CFDA – Where to Begin to Look for Federal Grant Money

All Federal Government projects, programs, services and activities that provide assistance and benefits to citizens are cataloged in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. All financial and non-financial assistance programs implemented through departments and establishments for the US Federal government are recorded in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

In 1984, Public Law 98-169 authorized the transfer of responsibilities of the Federal Program Information Act from the Office of Management and Budget to the General Services Administration. The transfer took place in July 1984. These responsibilities include the dissemination of Federal domestic assistance program information through the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act, Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law 98-169.

The GSA is responsible for the database of Federal assistance. The Office of Management and Budget acts as the conduit agency between the Federal agencies and the General Services Administration delivering the required oversight to the program data related to domestic assistance.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is the basic reference manual providing information on all Federal domestic activities. Its most critical function is allowing users to identify programs of particular interest. The CFDA also is a tremendous resource for basic information on Federal assistance programs. Additionally, the Catalog endeavors to improve communications and enhance coordination between State and Local entities and the Federal government.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance lets grant researchers investigate every domestic program managed by Federal agencies and departments in a single database. All information is cross referenced by functional classification, subject, applicant, deadline(s) for program application submission, and authorizing legislation. All of this information can be used as a valuable resource tool, making it easier to identify specific areas of program interest more effectively.

Since its inception the General Services Administration has produced a printed edition of the CFDA. Legislation dating back to 1977 required free dissemination of the Catalog to designated recipients. In 2003 the General Services Administration distributed almost 10,000 copies of the Catalog.

Current legislation, however, authorizes GSA to determine in what form to prepare and publish the Catalog. Consistent with the Administration’s Electronic-Government initiatives, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, and a move to a paper free environment, GSA will now disseminate the Catalog electronically through the CFDA website on the Internet. As a result, effective immediately, General Services Administration will no longer print and distribute free copies of the Catalog.

Grants and Scholarship Tips

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