Grants Work in a Congressional Office

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Many Members of Congress receive frequent requests from grant seekers needing funds for
projects in districts and states. The congressional office should first determine its priorities about
how much assistance to give constituents, from providing information about grants programs to
active advocacy of projects. Congressional grants staff can best help grant seekers when they gain
some understanding of the entire grants process.
Each office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon the Member’s legislative
agenda and overall organization and workload. There may be a full-time grants specialist or
several staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the area of
grants and projects. In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the district or state office;
in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff.
To assist grant seekers applying for federal funds, congressional offices can develop working
relationships with grants officers in federal and state departments and agencies. Because more
than 90% of federal funds go to state and local governments that, in turn, manage federal grants
and sub-award to applicants in their state, congressional staff need to identify their own state
administering offices. To educate constituents, a congressional office may sometimes mail or
email selected grant seekers about funding opportunities; or may sponsor seminars on federal and
private assistance. Because most funding resources are on the Internet, Member home pages can
also link to grants/Internet sources such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and
Grants.gov so that constituents themselves can search for grants and funding opportunities. The
CRS Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student Financial Aid Web page, at http://www.crs.gov/
reference/general/ WG02001.shtml, covers key CRS products and Internet sources. A second Web
page, Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance, can be added to a Member’s home page upon
request http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/grants/member-grant.html, and is updated
automatically on House and Senate servers by Merete F. Gerli.
Congressional staff can use CRS reports to learn about grants work and to provide information on
government and private funding. These include CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in
Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell; CRS
Report RL34012, Grants Information for Constituents, by Merete F. Gerli; and CRS Report
RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete F. Gerli; reports on block
grants and the appropriations process; reports covering federal assistance for homeland security
and terrorism preparedness; and reports on federal programs on specific subjects and for specific
groups such as state and local governments, police and fire departments, libraries and museums,
nonprofit organizations, small business, and other topics. An internal grants manual is a valuable
tool for grants staff to develop. It can outline office policies and procedures. With reductions in
federal programs, grants specialists may suggest other funding sources to their constituents, such
as private or corporate foundations, as alternatives or supplements to federal grants.

Introduc tion ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Organizing Office Grants Operations..............................................................................................2
Managing Grants Requests.......................................................................................................3
Office Grants Manual................................................................................................................4
File Systems and Logs..............................................................................................................4
Communicating with Staff........................................................................................................5
Assessing Constituent Requests......................................................................................................5
Providing Information to Constituents............................................................................................6
Proposal Writing Assistance and Sources........................................................................................8
Writing Letters for Grant Seekers..................................................................................................10
Announcing Grants Awards............................................................................................................11
Federal Assistance and Sources......................................................................................................11
Federal Grants and the Appropriations Process......................................................................12
Types of Federal Assistance....................................................................................................13
Grants ......................................................................................................................... ....... 13
Loans ................................................................................................................................. 14
Insurance ........................................................................................................................... 14
Goods and Properties........................................................................................................14
Services, Information, Training, and Employment...........................................................14
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.................................................................................15
Grants .gov ..................................................................................................................... .......... 16
Developing Federal and State Grants Contacts.......................................................................17
Role of State Administering Agencies (SAAs) and Contacts..................................................18
Foundations and Corporate Grants................................................................................................19
Useful Sources of Grants Information...........................................................................................21
CRS Grants Web Pages...........................................................................................................21
Additional Federal Sources.....................................................................................................21
Other Resources......................................................................................................................22
Table 1. Selected State Administering Agencies and Contacts......................................................19
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................23

Many Members of Congress receive numerous requests from grant seekers, including state and
local governments, nonprofit social service and community action organizations, private research
groups, small businesses, and individuals, for information and help in obtaining funds for
projects. Both government and private foundation funding may be appropriate.
Federal grants are not benefits or entitlements to individuals. Most federal funding goes to state
and local governments, which in turn sub-award to local entities such as nonprofit organizations.
Grants may be available for projects serving communities and needs. For example, government
assistance may be available for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based groups, for
initiatives such as establishing soup kitchens or after-school programs benefitting entire
communities; and local governments seeking funds for community services, infrastructure, and
economic revitalization may be most eligible for state and federal funds.
Congressional offices may often need to direct constituents seeking government aid to funding
options other than grants. Community fund-raising may be most suitable for school enrichment
activities such as field trips or for band or sports uniforms. Local business or foundation funding
might be more appropriate for supporting projects such as construction of local memorials or
commemorative programs. For others, such as for starting or expanding a small business or for
students, loans may be available.
• Individuals looking for government benefits may find useful the website
GovBenefits.gov at http://www.govbenefits.gov.
• Students seeking financial aid should search the Department of Education
website at http://Studentaid.ed.gov.
• To start or expand a small business, the federal government provides assistance in
the form of loans, advisory, or technical assistance. See the Small Business
Administration website at http://www.sba.gov.
Given the competition for federal funds, the success rate in obtaining federal assistance is limited.
A grants staff’s effectiveness often depends on both an understanding of the grants process and on
the relations it establishes with federal departments and agencies, with state grants administering
agencies (SAA’s), private and local foundations, and other contacts.
This report does not constitute a blueprint for every office involved in grants and projects activity,
nor does it present in-depth information about all aspects of staff activity in this area. The
discussion describes some basics about the grants process and some of the approaches and
techniques used by congressional offices in dealing with this type of constituent service.

