any combination of their topics can be tailored for on-site training for your organization. For more than 30 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences, have been training professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs on the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them. Legislative Series Legislative Drafter’s Deskbook A Practical Guide By Tobias A. 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A Practical Guide to Parlaying an Understanding of Congressional Folkways and Dynamics into Successful Advocacy on Capitol Hill How to Spend Less and Get More from Congress: Candid Advice for Executives By Joseph Gibson Persuading PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA 22313-5706 www.TheCapitol.Net 703-739-3790 Congress Grants Work in a Congressional Office • 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 that reflect the government-wide responsibilities of the Office of Personnel Management in the recruitment and hiring of federal civilian agency personnel. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance The key source of information about federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the public is the CFDA. The Catalog, produced by the General Services Administration (GSA) and searchable for free on the Internet at http://www.cfda.gov, describes some 2,200 authorized financial and nonfinancial assistance programs of federal departments and agencies. About 1,700 CFDA programs are grants. CFDA program descriptions include the following: • federal agency administering a program • legislation authorizing the program • objectives and goals of program • types of financial or nonfinancial assistance provided • uses and restrictions • eligibility requirements • application and award process • criteria for selecting proposals • amount of obligations for the past, current, and estimates for future fiscal years • funding caps and range of awards • regulations, guidelines, and literature relevant to a program • information contacts and headquarters, regional, and local offices • related programs • examples of funded projects • formula and matching requirements, where applicable • requirements for post-assistance reports Updated information on federal programs also appears in the daily Federal Register, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. Federal departments and agencies may also provide information and guidelines for specific programs on their websites. These websites may also provide a list of grantees from the previous fiscal year and indicate the amount of money still available for the coming year. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 16 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Congressional staff may suggest that constituents seeking federal funding search CFDA themselves by subject, keyword, beneficiary, and other options for identifying appropriate program information. Some congressional offices may wish to forward to constituents a preliminary CFDA search of potential federal funding. Descriptions of programs identified will have to be carefully analyzed by grant seekers themselves to see whether they may be appropriate. Early in the process, the grant seeker should contact the department or agency indicated in the CFDA program description for latest information on funding availability, program requirements, and deadlines. Often a referral to a local or state office will be given. Many may be project or formula (block) grants to states that in turn accept grants applications and determine award recipients. Grants.gov and FedConnect More than 80% of federal grant funding is allocated to states to administer, or directly to local governments, and funding opportunities may be posted at the state level. For competitive project grants, as part of the federal government’s e-grants initiative, federal departments and agencies are required to post grants opportunities notices on websites, such as Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov and FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net. These websites post federal funding notices, give guidelines and registration information, and provide a uniform application procedure. Except for familiarizing themselves with information provided on the Grants.gov site, and sometimes posting Grants.gov funding notices on Member websites if they wish, congressional staff generally need not search this website for funding opportunities for constituents. CRS grants websites and reports include Grants.gov, which is free to the public, as a key source for grant seekers themselves to access and search. Registration by the grant seeker who will be making the application is required at Grants.gov and FedConnect. Before applying, grant seekers must also obtain Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) and register with the System for Awards Management (SAM). Grants.gov includes instructions and links at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step1.jsp and http://www.grants.gov/applicants/ org_step2.jsp. For grant seekers who have identified appropriate federal funding programs (through CFDA or department and agency websites), Grants.gov enables them to • search for current funding opportunity notices (including by CFDA program number); • sign up for e-mail notification of future grant opportunities; • download grants application packages and instructions or go to another website to apply; • submit applications electronically through a uniform process for all federal grantmaking agencies; and • track the progress of their applications using unique IDs and passwords. