Whether you're researching federal grants, seeking a letter of support for a federal grant application, or simply interested in learning more about the federal grant process, my office is ready and willing to assist you.
Where available, federal grants are awarded on a competitive basis in support of certain goals authorized by Congress. Federal agencies and departments administer hundreds of these grant programs; however, a substantial amount of federal grant funding is also disbursed to state governments, which then use the funding to administer grant programs at the state level. So, in addition to researching federal grants, I highly recommend that you ask your state senator or representative about state-level grant programs.
APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GRANTS
- Visit Grants.gov to determine if you are eligible to apply for and receive a federal grant. (Other websites may be more suitable for personal needs, student loans, or small business assistance.)
- If you're eligible, search for current federal grant opportunities at Grants.gov and FedConnect.
- Once you've decided to apply for a particular grant, obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the System for Award Management (SAM), and apply online (specific instructions will be provided on Grants.gov and FedConnect.)
- You can also search for more federal assistance programs in the Assistance Listings at SAM.gov. The Assistance Listings page includes federal grant and loan programs as well as business and nonfinancial assistance programs. For further information about a specific program, contact the federal office provided in that program's description.
- Before applying, ensure that your grant proposal is as strong as possible. You may want to take a free course on writing grant proposals or review sample grant proposals online.
Note: The Congressional Research Service offers an excellent overview of the federal grant application process in a report called "Resources for Grantseekers."