Anticipating Federal Grant Opportunities

Maryland Governor’s Grants Conference September 12, 2011

Federal Funds Information for States www.ffis.org

Overview

What federal resources are available?

How to find out about upcoming grant opportunities?

What is the future outlook for federal grant funding?

Where the Money Goes: Pieces of the Federal Budget Pie

Where the Money Goes: Type of Assistance (Dollars in Thousands)

Type of Assistance Total Funding (FY 2009)

Block Grant (Community Development Block Grant) $14,580,561Formula Grant (Title I Grants to LEAs) 690,536,050Project Grant (Green Jobs Innovation and Training Grants) 181,183,450CO-OP Agreements (Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grants) 51,858,133Specified Direct Assistance (SNAP Benefits, Medicare) 540,373,751Unspecified Direct Assistance (Social Security, Unemployment Insurance) 773,924,060Direct Loan (Community Facilities Loans and Grants) 21,770,712Guaranteed/Insured Loans (Small Business Loans) 428,407,311Insurance (Flood and Crop Insurance Programs) 845,305,270Other 631,586Total $3,548,570,884Source: U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009

Where the Money Goes: Type of Assistance

Source: U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009

Project grants make up only 5.1% of total assistance

State/Local Grants by Program Area

Federal Outlays to State and Local Governments, FY 2010($ in Billions, % of Total)

Types of Federal Spending

Mandatory Spending– Spending that is not subject to annual

appropriations – Spending levels dictated in authorizing legislation

Discretionary Spending– Funded through annual appropriations process– Programs created or authorized through legislation

Types of Federal Grants

Block Grants– Funds used for any activity that fits within overall goals– Funds allocated based on formula

Formula Grants– Noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined

formula– The amount distributed depends on various factors

(i.e., population, amount of tax effort, per capita income, housing density, rate of infant mortality)

Types of Federal Grants

Project Grants– Awarded on the basis of competitive applications for

fixed or known periods for specific projects, or the delivery of specific services

Cooperative Agreements – Contract between federal government and recipient

when the federal government is to be substantially involved in the activities covered by the agreement

Anticipating Federal Grants

Where to look for upcoming announcements– Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

Deadline index by agency Deadline information included in program description

– Federal Register: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFA) Opportunity to comment on priorities/selection criteria

– Agency websites: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

CFDA (www.cfda.gov) provides additional background information on grants

– Type of grant– Previous award levels– Agency contacts– MOE and matching requirements– Eligibility– Application deadlines

Use “Applicant Eligibility Index” for comprehensive listing of grants

CFDA Deadline Index, Details

Deadline dates by which funding agencies must receive applications

– Pros: Covers multiple years; all types of programs

– Cons: Doesn’t indicate when applications will be made available Incomplete listing Not updated throughout year Insufficient information

CFDA: Applicant Eligibility Index

Federal Register

Published NOFAs, grant priorities, and criteria– http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?c

ollectionCode=FR– Sign up for daily Table of Contents email– Opportunity to submit comments

Most information published at the same time as Grants.gov

Agency Websites

The Good – Detailed information on upcoming grant opportunities

The Bad (or So-So)– Somewhat useful information, more work to determine

upcoming opportunities Information on open solicitations, ability to search previous years

The Ugly– Very little information on grant opportunities

Typically provides a link to Grants.gov

Agency Websites: The Good

Department of Education: Funding Opportunity Forecast– Provides current and expected grant opportunity

announcements– Estimated application deadlines– Organized by office– Gives estimated size and number of awards– Lists agency contact information for each notice– http://

www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html

Agency Websites: The Good

Department of Health and Human Services: Database of planned grant opportunities proposed by each agency

– Estimated dates (post date, application due date, award date, start date)

– Estimated funding and number of awards– Agency contact information for each notice– Option to receive email when page updated– Key Information– Tracks when posted to Grants.gov

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So)

Department of Homeland Security– Grant guidance by fiscal year, program details

http://www.dhs.gov/xopnbiz/grants/#2

Department of Justice– Link to agency grant sites http://www.justice.gov/business/

– Example: Office of Justice Programs Archived Solicitations:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/archived_solicitations_10.htm Funding Resources:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/funding.htm

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So)

Department of Labor– List of all open grant opportunities

http://www.dol.gov/dol/grants/ – Grant guidance by office http://www.dol.gov/asp/guidance/index.htm

Food and Nutrition Service– Detailed funding and award history:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/Documents/GrantsOC.htm http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/Documents/GrantsAwardHist.htm

– Past award activity: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/Documents/GrantsAnal.htm

– Agency guidance http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/regulations.htm

School Meals http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/policy.htm

CAFC http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Regs-Policy/PolicyMemoranda.htm

SFSP http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/Administration/policy.html

Food Distribution Database http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/policy/

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So)

Department of Transportation: FHWA– 2011 Discretionary Grant Programs

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary/– A Guide to Federal-Aid Programs and Projects

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federalaid/guide/guide_current.cfm

Department of Transportation: FTA– Current Notices of Funding Availability

http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants_financing_7829.html– Federal Register Publications

http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_86.html

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So)

Department of Housing and Urban Development– Funds Available

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/administration/grants/fundsavail

– Archived Funding Announcements http://archives.hud.gov/funding/index.cfm

Environmental Protection Agency– Office of Grants and Debarment, Grants Competition

http://www.epa.gov/ogd/competition/index.htm

Agency Websites: The Ugly

Department of Interior– “How Do I Find Grants?” takes you directly to grants.gov

agency search– Individual offices provide lists of all programs

Ex: Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/grants/ – Grants for states: http://www.fws.gov/grants/state.html – Grants for local agencies: http://www.fws.gov/grants/local.html

Department of Agriculture– All grant and loan programs

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GRANTS_LOANS– Regulations and Guidance

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=LAWS_REGS&navtype=SU

Agency Websites: The Ugly

Department of Energy– Financial Opportunities for States

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/states.html

Useful Resources

Health and Human Services– HHS TAGGS (obligated funds at transaction level,

reports, searchable data) http://taggs.hhs.gov/

– Agency sites (current and prior announcements, search function, program details)

ACF: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/ AOA: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx SAMHSA: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/ HRSA: https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/FundingOpp.asp?NC=

Useful Resources

Education– Guide to Education Programs

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gtep/gtep.pdf Provides program descriptions, eligibility information,

funding history, etc.– Recent Federal Register notices

http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister

Future Outlook

Ability to “stay ahead of the game” hindered by spending reductions, program uncertainty

– Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 Discretionary caps (program consolidations, eliminations,

reductions) Potential sequester and/or changes in entitlement programs

– Program extensions continue (few, if any, reauthorizations bills will pass)

– Increased focus on program outcomes, accountability, transparency could shift funding priorities

Questions?

Check for updates at www.ffis.org Contact Carol Ryder for your password and to be added to the

distribution list: ryder@ffis.org, 202-624-5849