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 17 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Developing Federal and State Grants Contacts Many federal agencies have a number of offices: a central office in Washington, DC; a series of regional and state offices; and, in some cases, local or area offices. Each program in the CFDA includes information contacts, either giving the name, address, and telephone number of the main program officer, or referring applicants to the regional, state, or local office of the agency. Federal Regional Agency Offices are given in CFDA at https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=appendix&mode= list&tab=list. Congressional offices can channel their requests for program funding information and get help identifying appropriate grants officers through federal department and agency congressional liaison offices (see CRS Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies at http://www.crs.gov/resources/Pages/liaisonoffices.aspx?branch=i for telephone numbers). Establishing a good relationship with program grants officers is usually beneficial—they are normally well informed and willing to share information with congressional grants and projects staff. The liaison office may also be willing to brief congressional staff so that they may become more familiar with the way the agency is organized and where responsibilities are assigned, as well as with published materials that may be available on various programs. State and district grants and projects staff usually work closely with federal agency representatives in their areas, with their state Members of Congress, with state and local elected officials, and with state councils of government. Many federal programs are administered directly by state agencies or other entities within the state, and many states have programs funded out of their own appropriations that supplement or complement federal programs. Local councils of government, where they exist, have access to federal funds for providing technical assistance, guidance, and counseling in the grants process. Constituents are, as a rule, best served by being put in touch with program officers closest to them as early as possible. Some congressional grants and projects staff report that a congressional office that encourages cooperation among local organizations, foundations, units of government, and councils of government can serve as a catalyst for applicants by improving communications, which may in turn enhance the chances for proposal approval. When congressional staff take the time to express appreciation for assistance provided by federal personnel, foundation officials, and others involved in the grants process, they may possibly improve their chances for future assistance. Role of State Administering Agencies and Contacts 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. To help constituents, congressional grants staff need to identify their State Administering Agencies (SAAs), the state counterpart offices accepting grants applications and disbursing federal formula and other grants. For more information on how a state intends to distribute formula grant funds, grant seekers need to contact the state administering agency. Many federal department and agency websites provide state contacts. Often the site will have an interactive U.S. map where grant seekers can click on their state and obtain program and funding contact information. State government agencies provide coordination of local efforts to obtain federal funds through grant programs that are already allocated to the state; and state government agencies are familiar with federal program requirements, can assist with proposals, and can Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 18 Grants Work in a Congressional Office provide other guidance. In fact, many federal grant programs require that an applicant complete a pre-application screening at the state level before submitting requests. • Federal congressional liaison offices can help congressional staff identify SAAs for their programs: CRS Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies at http://www.crs.gov/resources/Pages/liaisonoffices.aspx?branch=i provides contacts. • Many states require federal grants applicant to submit a copy of their application for state government-level review and comment, and have designated a “Single Point of Contact” under Executive Order 12372, listed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc. The state offices listed here coordinate government (both federal and state) grants development and may provide guidance to grant seekers. • Other state government agency websites may be identified at the federal government site USA.gov, State and Local Agencies by Topic at http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories/Agencies_by_Topic.shtml. • Federal department and agency regional, state, and local offices which grant seekers should contact early in their proposal development are given in the CFDA’s list of Regional Agency Offices at https://www.cfda.gov/index?s= appendix&mode=list&tab=list. Many federal department and agency websites include SAAs and often the site will have an interactive U.S. map. Grant seekers can click on their state and obtain program and state contact information. A selection of some executive department websites includes the following:1 1 • Agriculture Rural Development State Contacts http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Partners http://www.arts.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html • Commerce Offices and Services http://www.commerce.gov/about-commerce/services • Education (ED) State Contacts http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html • Energy (DOE) Efficiency & Renewable Energy in My State http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/ • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant Regional Office http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/regional.htm • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) State Offices and Agencies http://www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm • Health and Human Services (HHS), Social Services Block Grants State Officials & Program Contacts https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/resource/ssbg-stateofficials-program-contacts Compiled by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) from executive department and agency websites. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 19 Grants Work in a Congressional Office • Homeland Security (DHS) State Homeland Security Contacts http://www.dhs.gov/state-homeland-security-contacts • Housing and Urban Development (HUD) State/Local Offices http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices • National Endowment for the Humanities (NEA) State Councils http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/statecouncils.html • Office of Justice Programs (OJP) State Administering Agencies http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/ • Labor (DOL) Education and Training Administration, State and Local Contacts http://www.doleta.gov/regions/statecontacts/ • Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html • Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Offices http://www.fta.dot.gov/12926.html • Veterans Affairs State/Territory Offices http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm Foundations and Corporate Grants With reductions in federal programs, congressional grants specialists may wish to suggest other funding possibilities to their constituents as alternatives or supplements to federal grants. Private foundation funding can also be used for federal grants that have matching requirements. Small local projects should begin their search for help at the community level from local businesses or institutions. Support may be available in the form of cash contributions or in-kind contributions of property, buildings, equipment, or professional expertise. Evidence of such community-based support may strengthen a federal grant proposal. Grant making foundations are established for the express purpose of providing funds for projects in their areas of interest, and all must comply with specific Internal Revenue Service regulations to maintain their tax-exempt status. Every year, each is required to give away money equal to at least 5% of the market value of its assets, and each must make its tax records public. Although there are all kinds of foundation and corporate grants available, competition for these funds is great, and, just as is the case in searching for federal support, grant seekers enhance their chances for success by doing preliminary research to find grant makers whose priorities and goals match their own. By searching foundation websites, grant seekers can find guidelines, copies of annual reports and tax returns to learn whether their proposals match a foundation’s areas of interest and geographic guidelines; whether the proposal is within its budgetary constraints; and whether it normally funds the type of project being considered. There are many different kinds of foundations, with widely varying resources and purposes. Some are national in scope; others are set up purely for the purpose of local giving. Some are endowed by an individual or family to provide funds for specific social, educational, or religious purposes; others are company-sponsored; still others are publicly supported community Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 20 Grants Work in a Congressional Office foundations. Grant seekers might begin by identifying state or local foundations. These may have a greater interest in local projects than larger foundations mainly concerned with programs of national significance. Direct corporate giving should also be explored: many corporations support local projects in areas where they have their headquarters or plants, or sponsor projects which somehow enhance their corporate image. Because of this variety, different strategies may be needed for dealing with different foundations. A few foundations publicize their funding policies, and even initiate projects, but generally they do not. Usually, the grant seeker must take the first step and approach the foundation about his or her proposal. Although it is hard to generalize about foundations, they tend to be more flexible than federal funding agencies and to have fewer bureaucratic requirements. Many foundations see their purpose as providing short-term, startup funding for demonstration projects. Frequently, such foundations are the best source to turn to for funding emergency situations or small, highrisk, innovative programs. In some cases, foundation officials will work closely with inexperienced grant seekers to help them develop realistic proposals. The Foundation Center serves as a clearinghouse of information on private philanthropic giving and is a good starting point for identifying likely funding sources. The center’s office in Washington, DC, can advise staff on other sources of private funding. The Foundation Center can be contacted via phone at (202) 331-1400. The center’s website, http://www.foundationcenter.org, includes extensive information about private funders; posts requests for proposals (RFPs) for funding opportunities from foundations in all subject fields; offers web and in-person training, many of them free, including a “Proposal Writing Short Course;” and produces a number of directories and guides to private and corporate funding sources, in print, CD-ROM, web, and other electronic formats. The Foundation Center also posts IRS Form 990 for nonprofit organizations at http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/. In addition to its major reference collections in New York, Washington, DC, Cleveland, and San Francisco, the Foundation Center maintains a national network of cooperating library collections in each state, with print and electronic resources available free to the public. Addresses of these library collections are provided on the Foundation Center website at http://foundationcenter.org/ collections. At these libraries, grant seekers may search the Foundation Directory Online by field of interest, by foundation location, and other categories to produce lists of likely funding sources for projects. For congressional staff, the Library of Congress maintains a subscription to the Foundation Directory Online. Other websites that provide free listings of foundations include the Council on Foundations web page, Community Foundation Locator by state, at http://www.cof.org/whoweserve/community/ resources/index.cfm?navItemNumber=15626; and the Grantsmanship Center’s Funding Sources, which for each state lists “top,” corporate, and community foundations, at http://tgci.com/ funding.shtml. Congressional offices may wish to send constituents state listings from these websites. Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 21 Grants Work in a Congressional Office Useful Sources of Grants Information CRS Grants Web Pages Grants and Federal Assistance web page, by Merete F. Gerli http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/CS-Grants.aspx Focuses on CRS grants web products and publications. CRS reports provide guidance to congressional staff on federal programs and funding, and may be forwarded to constituents in response to grants requests. Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance web page, by Merete F. Gerli http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/member-grant.html Provides Internet links to free key federal and private grants and funding information, including the CFDA, Grants.gov, and other federal websites; and the Foundation Center, and other private funding resources. Members may add this CRS web page to their home page so grant seekers in districts and states can access web information directly using the Member’s home page as portal to key grants sources. Additional Federal Sources For Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Grants.gov, see sections of this report and the CRS websites described above. A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration) http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/index.shtml 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 http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml • USA.gov for Nonprofits http://www.usa.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml 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. • Businesses and Nonprofits http://www.usa.gov/Business/Business_Gateway.shtml Links to useful sites, including financial assistance, for small business, government contractors, and foreign business in the United States. Grants Management Circulars (Office of Management and Budget) http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_circulars OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in CFDA program descriptions. Circulars target Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 22 About TheCapitol.Net We help you understand Washington and Congress.™ For more than 30 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences, have been training professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs on the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them. Our training and publications include congressional operations, legislative and budget process, communication and advocacy, media and public relations, research, testifying before Congress, legislative drafting, critical thinking and writing, and more. TheCapitol.Net encompasses a dynamic team of more than 150 faculty members and authors, all of whom are independent subject matter experts and veterans in their fields. Faculty and authors include senior government executives, former members of Congress, Hill and agency staff, editors and journalists, lobbyists, lawyers, nonprofit executives, and scholars. We have worked with hundreds of clients across the country to develop and produce a wide variety of custom, on-site training programs. All courses, seminars, and workshops can be tailored to align with your organization’s educational objectives and presented on-site at your location. TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training: GSA Contract GS02F0192X. TheCapitol.Net has more than 2,000 clients representing congressional offices, federal and state agencies, military branches, corporations, associations, news media, and NGOs nationwide. TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan firm. Our blog: Hobnob Blog—hit or miss ... give or take ... this or that ... TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, 874-4, for custom on-site training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X Non-partisan training and publications that show how Washington works.™ PO Box 25706, Alexandria, VA 22313-5706 703-739-3790 • www.thecapitol.net A Practical Guide to Preparing and Delivering Testimony Before Congress and Congressional Hearings for Agencies, Associations, Corporations, Military, NGOs, and State and Local Officials Legislative Series By William N. LaForge Legislative Drafter’s Deskbook A Practical Guide By Tobias A. Dorsey Congressional Directory 2013 113th Congress 1st Session Includes Capitol Hill and District maps We help you understand Washington and Congress.™ www.TheCapitol.Net Testifying Before Congress Winning Strategies, Recommendations, Resources, Ethics and Ongoing Compliance for Lobbyists and Washington Advocates: The Best of Everything Lobbying and Washington Advocacy Lobbying and Advocacy Deanna R. Gelak GOVERNMENT SERIES The Federal Budget Process A Description of the Federal and Congressional Budget Processes, Including Timelines Grants Work in a Congressional Office grants recipients and audit requirements for educational institutions, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations. Other Resources Grants and Related Resources (Michigan State University Libraries) http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/index.htm The site provides government and private grants resources, primarily Internet, by subject or group categories, and is updated frequently. Subpages include the following: Funding for Business and Economic Development http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2biz.htm Grants for Nonprofit http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2sgalpha.htm Grants for Individuals (primarily financial aid and scholarships) http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3subject.htm Author Contact Information Merete F. Gerli Information Research Specialist mgerli@crs.loc.gov, 7-7109 Congressional Research Service TheCapitol.Net – Teaching how Washington and Congress work.TM 202-678-1600 www.thecapitol.net 23