Senate and House offices allocate staff and other resources to grants and projects activities in
order to assist the constituents with projects of potential benefit to their districts, cities, or states.
Each congressional office handles grants requests in its own way, depending upon such factors as
the Member’s philosophy on federal support for local projects, the relation of certain proposals to
his or her legislative activity, or the Member’s particular interest in specific locations or types of
projects. Other factors may include the degree of economic distress in any given locality and the
current level of federal assistance it receives. Grants activities in any congressional office depend
very much upon the overall organization, staff, and workload of the office.
• Most offices divide responsibility by function (i.e., legislation is assigned to
legislative assistants and correspondents, media relations and newsletters are
handles by a press secretary, and caseworkers help with problems of individuals).
Offices organized in this way may have a full-time grants specialist or several
staff members under the supervision of a grants coordinator working solely in the
area of grants and projects.
• Some offices divide responsibilities by subject area (i.e., a specialist in health
issues is involved with legislation, correspondence, casework, grants, projects,
speeches, and press releases in that subject area).
• DC, state, or district office? In some offices, all grants requests are handled in the
district or state office; in others, they are answered by the Washington, DC, staff;
still others divide grants and projects activity between the district or state office
and the Washington, DC, office. Regardless of how this responsibility is
assigned, it is helpful to have at least one person in the district or state office and
one person in the Washington, DC, office familiar with the whole process.
District or state staff may be more readily able to communicate and develop
relationships with federal state and federal regional offices, or state administering
agencies, often the preferred contact office for federal programs.
• State delegation cooperation. Since some constituents request the aid of the entire
state delegation for a grant or project, cooperation among Members of the
delegation can minimize duplication of effort and permit more effective use of
staff time. To increase the chances of a project’s funding, Members may solicit
the support of other Members either from the same geographic region if the
proposal would benefit a wide area, or from those who hold key positions in
leadership or on committees which exercise funding and oversight of the federal
program. Political considerations can limit the amount of such cooperation. One
state’s delegation has established a State Projects Office to help its constituents
learn about the grants process and follow through on all applications until awards
are made.
The grants person in the congressional office can serve constituents not only as a source of
information but also as a facilitator with agencies and foundations and, in some cases, even as an
advocate. The congressional office is seen by constituents as a potential source of assistance, such
as

• providing facts about financial and nonfinancial assistance available through
federal programs;
• clarifying the intricacies of proposal development, application, and follow-up
procedures;
• writing letters of interest or support from the Member to the granting agency;
• resolving problems that occur when an applicant is unsuccessful in obtaining
funds or other assistance; and
• suggesting other sources for grant assistance in both the private and public
sectors.
The congressional office should first determine the priorities of its particular office:
• Where do grants requests fall within the operations of the office?
• Should grants officers be located in Washington, DC or the state or district?
• What should be the role of the congressional office: information source or active
advocacy, or sometimes even earmarking appropriations for a project that mirrors
the Member’s legislative agenda?
• Assess the volume of incoming grants requests. What criteria determine how
much attention should be given to each grants request (e.g., number of people
who will be affected, visibility of projects, or political implications)?
Congressional grants staff can help their constituents best when they thoroughly understand the
entire grants process:
• defining the project;
• searching for likely funding sources;
• writing proposals;
• applying for grants;
• understanding review and award procedures; and
• knowing post-award requirements.
To assure continuity, particularly in cases of staff turnover and shifting responsibilities, and to
monitor the progress of the grants and projects operation, several resources can be developed.
Commercial computer software packages are available to manage correspondence, projects, and
workload. Congressional office systems administrators should contact House Information
Resources (ext. 56002) or the Senate Sergeant at Arms’ Help Desk (ext. 41517) for
recommendations.

An internal grants manual is a valuable tool for grants staff to develop. It can outline office
policies and procedures and ensure continuity when staff changes. Among the items that might be
included in such a manual are as follows:
• a statement of the Member’s policy on letters of endorsement and press
announcements, along with samples.
• a checklist of procedures to facilitate the training of new staff.
• sample project worksheets, allowing space for agency contacts, status reports,
and follow-up timetables.
• a constantly updated telephone and email listing of contacts in federal, state, and
local agencies, and foundations that have proven especially helpful.
A congressional office may wish to maintain detailed, cross-referenced files such as agency files,
constituent files by county, and tracking records.
Agency Files
• Agency files, which could also be arranged under broad subjects, or use subject
subdivisions: for example, Defense Department, district contracts; Education
Department, curriculum development; Justice Department, Community Oriented
Policing (COPS) program.
• Program files, which include detailed information on the most frequently used
programs in communities in the state or district, with a fact sheet describing each
program, plus agency brochures, and contacts.
• Project files, which may contain lists of applicants for each project. Some offices
keep records on the steps taken in support of all grant applications as
documentation.
Constituent Files by County
• These can prove especially useful for the Member’s visits to the state or district.
• Correspondence on each grant application, and local press coverage of awards
can be added.
• These clippings, along with letters from grateful constituents, can serve as a
source for favorable quotations.
Tracking Requests
• Monitor grant applications as they move through an agency’s review process.
• Maintain a follow-up calendar or log.
• Track all grants awarded in the district or state—even those your office did not
work on.

• For sources that track federal funds by state, by county, and by congressional
district, see the CRS Web page, Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds, at
http://www.crs .gov/refer ence/general/geotracki ng.shtml .
A weekly grants and projects report or letter is one way to keep both the Member and other staff
fully informed of significant developments. This is particularly important for offices organized by
functional responsibility.
• The report prepares the Member for the types of questions that may be asked
during visits to the state or district and provides topics to be addressed in
speeches.
• The legislative staff may benefit from knowing about pending state or local
government actions that would have an impact on grants and projects.
Conversely, grants and projects staff should also be able to rely on the legislative
staff for information about pending bills that would alter or create federal
programs or change relevant funding levels. Sometimes, comments from
constituents can supply data on whether programs are carrying out legislative
intent and whether changes in agency regulations or legislation are needed. Such
recommendations might then be the subject of congressional oversight hearings
or might result in recommending changes in legislation.
• The press secretary should also be kept up to date on programs of interest in the
district, so that current information can be presented in newsletters and press
releases.

If a proposal or serious inquiry is submitted to a congressional office, an assessment of the stated
problem should be made. First, this benefits the grant seeker, since any application for assistance
will require that the problem be clearly stated and that the proposed solution provide some
remedy. Secondly, this initial assessment can provide staff with a sense of direction: Are there
other projects currently under way that address the problem? Is there already an appropriate
federal or state program that is designed for such a project, or is the issue better addressed
through local, state, or private organizations, or through legislation? Will the sought-after aid
produce other problems for the community? What are its chances for success?
The initial review of the request should also involve an assessment of the applicant. A formal
grant proposal will require an applicant to establish credibility. Individuals connected with a
proposal might mention education, training, and professional credentials. Credibility for an
organization may be established by giving its history, goals, activities, and primary
accomplishments, as well as by letters of support, including by local governments. By reviewing
such information, an office may avoid the hazard of offering support for a questionable applicant
and may be in a better position to make decisions about support when several communities or
organizations are applying for the same program—will all be treated equally or will support be
given to selected applicants?

