Help with Grants

Grants are an important opportunity to make our economy work better for everyone. Fiscally responsible grants issued by effective and prove programs have helped create jobs, improved community safety, and rebuilt infrastructure across the Kansas Third District.

Many organizations in our community can use grants to advance new projects, grow existing initiatives, hire staff, purchase needed equipment, and much more. The following resources are for people seeking to learn more about available grant opportunities, find information on how to apply, and answer frequently asked questions.

If you are in the process of applying for a federal grant and would like to request a letter of support from our office, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and a member of our team will be in touch. You can also sign up for our office’s monthly grants newsletter here to stay updated on new opportunities.

How to Find Grant Opportunities

Many federal government agencies post announcements called Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to share when grant programs are open and accepting applications. Here are a few common places to find these announcements:

• USA.gov Benefits, Grants and Loans pages
• Environmental Protection Agency Funding Announcements from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act
• U.S. Department of Commerce Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements
• Notice of Funding Opportunity Calendar from President Biden

You can also search broadly for federal and corporate/nonprofit funding opportunities on the following databases:

• Grants.gov for federal grant opportunities
• SAM.gov Assistance Listings, which includes federal grants, loans, business and nonfinancial help

If you are an individual or business owner looking for assistance, other government websites may be more suitable for personal needs, student loans, small business assistance , or other business opportunities such as government contracting.

• IMPORTANT: The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often a scam.

How to Apply

First, find out if you are eligible for a grant. There are three keys to eligibility:

1. Registering on SAM.gov. This is the government-wide registry for organizations doing business with the Federal government. In order to apply for federal grants, you must register with SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Organizations will also need to designate an E-Business Point of Contact. It can take 7-10 business days to fully complete the registration process required for most funding opportunities. There is no fee for registering with SAM.gov.
2. Creating a Grants.gov account. After obtaining the UEI for the organization from SAM.gov, you must return to Grants.gov to continue registration. Make sure you use the same Point of Contact email address as used in SAM.gov. There is no fee for registering with Grants.gov.
3. Understanding your legal eligibility. The agency will list what types of organizations are eligible to apply for each grant in its Notice of Funding Opportunity. Here are examples of the different categories that agencies often use.

When you have determined eligibility and found a grant opportunity, it’s time to apply. The grant application process can be lengthy, but there are many free or low-cost resources to help you craft a winning proposal, like these from the Congressional Research Service:

• Resources for Grantseekers
• How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal

Other Useful Resources

• A-Z Index Departments & Agencies

• USA.gov for Business
• FedBizOpps.gov
• Student Aid on the Web
• Benefits.gov
• OMB Circulars

A-Z Index of U.S. Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration)
To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency’s Home Page to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site USA.gov also links to Government Benefits, Grants, and Loans.

USA.gov for Businesses and Nonprofits (GSA)
Includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also financial assistance links at the Small Business Administration website.

FedBizOpps.gov (GSA)
Official website posting business, contracting, and procurement opportunities with the federal government. Useful information for vendors, including FBO Demonstration Videos and Frequently Asked Questions, appear under the Getting Started tab. Search options include an advanced search form for more targeted filtering of current opportunities.

Student Aid on the Web (Dept. of Education)
Information on funding education beyond high school, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.

Benefits.gov (via Department of Labor)
Includes information on over 1,000 government assistance programs, and how to apply. Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training, or other services.

OMB Grants Guidance (Office of Management and Budget)
OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules.

Request a Letter of Support

If your organization is applying for a federal grant and would like to request a letter of support from our office, please fill out the form below. We encourage anyone requesting a letter of support to submit their request two weeks prior to the date they need the letter by.