What type of grants are available from the U.S. federal government?
08 August 2024
The U.S. federal government offers many types of grants to support a wide range of both non-profit and for-profit activities and initiatives. Some common types of grants that are offer by various federal, state, and local government agencies include:
Research grants: These grants support scientific, engineering, and academic research in almost every field – including aerospace, energy, medicine, technology, social sciences, and humanities. Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Energy (DOE) offer these grants.
Education grants: These grants fund initiatives and new technologies geared towards improving education at all educational levels from preschool to college. The agencies that offer these grants are the Department of Education (DOE) and the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) for curriculum development, training, and educational research.
Community Development grants: These grants support projects and programs that promote economic and community development. Federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) offer these grants.
Healthcare grants: Healthcare grants fund initiatives to improve access to healthcare to improve outcomes. Federal Agencies that fund these initiatives are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for healthcare services in under served communities.
Environmental grants: Environmental grants support projects and programs that protect natural resources, conserve wildlife, and address environmental challenges. Federal agencies that support these grants include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Small Business grants: Small business grants provide funding for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses for research and development or other initiatives, products, or technologies that will benefit society.
Arts and Culture grants: These grants support cultural institutions, arts organizations, and theaters. Federal agencies that create these awards include the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Agricultural grants: Agricultural grants support farmers, agricultural research, and agricultural technologies. Federal agencies that support agriculture are the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Social Service grants: Social service grants fund programs and services to support populations who need assistance, such as seniors and individuals with disabilities. Federal agencies that support these initiatives include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
Disaster Relief grants: Grants for disaster relief provide funding for communities that have been affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. Federal agencies that award these grants include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
These are a few examples of the types of grants that are available and the federal agencies that provide the funding for these grants. These federal agencies issue grants throughout the year and many of these agencies offer grant opportunities several times a year. To keep track of funding opportunities or solicitations offered by these agencies, it is often helpful to visit their websites frequently and subscribe to their grant opportunity subscriber lists.