Grants Information for Constituents

Grants Information for Constituents

Order Code RS20514
Updated January 3, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Grants Information for Constituents
Merete F. Gerli
Information Management Specialist
Information Research Division
Summary
This report describes key sources of information on government and private grants
for state and community projects. Constituents, who know their projects best, may
search for grants information on the Internet and in printed reference sources. For
federal grants, loans, or nonfinancial help, all programs in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance can be searched by keyword and a number of browsable indexes
such as subject, department or agency, program title, beneficiary, and applicant
eligibility. Grants.gov enables grant seekers to track and obtain e-mail notification of
federal funding opportunities and to apply electronically for grants through a uniform
process for all agencies. Federal websites provide information and guidance, and give
rules, regulations, and updates. Websites of organizations such as the Foundation
Center describe sources on private, corporate, and community foundations. They also
offer guides to writing grants proposals. This report will be updated yearly.
Introduction
Constituents seeking funding for projects need first to gather information about what
grants assistance is available. Many state and local governments, nonprofit social service
groups and community action organizations, small businesses, and individuals approach
congressional offices for help in identifying grants. Though many hope for federal
funding, such assistance is limited. Gathering federal program information and contacting
federal agencies early in the process, before submitting formal applications, is
recommended. Grant seekers should also investigate private or corporate foundation
funding: community foundations, for example, are often especially interested in providing
money for local projects.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, searchable full-text on the Web at
[http://www.cfda.gov], is the primary source of information on federal grants and
nonfinancial assistance programs, although actual funding depends upon annual budget
appropriations. For example, some programs may exist in the Catalog but receive no
funding in a certain budget year. The Catalog in print and on the Web can be searched
using various indexes, including keyword searching, and browsable listings by subject,
department, agency, program title, beneficiary, and applicant eligibility. The Web version
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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also links to department and agency websites and to Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) circulars affecting program management.
To find out what money is currently available under a federal program, search
Grants.gov at [http://www.grants.gov] by keyword or various categories, including by
CFDA number. The site also allows grant seekers to browse grants opportunities posted
in the past seven days; receive e-mail notification of federal grant opportunities; and apply
for federal grants through a uniform application process.
The printed Catalog is widely available in libraries. Both the printed and Web
versions of the Catalog include “Appendix IV: Agency Regional and Local Offices”
[http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_CATALOG_DYN.show],
which often handle federal grant applications and disbursement of funds. Since
legislation in every Congress may significantly change programs and their annual budgets,
constituents should contact these offices early in the process before applying for federal
funds.
State government departments and agencies also fund projects and administer federal
block grants, but information on state programs is not as easily accessible as federal
resources on the Web. The printed and Web Catalogs include a “State Single Points of
Contact” at [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html] (not available for all
states) for grant seekers wanting general guidance on government grants activity in a
particular state. Also, various Internet sites access state government Web pages, and
constituents may wish to search agency by agency to contact appropriate offices for
information, including
National Association of State Development Agencies
[http://www.nasda.com/agencies.html]
National Association of State Information (NASCIO)
[https://www.nascio.org/aboutNascio/profiles/]
Library of Congress, State and Local Governments resource page
[http://www.loc.gov/global/state/stategov.html]
State and Local Government on the Net
[http://www.statelocalgov.net/]
Other sites may be found via search engines under keywords or phrases such as state
governments AND grants.
Because federal funding is very limited, sources of private funding should also be
considered. For example, the Foundation Center publications and its website at
[http://www.fdncenter.org] can help grant seekers identify state and community
foundations that may be particularly interested in funding local projects.
For those seeking printed sources, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
Foundation Center directories, and other grants publications are available in local
libraries. Terms to identify relevant books include grants, grants-in-aid, foundation
grants, research grants, block grants, and proposal writing for grants.

