Anticipating Federal Grant Opportunities Maryland Governor’s Grants Conference September 12, 2011 Federal Funds Information for States

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: Pieces of the Federal Budget Pie

Where the Money Goes: Type of Assistance (Dollars in Thousands) Type of AssistanceTotal 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

Where the Money Goes: Type of Assistance Source: U.S. Census FAADS Data, 2009 Project grants make up only 5.1% of total assistance

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: 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 ( provides additional background information on grantswww.cfda.gov – 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

CFDA: Applicant Eligibility Index

Federal Register Published NOFAs, grant priorities, and criteria – ollectionCode=FR ollectionCode=FR – Sign up for daily Table of Contents – 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 – forecast.html 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 when page updated – Key Information – Tracks when posted to Grants.gov

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So) Department of Homeland Security – Grant guidance by fiscal year, program details Department of Justice – Link to agency grant sites – Example: Office of Justice Programs Archived Solicitations: Funding Resources:

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So) Department of Labor – List of all open grant opportunities – Grant guidance by office Food and Nutrition Service – Detailed funding and award history: – Past award activity: – Agency guidance School Meals CAFC SFSP Food Distribution Database

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So) Department of Transportation: FHWA – 2011 Discretionary Grant Programs / / – A Guide to Federal-Aid Programs and Projects Department of Transportation: FTA – Current Notices of Funding Availability – Federal Register Publications

Agency Websites: The Bad (or So-So) Department of Housing and Urban Development – Funds Available tion/grants/fundsavail tion/grants/fundsavail – Archived Funding Announcements Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Grants and Debarment, Grants Competition

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: – Grants for states: – Grants for local agencies: Department of Agriculture – All grant and loan programs – Regulations and Guidance SU SU

Agency Websites: The Ugly Department of Energy – Financial Opportunities for States

Useful Resources Health and Human Services – HHS TAGGS (obligated funds at transaction level, reports, searchable data) – Agency sites (current and prior announcements, search function, program details) ACF: AOA: SAMHSA: HRSA:

Useful Resources Education – Guide to Education Programs Provides program descriptions, eligibility information, funding history, etc. – Recent Federal Register notices

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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