340 likes | 695 Views
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 o pportunities?
E N D
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: Type of Assistance (Dollars in Thousands) Source: U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009
Where the Money Goes: Type of Assistance Project grants make up only 5.1% of total assistance Source: U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009
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
Federal Register • Published NOFAs, grant priorities, and criteria • http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=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 opportunitieshttp://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.htmhttp://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 Programshttp://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