A written request from a constituent should always be acknowledged. If the request is a fairly
common one, the office may be able to respond with a prepared packet of materials on available
programs. Another alternative would be to send a copy of your constituent’s letter to the agency
with a buck slip, asking the agency’s attention, and to inform your constituent of your action and
advise that he or she will be hearing more from the office once the agency reports back.
Another approach is to call the agency contact. This procedure is generally more time consuming
for a congressional staffer than a simple referral, but it is often more informative. The agency
may provide facts about budget levels, authorizations and appropriations, the amount of money
available for the program, the total amount requested in applications on file, the number of
applications received, and the number likely to be approved, agency priorities, categories of
competition or targets by region, key dates and deadlines, and information on who makes
recommendations and decisions.
If your constituent decides to submit a formal grant application for a particular program, the
congressional office may recommend or arrange a meeting with agency offices in the district or
state. Another way to get input from the agency early in the process is a pre-review of the
application. Many agencies provide procedural review of proposals one or two months before the
application deadline. Such a review, while not dealing with the substance of the proposal, allows
an agency to inform the applicant of any technical problems or omissions to be corrected before
the proposal is formally submitted.
When a constituent notifies the congressional office that a proposal has been submitted, the office
can send a letter to the agency expressing the Member’s interest in being kept informed of
developments relating to the application. In addition, the letter may also request a list of all
applicants for the particular grant. This enables the office to consider initiating letters of support
from the Member to those applicants in his or her state or district who did not approach the office
prior to submission of their application. Whether the Member chooses to support an applicant or
extends support to all applicants from the state or district, the office should maintain contact with
all interested parties as it is notified of progress reports from agency contacts.

Cutbacks in federal programs mean many projects are made possible only through a combination
of funding sources—federal and state government grants as well as private or corporate
foundation grants should be considered. Grant seekers should know that most federal funding
goes to states in the form of formula or block grants. For many programs, application for federal
funds must be made through state administering agencies (SAAs). Whatever the funding source,
it is important to emphasize that once a project has been clearly defined, constituents can improve
their likelihood of success by doing preliminary research in order to find potential funding
sources whose goals are most nearly consistent with their own.
Because the state, local, or private groups needing assistance may be unaware of available
funding, or uncertain how to go about obtaining it, congressional offices can help identify
sources. Congressional grants staff can also serve as liaison between grant seekers and
government executive offices, including their own state offices that administer federal grants.
To assist Members in their representational duties, and to help congressional offices respond to
grants questions, CRS has developed two Grants Web pages:

• For congressional staff, the Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student
Financial Aid Web page focuses on key CRS reports and Internet products at
http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/WG02001.shtml. It includes CRS
publications on grants and programs that congressional offices can forward to
their constituents; and a separate Web page of key sources (see next bullet) that
Members may add to their home page for constituents;
• For grant seekers in districts and states, Members may add to their website the
CRS Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance Web page, sample at
http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/grants/member-grant.html to provide useful
information directly to constituents. It gives guidance and links to key Internet
sources and includes a slide program, Grants Information for Constituents,
covering information readily available to the public. CRS automatically updates
the Web page for Members on the House and Senate servers.
CRS also has a number of publications to help both congressional staff and grant seekers. Sources
described cover key Internet sources and publications about federal and private funding.
Constituents may search Internet sites from home computers or in local libraries, and can consult
many of the published sources at public or university libraries or in government depository
libraries in every state. Key useful CRS reports (in addition to the current report) to assist staff
undertaking grants work include
• CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With
Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, by Jack Maskell;
• CRS Report RL34012, Grants Information for Constituents, by Merete F. Gerli;
and
• CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete
F. Gerli.
Some congressional offices may wish to help grant seekers by forwarding to them descriptions
and contact information on federal grants programs for particular projects. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is available full text on the Internet. The site
http://www.cfda.gov/ offers keyword searching, broad subject and recipient indexes, and listings
by department, agency, and program title. The CFDA program descriptions also link to related
websites such as federal department and agency home pages and Office of Management and
Budget grants management circulars. Grant seekers themselves can then track notices of actual
federal funding opportunities under CFDA programs at the website Grants.gov at
http://www.grants.gov.
Congressional offices can also prepare their own information packets on federal grants programs
which are requested most frequently. Such packets could include program descriptions,
brochures, the latest rules and regulations, changes in agency policy, application forms, and so on.
For example, Members of rural states can become familiar with Department of Agriculture Rural
Development programs; Members with urban constituencies and projects may want to consider
Department of Housing and Urban Development programs.
Newsletters (print or e-mail) are a good way of reaching a large number of people. Some offices
choose to send out either a special grants and projects newsletter or include a section on grants
and projects in their regular newsletter. Subjects that could be developed include new programs,
new appropriations, and descriptions of recently awarded grants.

A congressional office may occasionally choose to communicate with selected audiences through
targeted mailings to inform constituents of the possible impact of new legislative or executive
actions that might revise existing programs, create new ones, or alter funding levels; important
dates and deadlines; and the advantages and limitations of various programs. This is especially
important as new programs for are created and receive congressional appropriations: for example,
a newly funded economic development program may be announced on Grants.gov with short
application deadline, of which constituents should be made aware.
Another way to get information to interested constituents is for a congressional office to
coordinate seminars on federal and private assistance at state and district locations. An office can
sponsor programs bringing together federal, state, and local officials, as well as foundation,
academic and corporate specialists, experienced volunteers, and constituents who share common
concerns. Many agencies, foundations or the Foundation Center at http://www.fdncenter.org, and
corporations are willing to provide speakers for district seminars arranged by congressional
offices and also to provide such materials as brochures, sample proposals, and lists of information
contacts. For telephone numbers to contact speakers from federal departments and agencies,
congressional staff can use CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected
Federal Agencies. For constituent orientation and group seminars, Member may consider use of
CRS products as handouts and presentation materials.
Although well-planned, balanced programs tailored to a particular audience can create good will,
coordinating and following through on such seminars take a great deal of staff work and time.
Such programs may also result in additional requests and demands on the sponsoring office.

