Finding Federal Funders: Quick Guide

The U.S. government gives out money (grants) for many different projects. Here's whereto find those opportunities:

1. Grants.gov

·       A substantial government-run website.

·       Lists of over 1,000 different grant programs.

·       The ability to search for grants based on what kind of project you have, who can apply, and other information.

·       You need to sign up (register) for an account to apply for grants on this website.

·       Additional help and tutorials to teach you how to use grants.gov and avoid scams.

2. SAM.gov Assistance Listings

·       A list of all the different programs where the government gives out money.

·       You can look through this list to find grants, loans, and other types of help.

3. Federal Register

·       This is like the “official newspaper” of the U.S. government.

·       Information about new rules, important notices, and when grants are available.

·       You can find out about:

o  New grant money

o  Who can apply

o  What the rules are

o  General grant information

4. Agency Websites

·       Each government department (like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Department of Energy (DOE)) has its own website.

·       These websites will have information about grants they are offering.

·       Figure out which government department might give money for your project.

·       Sign up for email alerts on those websites to get notified about new grants.

5. Google

·       You can use Google to search for grants.

·       Try searching for things like:

o "Federal grants for [your project]"

o  "Open federal government grant opportunities"

o  "Federal government grants from [government department]"

·       Be careful! Not everything you find on Google will be a real government grant. Make sure to check the information carefully.