Grants Galore 
Federal & State Grants

Government Grants

In the United States, federal grants are economic aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States.








Types of Grants

Project grants are grants given by the government in order to fund research projects such as a research project for medical purposes. An individual must acquire certain qualifications before applying for such a grant and the normal duration for project grants is 3 years.


Formula Grants provide funds as dictated by a law. See: Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Job Training Partnership Act, Work Incentive Program 


Categorical grants may be spent only for narrowly defined purposes and recipients often must match a portion of the federal funds. 33% of categorical grants are considered to be formula grants. See: Head Start, Urban Forestry Assistance, Asbestos School Hazards Abatement. About 90% of federal aid dollars are spent for categorical grants. 


Block grants combine categorical grants into a single program. See: Community Development Block Grant; Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services Block Grant. Recipients of block grants have more leeway in using funds than recipients of individual categorical grants. All block grants are considered to be formula grants. 


Earmark grants are explicitly specified in appropriations of the U.S. Congress. They are not competitively awarded and have become highly controversial because of the heavy involvement of paid political lobbyists used in securing them. In FY1996 appropriations, the Congressional Research Service found 3,023 earmarks totalling $19.5 billion, while in FY2006 it found 12,852 earmarks totalling $64 billion.


Federal and State grants frequently receive criticism due to what are perceived to be excessive regulations and not include opportunities for small business, as well as for often giving more money per person to smaller states regardless of population or need. These criticisms include problems of overlap, duplication, excessive categorization, insufficient information, varying requirements, arbitrary federal decision-making, and grantsmanship (a funding bias towards entities most familiar with how to exploit the system, rather than to those most in need).



There are over 900 grant programs offered by 
26 Federal Grant Making Agencies

These programs fall into 21 categories:

  • Agriculture 
  • Arts 
  • Business and Commerce 
  • Community Development 
  • Consumer Protection 
  • Disaster Prevention and Relief 
  • Education Regional Development 
  • Employment, Labor, and Training 
  • Energy 
  • Environmental Quality 
  • Food and Nutrition 
  • Health 
  • Housing 
  • Humanities 
  • Information and Statistics 
  • Law, Justice, and Legal Services 
  • Natural Resources 
  • Science and Technology 
  • Social Services and Income Security 
  • Transportation 

Grant Making Agencies
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Government Grant Making Agencies












Corporation for National and Community Service 
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the nation’s largest grant-maker supporting service and volunteering. Through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs, the Corporation is a catalyst for change and 
offers every American a chance to contribute through service and volunteering.






Department of Agriculture
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly
200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens 
markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.







Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce fosters and promotes the nation’s economic development and technological advancement 
through vigilance in international trade policy, domestic business policy and growth, and promoting economic progress at all levels.







Department of Defense 
The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States 
through five major areas: peacekeeping and war-fighting efforts, Homeland Security, evacuation and humanitarian causes.







Department of Education
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, 
management and accountability in federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement 
educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.







Department of Energy
The Department of Energy’s goal is to advance national, economic and energy security in the U.S.; to promote scientific 
and technological innovation in support of that goal; and to ensure environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.







Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services is the federal government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all 
Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves. 







Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security has three primary missions: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, 
reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.







Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD fulfills this mission through high ethical standards, 
management and accountability, and by forming partnerships with community organizations.







Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation’s natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, 
serving communities and excellence in management.







Department of Justice
The Department of Justice enforces the law and defends the interest of the United States, ensuring public safety against 
threats foreign and domestic; providing federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; seeking just punishment for those 
guilty of unlawful pursuits; and ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.







Department of Labor
The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of job seekers, wage earners and retirees by improving their 
working conditions, advancing their opportunities, protecting their retirement and health benefits and generally protecting 
worker rights and monitoring national economic measures.







Department of State
The Department of State strives to create a more secure, democratic and prosperous world for the benefit of the American 
people and the international community.







Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation’s mission is to ensure fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation
 that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.







Department of the Treasury
The Department of Treasury is a steward of United States economic and financial systems, and promotes conditions 
for prosperity and stability in the U.S., and encourages prosperity and stability in the rest of the world.







Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs strives for excellence in patient care and veteran’s benefits for its constituents 
through high quality, prompt and seamless service to United States veterans.







Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970,
 EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.







Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 
17,500 museums. The Institute serves as a leader in providing services to enhance learning, sustain cultural heritage and
 increase civic participation.







National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration serves as the nation’s forefront of such exploration and continues
 to pioneer in aeronautics, exploration systems, science and space operations.







National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration enables people to inspect the record of what the federal government has done, 
enables officials and agencies to review their actions and helps citizens hold them accountable.







National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts; bringing the arts to all
 Americans and providing leadership in arts education. The Endowment is the largest national source of funds for the arts.







National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.







National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created to promote the progress of science, to advance the
 national health, prosperity, and welfare and to secure the national defense. The NSF annually funds approximately 20 percent 
of basic, federally-supported college and university research.







Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration maintains and strengthens the nation’s economy by aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting
 the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.







Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration advances the economic security of the nation’s people through compassionate and vigilant
 leadership in shaping and managing America’s Social Security programs.


Agency for International Development

The Agency for International Development is an independent federal government agency that provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to ensure a better future for us all.