The Nonprofit FAQ
| What about U.S. Federal Grants |
Finding and Applying for Federal GrantsThe process for applying for Federal grants was radically changed in 2005 and has continued to evolve since then. You must register with the Federal government in advance to apply for grants. Below is the information you need to register. In the long run it should save you time. Grants.gov is the central clearinghouse for information about federal support for organizations of all sorts and for individuals. Though many federal agencies and programs continue to provide information about grants and contracts through their own websites and other forms of communication, the application process is increasingly concentrated at Grants.gov. The site also offers a general introduction to the federal grants process and related information at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/all_about_grants.jsp The registration procedure is a one-time process. It is required before representatives of an organization can submit grant application packages electronically through Grants.gov. Observers strongly suggest any organization that has not registered and is expecting to apply for a federal grant complete the registration early. The process can take several days to complete; delays could lead to trouble filing a grant application by the deadline. If your organization does not have a Data Universal Numbering System, a D-U-N-S number, you will have to file for one. You can check to see if your organization has a D-U-N-S number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do. Organizations can receive a D-U-N-S number at no cost by following the instructions at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request lines listed at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/reqDuns_phone.jsp The D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together. D&B links the D&B D-U-N-S numbers of parents, subsidiaries, headquarters and branches on more than 64 million corporate family members around the world. Organizations and individuals considering seeking funds from the Federal government can get started by using this tutorial: http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted There are two checklists explaining the registration process:
Grants.gov is designed to be used in two ways: Finding Grant Opportunities and Applying for Grants. The site also offers a facility for tracking the progress of a grant application once the application has been accepted. Grants.gov provides the ability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. Begin your search for Federal grant opportunities and download application packages available on Grants.gov. Note: Grant Researchers are not required to register or login to Grants.gov. Lists of research tools, with live links, are online at http://www.grants.gov/GetStartedRoles?type=researcher Posted 12/1/05; completely revised 1/27/10 -- PB |