Although most offices do not write proposals, they are frequently approached by inexperienced
constituents seeking guidance on what makes a good proposal. Offices aiding such constituents
may find helpful CRS Report RL32159, How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, by Merete
F. Gerli, which discusses 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
all aspects of writing the proposal, from outlining of project goals, stating the purpose and
objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, and how
the results of the project will be evaluated, to long-term project planning, and developing the
proposal budget. The last section of the report lists free grants writing websites, some in Spanish
as well as English.
The Foundation Center and other organizations also publish guides to writing proposals; the
Foundation Center offers a mini “Proposal Writing Course”on its website at
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html and includes versions in
Spanish, French, and other foreign languages. Constituents may also be advised that computer
software templates can be found by searching the Internet under terms such as grant proposal
AND template.
Congressional offices may wish to pass on the following suggestions.

• Allow sufficient time to prepare a thoroughly documented proposal, well before
the application deadline. If possible, have someone outside the organization
critique the proposal prior to submission.
• Follow the instructions given in the application form or in other material
provided by the agency or foundation. Answer questions as asked.
• See that the proposal is clear and brief. Avoid jargon. Take pains to make the
proposal interesting. Reviewing panels have limited time to devote to any single
proposal. Whenever possible, fit the style of the proposal to the style of the
agency or foundation being approached.
• When no form or instructions for submitting grant proposals are provided, the
proposal should include the following:
1. a cover letter on the applicant’s letterhead giving a brief description of the
purpose and amount of the grant proposal, conveying the applicant’s willingness
to discuss the proposal in further detail.
2. a half-page summary that includes identification of the applicant, the reasons
for the request, proposed objectives and means to accomplish them, along with
the total cost of the project, an indication of funds already obtained, and the
amount being requested for this grant.
3. an introduction in which the history, credentials, and accomplishments of the
applicant are presented briefly (supporting documents can be included in an
appendix).
4. a description of current conditions demonstrating the need for the proposed
project.

5. a statement of the project’s objectives in specific, measurable terms.

6. a description of the methods to be used to accomplish these objectives.

7. a description of the means by which the project will be monitored and
evaluated.
8. a discussion of plans for continuing the project beyond the period covered by
the grant.

9. a detailed budget.

Constituents seeking funds for projects frequently ask congressional offices to write letters to
federal departments and agencies on their behalf. CRS Report RS21117, Ethical Considerations
in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies, provides some guidance.
Some grants, such as for firefighters and other funding for homeland security, are determined by
formula to states and jurisdictions and letters may not be needed.
Explain to your constituent that the federal grants process is competitive, that your office can
consider writing a letter to the department or agency once the individual submits a fully
developed grant proposal. For most requests, use neutral language expressing the Member’s
“interest” in a proposal, rather than “support.” Lending “support” to a proposal that might not be
funded under the competitive process (and when there are competing applications from several
constituents) might lead to disappointment and reflect negatively on the Member.
For most constituent requests for lettersrite a letter only when your constituent has submitted the
grant proposal to the department or agency.
• Information needed from the grant seeker:
^—Na^m^{e o}^f^applican^{t; con}^t^act^pers^on^f^o^{r th}^{e proj}^{ect if}^dif^f^e^r^eⁿ^t;
^—^G^ran^t^prog^ra^mⁿ^a^m^e^an^{d num}^ber;
^—^A^g^eⁿ^c^y^coⁿ^t^{act addres}^s^,^g^r^aⁿ^ts^o^f^fⁱ^cer^’^sⁿ^a^m^e^if^a^v^ailable;
^—Deadlin^e^f^o^{r prop}^os^{al s}^u^b^m^is^sⁱ^oⁿ^;
^—P^ro^j^{ect n}^a^m^e^an^{d s}^u^m^m^a^r^y^.
• The project summary should highlight:
^—W^h^a^{t th}^{e p}^r^o^j^ect/p^r^o^g^r^am^d^o^{es an}^d^w^h^o^{it ser}^v^e^s^;
^—^W^hy^t^hⁱ^s^prog^ra^mⁱ^sⁱ^m^port^aⁿ^t^t^o^t^h^{e co}^m^m^uni^t^y^;
^—^A^ny^un^iq^u^e^f^eat^u^r^es^of^t^h^e^pro^j^{ect, n}^eedsⁿ^o^{t already}^beiⁿ^g^m^e^t^;
^—^O^t^h^{er su}^pport^f^o^{r t}^h^{e proj}^ec^t^s^u^c^h^as^l^o^cal^g^o^v^e^rnm^eⁿ^t^;
^—Sp^ecifⁱ^ca^ll^y^h^o^w^th^{e g}^r^an^{t m}^oⁿ^e^y^w^ill^b^e^u^s^ed^.
• Write directly to the person in the department of agency; provide a copy of the
letter to your constituent to submit with the proposal.
• The Member’s letter could say why this is important to his district, what needs
are being met, etc.—the summary supplied by the constituent should give the
objectives of the propsal/project.
• Close by asking the grants officer to let the Member know when a decision will
be made; and to keep your office informed about the progress of the proposal.

In cases where your constituent’s proposal is unsuccessful, tell them they may ask the department
or agency to review the proposal to suggest how to improve it, and that they may be able to
resubmit the proposal if the program continues to be funded.

