Grants - What is a Grant?

Grants are sums of money awarded to finance a particular activity or facility. Generally, these grant awards do not need to be paid back. Federal agencies and other organizations sponsor grant programs for various reasons.

Before developing a grant proposal, it is vitally important to understand the goals of the particular federal agency or private organization, and of the grant program itself. Understanding the goals of a grant program can be accomplished through discussions with the person listed as an information contact in each grant description. Through these discussions, an applicant may find that in order for a particular project to be eligible for funding, the original project concept may need modification to meet the criteria of the grant program.

In allocating funds, grantmakers base their decisions on the applicant's ability to fit its proposed activities within the grantmaker's interest areas.

Grants are available to: Local Governments; non-profit organizations; State Governments; U.S. Territories; federally recognized Tribal Governments.