Federal Grant Resource Information

Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance

Guidance and key resources to help eligible grant seekers find information on federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance for projects. Prepared by the Office of Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. and the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, updated December 2021.

The Office Of Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.'s Grants Resource Guide
How Best To Find Information
An Overview On Grants.Gov
Federal Agency Subscription Links
Requesting A Letter Of Support
Key Federal Funding Sources
Related Federal Sources
Additional Resources

The Office Of Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.'s Grants Resource Guide

View and download a PDF of my office's Grants Resource Guide.

How Best to Find Information

Find out Who is Eligible for a Grant? Other government websites may be more suitable for personal needs, student loans, small business assistance , or other business opportunities such as government contracting. The website Government Benefits, Grants, and Loans may also be of help.
If eligible, search for program information at beta.SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Includes grants, loans, business and nonfinancial help.
Contact federal office given in each beta.SAM.gov Assistance Listing program description.
Go to federal websitesgiven in each beta.SAM.gov Assistance Listing program description.
Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, obtain a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number, register with System for Award Management (SAM), and apply online (links and instructions given at the website). Additional notices appear at FedConnect.net and GovLoans.gov.

An Overview Of Grants.Gov

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

Click here to download the "Overview of GRANTS.gov" PowerPoint, which includes information on the following:

-Navigating Grants.gov
-Registration
-Searching for Grants
-What's In a Funding Opportunity?
-Applying with Workspace
-Tracking an Application Submission
-Tips and Support Resources

Federal Agency Subscription Links

My office has compiled a list of key federal agencies in the Executive Branch as well as links to their email update subscription options. Interested parties are highly encouraged to subscribe to the relevant federal agency's email list linked below to receive updates on upcoming funding opportunities and announcements.

Agency	Email Sign Up Page	Note
Department of Agriculture (USDA)	Click here to subscribe	To recieve updates from USDA-Rural Development, click here.
Department of Commerce (DOC)	Click here to subscribe	The email subscription is at the bottom of the main page.
Department of Defense (DOD)	Click here to subscribe
Department of Education	Click here to subscribe
Department of Energy (DOE)	Click here to subscribe
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)	Click here to subscribe
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Click here to subscribe
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)	Click here to subscribe	HUD offer several mailing lists for different programs and associated funding opportunities.
Department of the Interior (DOI)	Click here to subscribe	The email subscription is at the bottom of the main page.
Department of Justice (DOJ)	Click here to subscribe
Department of Labor (DOL)	Click here to subscribe
Department of State (DOS)	Click here to subscribe	The email subscription option can be found under "Get updates delivered to your inbox."
Department of Transportation (DOT)	Click here to subscribe
Department of the Treasury	Click here to subscribe
Department of Veterans Affairs(VA)	Click here to subscribe

A full list of federal agencies and subagencies can be found here.

Requesting A Letter Of Support (Link To Downloadable Word Doc)

If a letter of support is needed from my office for a funding opportunity, please complete the LETTER OF SUPPORT REQUEST FORM below in its entirety and follow the outlined submission instructions. Please note that a request for a letter of support should be submitted to my office no later than one week before the application deadline.

Click here to download the Letter of Support Request Form.

Key Federal Funding Sources

Assistance Listings (CFDA) at beta.SAM.gov (General Services Administration)
Official descriptions of more than 2,200 federal assistance programs (including grants, loans, and other financial and nonfinancial assistance) can be found on beta.SAM.gov. The website, produced by the General Services Administration (GSA), is currently in beta, and it houses federal assistance listings previously found on the now-retired Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). Each federal assistance program has a corresponding CFDA program number; these CFDA numbers are still used as numerical program identifiers. Programs are searchable at the "Assistance Listings" domain at beta.SAM.gov; descriptions are updated by departments and agencies, and they cover authorizing legislation, objectives, and eligibility and compliance requirements. The site will eventually be renamed SAM.gov. For current notices of funding availability, see Grants.gov or FedConnect.net.

Grants.gov (managed by Dept. of Health and Human Services)
Federal website that allows eligible grant seekers (see Who is Eligible for a Grant?) to find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL federal agencies. Grant seekers can check on notices of funding availability (NOFA) posted in the last 7 days; access emails of grant opportunities; and apply for federal grants through a unified process by downloading the application and submitting online. The website guides grant seekers in obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number and registering with System for Award Management (SAM) and registering with Grants.gov to apply and to track applications. For full federal program descriptions, see CFDA below. See also website FedConnect.net for additional grants and contracts opportunities.

State Single Points of Contact (Office of Management and Budget)
Under Executive Order 12372, some states require federal grants applicants to submit a copy of their application for state government level review and comment. The state offices listed here coordinate federal financial assistance and may direct federal development. For help in identifying state-level grants, other state government agencies websites may be found at: State and Local Agencies.

Related Federal Resources

A-Z Index of U.S. Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration)
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's Home Page to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site USA.gov also links to Government Benefits, Grants, and Loans.

USA.gov for Businesses and Nonprofits (GSA)
Includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also financial assistance links at the Small Business Administration website.

FedBizOpps.gov (GSA)
Official website posting business, contracting, and procurement opportunities with the federal government. Useful information for vendors, including FBO Demonstration Videos and Frequently Asked Questions, appear under the Getting Started tab. Search options include an advanced search form for more targeted filtering of current opportunities.

Student Aid on the Web (Dept. of Education)
Information on funding education beyond high school, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.

Benefits.gov (via Department of Labor)
Includes information on over 1,000 government assistance programs, and how to apply. Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training, or other services.

FTC Consumer Alert (Federal Trade Commission)
The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often a scam.

OMB Grants Guidance (Office of Management and Budget)
OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules.

Additional Resources

Also see these Congressional Research Service reports available to the public:

Resources for Grant seekers
How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposaldiscusses 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 outlining project goals, stating the purpose and objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, evaluating project results, long-term project planning, and developing a proposal budget. The last section of the report lists free grants writing websites.
Grants.gov's Grants Learning Center:https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants.html
An index containing the regional and state office information for the agencies outlined in this guide can be found HERE.

USDA Rural Development Resources

Summary of Resources (https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD_ProgramMatrix.pdf)
Funding Opportunities Webpage (https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/federal-funding-opportunities)
USDA Rural Connections E-Newsletter for July 2023 (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD/bulletins/363d445)
USDA Innovation Matters (https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/offices/rural-development-innovation-center)
- Latest Edition of the Innovation Matters E-Newsletter (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD/bulletins/3664847)