Although there is some variation, the usual announcement procedure in cases of allocated federal
funds is for the agency making the award to notify the Senate office first (a Senator of the
President’s party may be first notified), then the House office, and finally the recipient. This
allows Members of Congress an opportunity to notify recipients of grants. Not all awards are
announced publicly. In the case of block grants, the Office of Management and Budget notifies
Senate offices of the allocations among the states. The state’s decision on how to distribute funds
among local communities is, however, not necessarily communicated to congressional offices. In
these cases, a good state agency contact may be willing to provide the office with this
information. Announcements of grants awarded are often posted on Member Web pages.
Many congressional offices develop files or databases of grants awarded, to track funding to their ^th
districts and states. Detailed information is difficult to obtain, though legislation in the 109
Congress, P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 calls
for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a database beginning July, 2007.
For a summary of sources and limitations of currently available data, and the new law’s
requirements, see CRS Web page, Tracking the Distribution of Federal Funds, at
http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/geotracking.shtml; and CRS Report RL33680, The Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act: Background, Overview, and Implementation
Issues, by Garrett Hatch.
To avoid disappointment, congressional staff might consider cautioning people from making
requests that are unlikely to be approved at the federal level. Suggest considering other funding
sources early in the process. In cases where grant applications are made and turned down, the
congressional office may notify constituents of their right to know why the award was not granted
and what the appeals process is. Constituents may ask the agency for an analysis of the strengths
and weaknesses of the proposal, or may give the agency permission to provide the congressional
office with this information. Alternative programs or other approaches may be suggested
following an adverse decision. Your constituent might also decide to improve the initial
application and start the process again.

Hundreds of grants or loans for various purposes are available from federal departments and
agencies. Most federal funding (over 90%) goes to state and local governments that determine
state and local needs, and that themselves offer competitive grants and funding opportunities.
New programs and federal funding to enhance homeland security or enhance emergency services
are of particular interest to many local jurisdictions. Other federal funds not dispensed through
grants, but much sought after, are used for defense procurement, construction of federal
installations, or infrastructure (e.g., military bases, federal office buildings, and federal projects
such as flood control and highway construction). Congressional offices can assist state and local
governments, non-profit organizations, and other grant seekers become aware of available funds
and how to go about obtaining them.

Staff members can contact federal agencies to find agency interest in certain projects; relay the
findings to those interested and qualified for assistance in their states and districts; and notify
home state governments, organizations, businesses, and people of what funds are available.
Once a grant application is filed, offices frequently keep in touch with agencies. Contact can be
maintained by letter, phone, e-mail, or in person as the situation dictates. Concerted action on the
part of the staff may result in more federal funds being spent in a state or district, thereby
providing greater benefit to the constituency.
Federal program and contact information is given in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov. Current notices of grant opportunities appear on the website
Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov. See sections below for more information about these key
sources.
Congress may also designate or “earmark” federal funds for projects in districts and states in
annual appropriations legislation. Because much of the annual U.S. budget consists of
expenditures for entitlement programs such as Social Security, mandatory spending through
authorizing legislation and interest payments, or allocations in the form of formula and block
grants to states and local governments, discretionary funding for new grant awards is limited. The
appropriations measure that a congressional office chooses to submit often reflects the Member’s
legislative agenda as well as the needs of the state or district.
Grant seekers who wish to ask support of their Senator or Representative for project funding
should consider the congressional budget process calendar. Appropriations measures for the next
fiscal year (October 1-September 30) are usually submitted as early as February.
If congressionally directed spending seems appropriate, applicants may be asked by the Member
to make a formal request accompanied by supporting materials, including
• project description;
• research and documentation of the need for the project (such as a feasibility study
and history of community support);
• letters of support from elected officials and local community leaders; and
• amount requested, anticipated total project cost, sources of other funding (state,
private, local match), and any history of past funding.
Grant seekers may contact both Representatives and Senators about their project. Although an
“earmark” may appear in either a House or Senate committee report, a conference committee
(composed of an equal number of House and Senate members) makes the final decisions on
funding. Having support of both Representative and Senator(s) for a project may enhance a grant
seeker’s success for an “earmark.”
The congressional appropriations process follows an annual time line, beginning in February of
each year. Grant seekers such as state and local governments or nonprofit organizations can
submit requests for project support and funding to Representatives and Senators before the
beginning of the budget cycle.

• February: The President submits to Congress the proposed Budget of the United
States.
• Members submit requests for discretionary funding on behalf of projects in their
districts or states prior to the start of appropriations hearings in early March.
• Early March: The House Appropriations Committee’s 12 subcommittees begin
hearings on proposed spending bills.
• May - August: The House votes on appropriations bills beginning in May and
tries to finish before the end of the fiscal year, September 30. The Senate
generally follows the House in considering appropriations measures. In recent
years, voting has continued into the fall, and continuing resolutions are passed to
ensure that federal offices and programs do not close down.
• After each chamber votes on its version of an appropriations bill, a conference
committee, consisting of equal numbers of House and Senate members, meets to
reconcile any differences and makes final decisions on spending.
• Funding for district and state projects included in both House and Senate
appropriations bills will generally be approved by the conferees, and submitted
for floor vote by the full House and Senate.
• After approval, appropriations bills are forwarded to the President for signature.
• Members notify grant seekers of projects successfully funded.
Currently, programs in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), the key source to
federal program information (see below), are classified into several types of financial and
nonfinancial assistance. For a fuller explanation of these categories, see the CFDA program
descriptions themselves.
Grants are generally considered desirable by applicants since they are an outright award of funds.
• Formula Grants: allocations of money to states or their subdivisions for
activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project. Includes block
grants to states and local governments.
• Project Grants: funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects or the
delivery of specific services or products, including fellowships, scholarships,
research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration
grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey
grants, construction grants, and unsolicited contractual agreements. Can also be
referred to as discretionary or categorical grants or funding.