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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance on the Web
[http://www.cfda.gov/]
The Catalog (CFDA) describes some 1,500 federal domestic assistance programs,
financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by the departments and
agencies of the federal government. It is the primary source of information about federal
grants programs, although actual funding depends upon annual budget appropriations.
For each program, the Catalog defines objectives of the program, eligibility requirements,
the application and award process, post assistance requirements, past fiscal year
obligations and future estimates, program accomplishments and examples of funded
projects, related programs, and information contacts, including regional or local offices
of federal agencies if applicable.
All of the program descriptions, indexes, and appendixes of the printed Catalog are
searchable free on the Web. From the CFDA website, Search for Assistance Programs
by “Find a Grant”; by keyword; or by other useful browsable listings, such as by agency,
by sub-agency, by applicant eligibility, by beneficiary, or by other category.
Developing and Writing Grant Proposals (Catalog Appendix VI)
[http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.GRANT_PROPOSAL_DYN.show]
This site provides guidance in formulating federal grant applications, including
initial proposal development, basic components of a proposal, review recommendations,
and referral to federal guidelines and literature.
State Single Points of Contact (Office of Management and Budget)
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html]
Some states require that federal grant applicants submit a copy of their application
for state government level review and comment. These offices coordinate government
(both federal and state) grants development and provide guidance to grant seekers.
Regional and Local Office Addresses (Catalog Appendix IV; by agency and by state)
[http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_CATALOG_DYN.show]
Much of the federal grant budget moves to the states through formula and block
grants — state, regional, and local federal offices often handle grants applications and
funds disbursement. Each federal agency has its own procedures — applicants should call
the department or agency in question before applying for funding to obtain the most
up-to-date information.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance in Print
Although more easily searchable and continuously updated on the Internet at
[http://www.cfda.gov], the printed Catalog is available to the public in local depository
libraries in every state [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html]. The annual print
Catalog (with no supplements or updates) is also for sale from the Government Printing
Office; enter name of publication at [http://bookstore.gpo.gov/].

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Related Federal Sources
Grants.gov
[http://www.grants.gov/]
Essential grants website that serves as the single access point for current funding
notices from over 900 federal grant programs. Grant seekers may search 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.
FirstGov for Nonprofits
[http://www.firstgov.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml#grants]
Portal for nonprofit organizations to information about federal grants, loans, and
other assistance.
Government to Government: Grants and Financial Management
[http://www.firstgov.gov/Government/State_Local/Grants.shtml]
Website giving state and local governments easy access to federal government grants
and budget information.
Homeland Security Grants and Training
[http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0355.xml]
This provides information on homeland security and public safety grant opportunities
offered by agencies across the federal government and is intended to simplify access to
these grants by placing information in a single, easily accessible site. Critical state and
local missions supported through these grants include the preparedness of first responders
and citizens, public health, infrastructure security, and other public safety activities.
Federal Government Websites
[http://www.loc.gov/global/executive/fed.html]
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency’s website to learn
more about its programs and objectives. See also FirstGov.gov’s A-Z index of U.S.
government departments and agencies, which can be found on the Web at
[http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml]. There is also a
Spanish language counterpart (en Español).
Federal Register
[http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html]
Search current year for updates and notices affecting federal assistance programs.
Enter in Search Terms box “Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,” CFDA, specific
Catalog program number, or subject/keyword AND CFDA,.
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.

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Grants Management Website
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/index.html]
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) establishes government-wide grants
management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules. OMB Circulars
are cited in Catalog program descriptions. On the Internet version of the Catalog,
sections sometimes hotlink directly to OMB Circulars, and others just give OMB Circular
numbers, which may then be printed from this website.
Private and Corporate Funding Sources
Foundation Center
[http://www.foundationcenter.org/]
This gateway presents information about the grant seeking process, private funding
sources (including national, state, community, and corporate foundations), guidelines on
writing a grants proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and
links to other useful Internet websites. The Center maintains a comprehensive database
on foundation grantsmanship, publishes print and CD-ROM directories and guides,
conducts research and publishes studies in the field, and offers a variety of training and
educational seminars. The database includes the following:
! Online Orientation: the Grantseeking Process
[http://fdncenter.org/learn/orient/intro1.html]
! User-friendly Guide to Funding Research and Resources
[http://fdncenter.org/learn/ufg/index.html]
! Proposal Writing (“Short Course” on developing a good grant proposal;
also in Spanish and French)
[http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html]
! Websites of community foundations (by state)
[http://fdncenter.org/funders/grantmaker/gws_comm/comm.html]
! Foundation book collections — Foundation Center Cooperating
Collections in every state provide free funding information for grant seekers
in libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers.
[http://www.foundationcenter.org/index.html]
Grantsmanship Center (TGCI)
[http://www.tgci.com/]
In addition to useful links to government resources, this site includes information on
community foundations and international funding. Community foundations (by state) at
[http://www.tgci.com/funding/community.asp] are often particularly interested in local
projects and maintain diverse grants programs. They may also serve as a resource for
grant information and may provide training and technical assistance for local nonprofit
organizations. TGCI also offers publications, training, and workshops in proposal
writing, grantsmanship, and fundraising to nonprofit organizations and government.