How to Find and Apply for Federal Grants

Grants.gov is the U.S. government's central portal for finding and applying for federal grants. Launched in 2003 and managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Grants.gov provides a single point of access to more than 1,000 grant programs offered by all 26 federal grant-making agencies.

The site serves two primary purposes: discovery and application. Applicants use Grants.gov to search for funding opportunities by keyword, agency, eligibility type, or program category. Once they find a relevant opportunity, they use the site's Workspace feature to complete and submit their application packages electronically.

Every competitive federal grant must be posted on Grants.gov as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), formerly known as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This makes Grants.gov the authoritative source for federal grant opportunities, similar to how SAM.gov is the authoritative source for federal contract opportunities.

Federal grants fund a vast range of activities including scientific research, education programs, public health initiatives, infrastructure projects, environmental conservation, community development, workforce training, and small business innovation. Unlike federal contracts, grants are not procurement instruments — the government provides funding for the recipient to carry out activities that serve a public purpose, rather than purchasing goods or services for the government's own use.

With over 1,000 active grant programs and thousands of individual funding opportunities posted throughout the year, finding the right grants requires a systematic approach.

Search on Grants.gov

Grants.gov's search function lets you filter opportunities by keyword, funding agency, eligibility (state, nonprofit, small business, etc.), CFDA number, and funding instrument type. You can also filter by status (forecasted, posted, closed) and sort by posting date, closing date, or agency. Save your search criteria to receive email notifications when new matching opportunities are posted.

Read the NOFO Carefully

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the most important document in the grant application process. It contains everything you need to know: program description, eligibility requirements, application instructions, evaluation criteria, budget guidance, and reporting requirements. Never begin writing an application without thoroughly reading the complete NOFO.

Check Agency Websites

While Grants.gov is the central portal, individual agencies often provide additional context, webinars, and guidance on their own websites. NIH uses the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. NSF has its own proposal and award policies guide. Checking the funding agency's website can provide valuable insight into priorities and expectations that go beyond the NOFO.

Use Bureauify for Grant Search

Bureauify integrates Grants.gov data with federal contract opportunities, letting you search across both grants and contracts simultaneously. The semantic search capability means you can describe what you do in natural language and find relevant grants even when the government uses different terminology. Browse federal grants on Bureauify.

Monitor Forecasted Opportunities

Some agencies post forecasted opportunities on Grants.gov before the formal NOFO is published. These forecasts give you advance notice of upcoming programs, allowing you to begin preparation before the official announcement. Federal Register notices and agency budget documents can also provide early signals of future grant programs.

Federal grant applications are rejected for avoidable errors more often than you might expect. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Registration Delays

The number one reason first-time applicants miss deadlines is not registering on SAM.gov and Grants.gov far enough in advance. SAM.gov registration can take 2 to 4 weeks, and Grants.gov organizational registration adds more time. Start the registration process as soon as you begin considering grants — do not wait until you find a specific opportunity.

Not Following the NOFO Instructions

Every NOFO specifies formatting requirements (page limits, font size, margins), required sections, and evaluation criteria. Reviewers are instructed to evaluate applications against these specific criteria. Applications that ignore page limits, omit required sections, or fail to address evaluation criteria are at a severe disadvantage. Follow the instructions exactly.

Misaligned Budget and Narrative

Your budget must directly support the activities described in your narrative. If your narrative describes hiring three staff members but your budget only includes funding for two, reviewers will notice the inconsistency. Every budget line item should trace back to a specific activity in your project plan.

Weak Evaluation Plan

Many applications describe great projects but include vague evaluation plans. Reviewers want to see specific, measurable outcomes with clear data collection methods and timelines. Define your success metrics before you write the rest of the application, and build your narrative around demonstrating measurable impact.

Last-Minute Submission

Grants.gov experiences heavy traffic near deadlines, and technical issues are common. Submissions that fail due to system errors after the deadline are not accepted by most programs. Submit your application at least 24 to 48 hours early. Use the Workspace validation feature to catch errors before final submission.

Tips for First-Time Applicants

• Start with smaller grants to build experience and a track record
• Attend agency webinars and pre-application conferences when offered
• Contact the program officer listed in the NOFO with specific questions
• Have someone outside your project team review the application for clarity
• Keep detailed records of your submission for future reference
• If not awarded, request reviewer feedback to improve future applications