• Direct Payments for Specified Use: federal financial assistance provided
directly to individuals, private firms, and other private institutions to encourage
or subsidize a particular activity.
• Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use: federal financial assistance provided
directly to beneficiaries who satisfy federal eligibility requirements with no
restrictions as to how the money is spent.
Because loans must be repaid, they are often viewed by applicants as less desirable than grants.
However, with the reduction of federal funds available for grants and the increasing level of
competition for such funds, loans are often the only form of assistance available.
• Direct Loans: lending of federal funds for a specific period of times, with a
reasonable expectation of repayment; may or may not require the payment of
interest.
• Guaranteed/Insured Loans: programs in which the federal government makes
an arrangement to indemnify a lender against part or all of any defaults by those
responsible for repayment of loans.
Some federal programs provide financial assistance to assure reimbursement for losses sustained
under specified conditions. Coverage may be provided directly by the federal government or
through private carriers and may or may not require the payment of premiums.
The federal government has programs both for the sale, exchange, or donation of property and for
temporary use or loan of goods and property.
• Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property and Goods: programs which provide
for the sale, exchange, or donation of federal real property, personal property,
commodities, and other goods including land, buildings, equipment, food, and
drugs.
• Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment: programs which provide for the
loan of, use of, or access to federal facilities or property wherein the federally-
owned facilities or property do not remain in the possession of the recipient of
the assistance.
The federal government offers a variety of programs to assist communities and citizens.
• Provision of Specialized Services: programs which provide federal personnel to
directly perform certain tasks for the benefit of communities or individuals.

• Advisory Services and Counseling: programs which provide federal specialists
to consult, advise, or counsel communities or individuals, to include conferences,
workshops, or personal contacts.
• Dissemination of Technical Information: programs which provide for the
publication and distribution of information or data of a specialized technical
nature frequently through clearinghouses or libraries.
• Training: programs which provide instructional activities conducted directly by
a federal agency for individuals not employed by the federal government.
• Investigation of Complaints: federal administrative agency activities that are
initiated in response to requests, either formal or informal, to examine or
investigate claims of violations of federal statutes, policy, or procedure.
• Federal Employment: programs which reflect the government-wide
responsibilities of the Office of Personnel Management in the recruitment and
hiring of federal civilian agency personnel.
The key sources of information about federal programs, projects, services, and activities that
provide assistance or benefits to the public are the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) and Grants.gov. The Catalog, produced by the General Services Administration (GSA)
and searchable for free on the Internet http://www.cfda.gov/, describes some 1,600 authorized
financial and nonfinancial assistance programs of federal departments and agencies. The
Government Printing Office publishes and sells an annual print edition for government depository
libraries and the public http://bookstore.gpo.gov/. Only the Internet version, available free to the
public, is updated continuously throughout the year.
About 1,000 CFDA programs are grants. For grants programs, funding notices and application
information appear in notices of current funding opportunities posted at Grants.gov
http://www.grants.gov.
CFDA program descriptions include the following:
• Federal agency administering a program;
• Legislation authorizing the program;
• Objectives and goals of program;
• Types of financial or nonfinancial assistance provided;
• Uses and restrictions;
• Eligibility requirements;
• Application and award process;
• Criteria for selecting proposals;
• Amount of obligations for the past, current, and estimates for future fiscal years;
• Funding caps and range of awards;

• Regulations, guidelines, and literature relevant to a program;
• Information contacts and headquarters, regional, and local offices;
• Related programs;
• Examples of funded projects;
• Formula and matching requirements, where applicable; and
• Requirements for post-assistance reports.
Updated information on federal programs also appears in the daily Federal Register
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. House Information Resources (HIR) makes available to
Congress and to the general public at http://www.house.gov/ffr/federal_funding_reports.shtml the
Federal Funding Report, a weekly compilation of notices from the previous week’s Federal
Register dealing with federal domestic assistance programs. Federal departments and agencies
may also provide information and guidelines for specific programs on their websites. These
websites may also provide a list of grantees from the previous fiscal year and indicate the amount
of money still available for the coming year.
Congressional staff may suggest that constituents seeking federal funding search CFDA
themselves by subject, keyword, beneficiary and other options for identifying appropriate
program information.
Some congressional offices may wish to forward to constituents a preliminary CFDA search of
potential federal funding. Descriptions of programs identified will have to be carefully analyzed
by grant seekers themselves to see whether they may be appropriate. Early in the process, the
grant seeker should contact the department or agency indicated in the CFDA program description
for latest information on funding availability, program requirements, and deadlines. Often a
referral to a local or state office will be given. Many may be project or formula (block) grants to
states that in turn accept grants applications and determine award recipients.
As part of the federal government’s e-grants initiative, originating in the Financial Assistance
Management Improvement Act of 1999, P.L. 106-107, federal departments and agencies are
required to post grants opportunities notices on Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov
posts funding notices from over 1,000 federal grant programs and provides a uniform application
process for all federal grants opportunities.
Except for familiarizing themselves with information provided on this site, and sometimes
posting funding notices on Member websites if they wish, congressional staff generally need not
search this website for funding opportunties for constituents. CRS grants websites and reports
include Grants.gov as a key source for grant seekers themselves to access and search. Grants.gov
is free to the public and is intended for grant seekers to search themselves. For grant seekers who
have identified appropriate federal funding programs (through CFDA or department and agency
websites), Grants.gov enables them to
• search for 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.
Registration by the grant seeker who will be making the application is required. Using unique IDs
and passwords, grants applicants can track the progress of their applications. For questions about
Grants.gov, congressional staff can call the Grants.gov program office at (202) 205-1154. The
managing federal agency for the program is the Department of Health and Human Services, the
federal government’s largest grant-making department.
Many federal agencies have a number of offices: a central office in Washington, DC; a series of
regional and state offices; and, in some cases, local or area offices. Each program in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance includes information contacts, either giving the name, address,
and telephone number of the program officer, or referring applicants to the regional, state, or local
office of the agency. Federal Regional and Local Office Addresses are given in Appendix IV of
the Catalog, by department or agency at http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web.pdf; and by state
at http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web_state.pdf.
Congressional offices can channel their requests for program funding information and get help
identifying appropriate grants officers through federal department and agency congressional
liaison offices (see CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal
Agencies, by Zina L. Watkins and Carla Berry and Carla Berry, for telephone numbers).
Establishing a good relationship with program grants officers is usually beneficial—they are
normally well informed and willing to share information with congressional grants and projects
staff. The liaison office may also be willing to brief congressional staff so that they may become
more familiar with the way the agency is organized and where responsibilities are assigned, as
well as with published materials that may be available on various programs.
State and district grants and projects staff usually work closely with federal agency
representatives in their areas, with their state Members of Congress and Senators, with state and
local elected officials, and with state councils of government. Many federal programs are
administered directly by state agencies or other entities within the state, and many states have
programs funded out of their own appropriations that supplement or complement federal
programs. Local councils of government, where they exist, have access to federal funds for
providing technical assistance, guidance, and counseling in the grants process. Constituents are,
as a rule, best served by being put in touch with program officers closest to them as early as
possible.
Some congressional grants and projects veterans report that a congressional office that
encourages cooperation among local organizations, foundations, units of government, and
councils of government can serve as a catalyst for applicants by improving communications,
which may in turn enhance the chances for proposal approval. When congressional staff take the
time to express appreciation for assistance provided by federal personnel, foundation officials,
and others involved in the grants process, they may possibly improve their chances for future
assistance.

