Federal Government Grants

The Process of Providing Federal Government Grants

If you ever heard that the U.S. government gives away free money, then it probably was a joke or some kind of scam. A grant is not a birthday present. Each party, the grantor and the grantee, have certain commitments to make. Once you apply for Federal Government Grants, you are bound and obligated legally once the money has been granted.

Budget Approval

Every year the government goes through a federal budget approval process. Many laws are passed to fund certain major projects that are designed to help certain public sectors. Members of the public don’t necessarily have to be the ones initiating the project request-they can be suggested from the President to certain state or city officials as well. When it’s all said and done, Congress will have the last say so in regards to who gets funded.

Locating Grants Publicly

As soon as there is an approved budget, that will be when the funds are available and publicized in the Federal Register. The Weekly Federal Funding Report at http://www.house.gov/ffr lists all newly available Federal Government Grants.

You can also locate different grant projects in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA); this will contain various assistance programs along with the federal agencies that administered them. You can find a public copy of the CFDA at any large or college library. You can also find this online at http://www.cfda.gov/
Commonalities of Awarded Grants

Grants are typically awarded to the public sector and only few are awarded to individuals. Much of this has to do with the various cutbacks and the economical climate we now have. If you are an individual looking to be awarded a grant, there is no guarantee after putting in much money and hard work that you will be awarded. This process is quite competitive.

Many Federal Government Grants that are being rewarded have to do with road repairs, staff retention, water conservation, flood control, and ways to attract new businesses and developments.

Just like with the individual grant approval process, any organizational project that has been approved for a grant will still go through very strict government guidelines throughout the project. Many standards will have to be upheld and expenditures will all have to be accounted for in order to receive funding for the duration of the project. Funds that are not utilized will go right back to the U.S. Treasury. Penalties for not following through as specified in the project submission can range from the payment of fines to imprisonment for theft.

Because this process is extensive, many people who are active grant finders hire staff to do nothing but apply for grants, as many individuals do not have the expertise.