US Government Grants

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Federal Government Grants

The United States Federal Government initiates designated targets for government grant funding. It is always important when looking for government grants to first research Federal government grants and federal grant programs, and then understand how these federal grants work their way down to State and local government grant programs. These are more often than not the free government grants that US citizens are seeking as individuals.

The starting point for Federal government grants is through federal agencies. The federal agency is responsible for providing designated federal assistance in the form of grants, as well as managing, monitoring, and accounting for the use of the federal money. The federal agencies grant money to recipients, including State and local governments, domestic nonprofit or for profit institutions and corporations, and individual US citizens.

Every US government grant program is assigned an official name at the federal government level. As this grant money flows down to state and local governments or to individuals, the names can change or even be called unofficial names by different agencies.

Types of US Government Grants

There are 3 general categories of Federal Government Grants.

a) Project Grants

This federal government grant category includes more programs than any other. Project grants are awarded competitively and cover expansive topics such as arts, healthcare, education, social services, research, and technological development.

b) Formula Grants

Federal Formula Grants disperse government grant money as outlined by United States law. This federal government grant category includes both Block Grants and Categorical Grants. Block grants combine Categorical grants under one grant program and permit a freer use of spending grant money than do the more narrowly defined Categorical Grants.

c) Earmark Grants

Earmark Grants are becoming an increasingly controversial type of federal government grant program. These grants are awarded to recipients based on US Congress Appropriations and have come under great scrutiny due to the intensive lobbying around their dispersion. In a ten year period, the amount of money spent on this type of federal government grant tripled. The fear is that special interests are being awarded too much free government money with too little supervision.

Types of US Government Grant Recipients

The General Services Administration (GSA) is tasked with organizing and categorizing federal government grant programs into a standardized and uniform system. They have defined 6 main categories of government grant recipients.

1) State governments, including all 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)

2) Local governments, including counties, municipalities, parishes, towns, cities, villages, districts, etc.

3) Territories and possessions, including the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and American Samoa.

4) Indian Tribal governments, including the governing body or government agency of any Indian tribe, nation, band, or organized community or group within the US and its territories.

5) Non-profit organizations and institutions, including hospitals and public or private institutions of higher learning, Native American Indian Organizations, and all other semi-public and private nonprofit organizations.

6) Private individuals, including senior citizens, low-income persons, Native American Indians, homeowners, small business owners, students, farmers, refugees, veterans, special needs individuals, etc.

The United States General Services Administration (GSA) has had the job of organizing and categorizing federal government grant programs into a standardized and uniform system since 1984. This Administration maintains a federal assistance information database. This database tracks every federal agency program that provides federal government grants and awards. The GSA is assisted by the US Office of Management and Budget. 

The GSA provides federal government grant program information to the public by means of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The CFDA is an invaluable government grant research tool for individuals and businesses, providing a directory that enables individuals to find all necessary information about specific US government grant programs.

The United States Federal Government provide Americans with government grant money to assist them in every aspect of life. US government grants provide funding for business, low-income groups, education, housing, healthcare, and many others. Always be aware that federal government grants, and those grant programs offered by local and state governments can have different names and be operated by different agencies at the local level. Also remember that you are able to apply for many grants at the same time.

These US government grants do not have to be paid back. Isn't it your turn to access free government grant money to help you reach your goals? 

The US Government Grants Internet Resource enables every American citizen to quickly and easily search and access information about government grant programs appropriate for their needs. Get started today!  

Learn what is included in the US Government Grant Internet Resource.