Many federal grants such as formula and block grants are awarded directly to state governments,
which then set priorities and allocate funds within that state. To help constituents, congressional
grants staff need to learn their SAAs, the state counterpart offices accepting grants applications
and disbursing federal formula and other grants. For more information on how a state intends to
distribute formula grant funds, grant seekers need to contact the state administering agency.
Many federal department and agency websites provide state contacts. Often the site will have an
interactive U.S. map where grant seekers can click on their state and obtain program and funding
contact information. State government agencies provide coordination of local efforts to obtain
federal funds through grant programs that are already allocated to the state; and state government
agencies are familiar with federal program requirements, can assist with proposals, and can
provide other guidance. In fact, many federal grant programs require that an applicant complete a
pre-application screening at the state level before submitting requests.
• Federal congressional liaison offices can help congressional staff identify SAAs
for their programs: use CRS Report 98-446, Congressional Liaison Offices of
Selected Federal Agencies, by Zina L. Watkins and Carla Berry.
• Many states require federal grants applicant to submit a copy of their application
for state government-level review and comment, and have designated a ‘Single
Point of Contact’ under Executive Order 12372, listed by Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. The
State offices listed here coordinate government (both federal and state) grants
development and may provide guidance to grant seekers.
• Other state government agency websites may be identified at the federal
government site USA.gov, State and Local Agencies by Topic at
http://www.usa.gov/ Agencies/State _and_Territories/A ge ncies_by_Topic.s html .
• Federal department and agency regional, state, and local offices which grant
seekers should contact early in their proposal development are given in CFDA
Appendix IV, Regional and Local Office Addresses, by department or agency at
http://12.46.245.173/CFDA/appx4_web.pdf; and by state at http://12.46.245.173/
CFDA/appx4_web_sta te .pdf.
• Many federal executive department and agency websites include state contacts or
state administering agencies (SAAs) to which grant seekers can be referred: a
selection of such SAA websites are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Selected State Administering Agencies and Contacts
^{Agriculture Ru}^{ral Development S}^tate^{http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd}^_map.html
^Contacts
^{National Endowment for}^{the A}^r^t^s^(NEA)^{http://www.arts.gov/partne}^r/^{state/SAA_RAO_}^list.html
^Partners
^{Commerce Offices a}^{nd Services}^{http://www.commerce.gov/statemap2.html}
^{Education (ED) State Contacts}^{http://www.ed.gov/}^about/^{contacts/state/index.html}
^Energ^{y (DOE) State Contacts}^{http://www.eere.energy.gov/}^{state_energy_program/}^{seo_contacts.cfm}
^Environme^{ntal Protection Agenc}^{y (EPA)}^{http://www.epa.gov/ogd/}^grants/^re^gional.htm
^{Grant Regional Office}
^{Federal Emergenc}^{y Ma}^nagemen^t^Agency^{http://www.fema.gov/about/conta}^{ct/statedr.shtm}
^{(FEMA) State Offices a}^{nd Agenci}^es
^{Health and H}^uma^{n Services (HH}^S)^{http://www.acf.hhs.gov/}^{acf_contact_us.html#state}
^{Administration on Children and F}^amilies:
^{State Contacts}
^{Homeland Security (DHS) State Contacts}^{http://www.dhs.gov/xgovt/grants/}ⁱ^ndex.shtm
^{and Gra}^{nt Award I}^nformation
^{Housing and Ur}^ban^Development^(HUD)^{http://www.hud.gov/localoffices.cf}^m
^{State/Local Offices}
^{National Endowment for}^the^Hu^manities^{http://www.neh.gov/}^{whoweare/statecouncils.html}
^{(NEH) State Councils}
^{Office of Ju}^{stice Programs (OJP)}^State^{http://www.ojp.usdoj.g}^ov/^saa/
^{Administering Agencies}
^{Labor (DOL) Services b}^y^Location^{http://www.dol.g}^ov/^dol/^location.h^tm
^{Small Business Administration}^{http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html}
^{Transportation, Federal Transit}^{http://www.fta.dot.gov/}^regional_^offices.html
^{Administration (FTA) Reg}^{ional O}^ffices
^{Veterans Affairs}^{State/Territory Offices}^{http://www.va.gov/statedva.htm}

With reductions in federal programs, congressional grants specialists may wish to suggest other
funding possibilities to their constituents as alternatives or supplements to federal grants. Private
foundation funding can be used for federal grants that have matching requirements.
Small local projects should begin their search for help at the community level from local
businesses or institutions. Support may be available in the form of cash contributions or in-kind
contributions of property, buildings, equipment, or professional expertise. Evidence of such
community-based support may strengthen a federal grant proposal.
Grant making foundations are established for the express purpose of providing funds for projects
in their areas of interest, and all must comply with specific Internal Revenue Service regulations
to maintain their tax-exempt status. Every year, each is required to give away money equal to at
least 5% of the market value of its assets, and each must make its tax records public.

