If you are interested in researching federal government grant opportunities, a great place to start is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. The CFDA is a government-wide collection of Federal services and activities, including programs and projects that provide benefits or assistance to residents of the United States. The CFDA non-financial and financial assistance programs managed by departments and other entities within the Federal government.
In 1984, Public Law 98-169 authorized the transfer of responsibilities of the Federal Program Information Act from the Office of Management and Budget to the General Services Administration. The transfer took place in July 1984. These responsibilities include the dissemination of Federal domestic assistance program information through the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act, Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law 98-169.
The GSA now maintains the Federal assistance information database from which program information is obtained. The OMB serves as an intermediary agent between the Federal agencies and GSA, thus providing oversight to the necessary collection of Federal domestic assistance program data.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is the fundamental reference for all Federal programs. Its most important purpose is in assisting visitors in identification of programs that meet their specific requirements. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance also is a great source of information on Federal assistance programs. The Catalog also seeks to enhance communications and improve coordination between State and Local governments and the Federal government.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance lets grant researchers investigate every domestic program managed by Federal agencies and departments in a single database. All information is cross referenced by functional classification, subject, applicant, deadline(s) for program application submission, and authorizing legislation. All of this information can be used as a valuable research tool, making it easier to identify specific areas of program interest more effectively.
Since its inception the General Services Administration has produced a printed edition of the CFDA. Legislation dating back to 1977 required free dissemination of the CFDA to designated recipients. In 2003 the GSA distributed almost 10,000 copies of the CFDA.
Current legislation, however, authorizes GSA to determine in what form to prepare and publish the Catalog. Consistent with the Administration's Electronic-Government initiatives, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, and a move to a paper free environment, GSA will now disseminate the Catalog electronically through the CFDA website on the Internet. As a result, effective immediately, General Services Administration will no longer print and distribute free copies of the Catalog.
Michael has an MBA from the Stanford Business School. He maintains a site on federal grant money and is CEO of Information Organizers.
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