Anticipating Federal Grant Opportunities

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Anticipating Federal Grant Opportunities

• Maryland Governors Grants Conference September
  12, 2011

Federal Funds Information for States www.ffis.org
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Overview

• What federal resources are available?
• How to find out about upcoming grant
  opportunities?
• What is the future outlook for federal grant
  funding?

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Where the Money Goes Pieces of the Federal
Budget Pie
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Where the Money Goes Type of Assistance (Dollars
in Thousands)
Type of Assistance Total Funding (FY 2009)
Block Grant (Community Development Block Grant) 14,580,561
Formula Grant (Title I Grants to LEAs) 690,536,050
Project Grant (Green Jobs Innovation and Training Grants) 181,183,450
CO-OP Agreements (Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grants) 51,858,133
Specified Direct Assistance (SNAP Benefits, Medicare) 540,373,751
Unspecified Direct Assistance (Social Security, Unemployment Insurance) 773,924,060
Direct Loan (Community Facilities Loans and Grants) 21,770,712
Guaranteed/Insured Loans (Small Business Loans) 428,407,311
Insurance (Flood and Crop Insurance Programs) 845,305,270
Other 631,586
Total 3,548,570,884
Source U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009
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Where the Money Goes Type of Assistance
Project grants make up only 5.1 of total
assistance
Source U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009
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State/Local Grants by Program Area
Federal Outlays to State and Local Governments,
FY 2010( in Billions, of Total)
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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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CFDA Deadline Index, Details

• Deadline dates by which funding agencies must
  receive applications
• Pros
• Covers multiple years all types of programs
• Cons
• Doesnt indicate when applications will be made
  available
• Incomplete listing
• Not updated throughout year
• Insufficient information

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CFDA Applicant Eligibility Index
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Federal Register

• Published NOFAs, grant priorities, and criteria
• http//www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?
  collectionCodeFR
• Sign up for daily Table of Contents email
• Opportunity to submit comments
• Most information published at the same time as
  Grants.gov

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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

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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

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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/

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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/f
  unding/archived_solicitations_10.htm
• Funding Resources http//www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundin
  g/funding.htm

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Agency Websites The Bad (or So-So)

• Department of Labor
• List of all open grant opportunitieshttp//www.do
  l.gov/dol/grants/
• Grant guidance by office http//www.dol.gov/asp/gu
  idance/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/GrantsAwardHi
  st.htm
• Past award activity http//www.fns.usda.gov/fm/Do
  cuments/GrantsAnal.htm
• Agency guidance http//www.fns.usda.gov/fns/regula
  tions.htm
• School Meals http//www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governanc
  e/policy.htm
• CAFC http//www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Regs-Policy/
  PolicyMemoranda.htm
• SFSP http//www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/Administra
  tion/policy.html
• Food Distribution Database http//www.fns.usda.gov
  /fdd/policy/

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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_cur
  rent.cfm
• Department of Transportation FTA
• Current Notices of Funding Availability
  http//www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants_financing_78
  29.html
• Federal Register Publications http//www.fta.dot.g
  ov/laws/leg_reg_86.html

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Agency Websites The Bad (or So-So)

• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Funds Available http//portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HU
  D?src/program_offices/administration/grants/funds
  avail
• 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/ind
  ex.htm

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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/gran
  ts/local.html
• Department of Agriculture
• All grant and loan programs http//www.usda.gov/wp
  s/portal/usda/usdahome?navidGRANTS_LOANS
• Regulations and Guidance http//www.usda.gov/wps/p
  ortal/usda/usdahome?navidLAWS_REGSnavtypeSU

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Agency Websites The Ugly

• Department of Energy
• Financial Opportunities for States
  http//www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/states.html

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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/ind
  ex.aspx
• SAMHSA http//www.samhsa.gov/grants/
• HRSA https//grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/FundingO
  pp.asp?NC

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Useful Resources

• Education
• Guide to Education Programshttp//www2.ed.gov/pro
  grams/gtep/gtep.pdf
• Provides program descriptions, eligibility
  information, funding history, etc.
• Recent Federal Register notices
  http//www.ed.gov/news/fedregister

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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

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Questions?

• Check for updates at www.ffis.org
• Contact Carol Ryder for your password and to be
  added to the distribution list ryder_at_ffis.org,
  202-624-5849