Although there are all kinds of foundation and corporate grants available, competition for these
funds is great, and, just as is the case in searching for federal support, grant seekers enhance their
chances for success by doing preliminary research to find grant makers whose priorities and goals
match their own. By searching foundation websites, grant seekers can find guidelines, copies of
annual reports and tax returns to learn whether their proposals match a foundation’s areas of
interest and geographic guidelines; whether the proposal is within its budgetary constraints; and
whether it normally funds the type of project being considered.
There are many different kinds of foundations, with widely varying resources and purposes.
Some are national in scope; others are set up purely for the purpose of local giving. Some are
endowed by an individual or family to provide funds for specific social, educational, or religious
purposes; others are company-sponsored; still others are publicly supported community
foundations. Grant seekers might begin by identifying state or local foundations. These may have
a greater interest in local projects than larger foundations mainly concerned with programs of
national significance. Direct corporate giving should also be explored: many corporations support
local projects in areas where they have their headquarters or plants, or sponsor projects which
somehow enhance their corporate image.
Because of this variety, different strategies may be needed for dealing with different foundations.
There are a few foundations that publicize their funding policies, and even initiate projects, but
generally they do not. Usually, the grant seeker must take the first step and approach the
foundation about his or her proposal. Although it is hard to generalize about foundations, they
tend to be more flexible than federal funding agencies and to have fewer bureaucratic
requirements. Many foundations see their purpose as providing short-term, startup funding for
demonstration projects. Frequently, such foundations are the best source to turn to for funding
emergency situations or small, high-risk, innovative programs. In some cases, foundation officials
will work closely with inexperienced grant seekers to help them develop realistic proposals.
The Foundation Center serves as a clearinghouse of information on private philanthropic giving
and is a good starting point for identifying likely funding sources. The center’s office in
Washington, DC, provides each congressional office with its yearly Foundation Directory and
can advise staff on other sources of private funding. The Foundation Center can be contacted via
phone at (202) 331-1400. The center’s website, http://www.foundationcenter.org, includes
extensive information about private funders; posts requests for proposals (RFPs) for funding
opportunities from foundations in all subject fields; offers web and in-person training, many of
them free, including a “Proposal Writing Short Course;” and produces a number of directories
and guides to private and corporate funding sources, in print, CD-ROM, Web, and other
electronic formats. The Foundation Center also posts IRS Form 990 for nonprofit organizations at
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/.
In addition to its major reference collections in New York, Washington, DC, Cleveland, and San
Francisco, the Foundation Center maintains a national network of cooperating library collections
in each state, with print and electronic resources available free to the public. Addresses of these
library collections are provided on the Foundation Center website at http://foundationcenter.org/
collections/. At these libraries, grant seekers may search the Foundation Directory Online by field
of interest, by foundation location, and other categories to produce lists of likely funding sources
for grant seekers. For congressional staff, the Library of Congress maintains a subscription to the
Foundation Directory Online.

Other websites that provide free listings of foundations include the Council on Foundations Web
page, Community Foundations by State, at http://www.cof.org/Locator/index.cfm?crumb=2; and
the Grantsmanship Center’s Funding Sources, which for each state lists “top,” corporate, and
community foundations, at http://tgci.com/funding.shtml. Congressional offices may wish to send
constituents state listings from these websites.

Grants, Business Opportunities, and Student Financial Aid
http://www.crs .gov/refer ence/ge neral/W G02001.shtml
Focuses on CRS grants Web products and publications. CRS reports provide guidance to
congressional staff on federal programs and funding; and may be considered for delivery to
constituents in response to grants requests.
Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
http://www.crs .gov/refer ence/ge neral/grants/me mber-grant.html
Provides Internet links to free key federal and private grants and funding information, including
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Grants.gov, and other federal websites; and the
Foundation Center, and other Internet funding resources. Members may add this CRS Web page
to their home page so grant seekers in districts and states can access Internet information directly
using the Member’s home page as portal to key grants sources.
For Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and Grants.gov, see sections of this report and the
CRS websites described above.
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration)
http://www.fir st gov. gov/ Agencies/Feder al /All_Agencies /i ndex.shtml
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency’s homepage to learn more
about its programs and objectives. The website USA.gov http://www.usa.gov also includes
Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid for citizens
http://www.usa.gov/ Ci ti zen/Topi cs/Benefits.sht ml;
Government-to-Government
http://www.usa.gov/ Gove rnme nt/State _Local/Grants.shtml
Thousands of grants and loans are made by the Federal government to State and local
governments and other public entities. This site provides one-stop access to grants
management and federal assistance programs, in addition to resources about acquisition
and procurement, financial management, and taxes;
Grants, Loans, and Other Assistance for nonprofit organizations http://www.usa.gov/
Business/Nonprofit.shtml links to federal department and agency information and
service, including fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and
regulations, management and operations, registration and licensing, and tax information;

Information by Topic for Business provides financial assistance information for small
business, government contractors, and foreign business in the United States.
http://www.usa.gov/ Business/Business_Gateway.shtml
Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Office of the President)
http://www.white house.gov/go ve rnme nt/fbci/cent ers.html
The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Justice, and Labor operate a number of programs to serve Americans in need for which faith-
based and community organizations may apply. Two publications can be of help:
Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal
Government
http://www.white house.gov/go ve rnme nt/fbci/guidance_document_01-06.pdf
Federal Funds for Organizations That Help Those in Need
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/grants-catalog-05-2006.pdf Some are
“formula grants” made available to States and local governments, which in turn award
grants to grassroots and local organizations. To learn about them, contact local and State
agencies responsible for managing these programs.
Federal Funding Report
http://www.house.gov/ ffr/federal_funding_repor ts.s html
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. Some House Members add
these notices to their website.
Grants Management Circulars (Office of Management and Budget)
http://www.white house.gov/o mb/gr ants/i ndex.html
OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars
and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in CFDA program descriptions and may be printed
out in full-text.
Grants and Related Resources (Michigan State University Libraries)
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harr is23/grants/index.htm
The site provides government and private grants resources, primarily Internet, by subject
or group categories, and are updated frequently. It includes
Funding for Business and Economic Development
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harr is23/grants/2biz.htm
Grants for Nonprofits
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harr is23/grants/2sga lpha.htm
Grants for Individuals
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3subject.htm

^Mer^e^{te F. Ger}^li
^In^f^o^r^m^a^tion^R^e^s^earch^Specialⁱ^s^t
^m^g^erlⁱ^@^c^rs^.l^oc.^g^ov^{, 7-}⁷¹⁰⁹