After reviewing the following information, if you still have questions, please contact our Grants Manager.
How We Can Help
During the search process: Federal Agencies
Applying for grants is becoming increasingly competitive. If you do not find a federal grant or if you want more advice, our office can help connect you with a Grants or Program Manager from federal agencies. Having their perspective and expertise can help give you a better lay of the land and potentially help guide you to other federal funding opportunities.
Our staff can also help narrow down your search for federal grants and answer questions. Please feel free to contact our Grants Manager.
During the grant application process: Letter of Support
Our office is available to provide a letter of support for your grant application. We ask that you reach out to our office early to mid-way through your process to allow for the appropriate amount of time to draft and process a letter. It is also helpful for you to offer draft language to our office that best describes your organization’s goals and priorities and how this particular grant will assist in helping you reach those goals. It is also valuable for our office to understand how the grant will improve Colorado.
Please reach out to our Grants Manager, and we will provide you with a form to submit a request for a letter of support.
After you apply: Grant Award Notifications
If you are having trouble hearing back from a federal agency about a grant award notification, our office can assist you by contacting the agency directly to get an update on your application or help you receive the funding you have been allocated.
Also, if you were denied for a federal grant and have not received an explanation, our office can assist you in determining what could have been done to improve your application.
Grant Information
What is a federal grant?
Most federal grants go directly to states by formula (e.g. based on a state’s population) or block grants. Then, the states may make sub-awards to local organizations. However, there are also up to 1,700 different types of competitive grant programs that you may apply for directly through a federal agency.
Who can apply?
Where should I start searching?
Before applying for a federal grant, you need to register your organization for access to both SAM.gov and grants.gov. First, you must register with SAM.gov to obtain a unique entity identifier, a 12-digit number assigned to all entities doing business with the federal government. Then, you must register with grants.gov to apply for grant opportunities. The entire registration and approval process usually takes between two business days to a couple of weeks.
A good place to start looking is grants.gov. This website is the main clearinghouse for federal grant opportunities. You can register to apply for grants and search notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) from all federal agencies.
Additionally, you can sign up for Senator Bennet’s Grant Newsletter for additional grant opportunities HERE.
What grants are available for individuals?
Individuals primarily receive grants through financial aid and scholarships. Pell Grants are one example. To search for student aid, visit the Federal Student Aid website. Consider searching benefits.gov and filling out a questionnaire to see if you qualify for benefits in your area.
What federal grants are available to small businesses?
Information on federal grants available for small businesses can be found on the Small Business Administration website.
What state grants are available?
Contact Colorado’s state agencies to learn more about state grants. State agencies are familiar with federal program requirements and may be able to assist you. In addition, they may have grant opportunities that are solely funded by the state. Interested individuals can find information on State Agency websites.
Can I track federal funding?
Yes, usaspending.gov provides information on how tax dollars are being spent.
Are there grants that are scams?
Yes, grant scams exist. Beware of advertisements that claim to provide free grants to pay for your education, home repairs, unpaid bills, or business expenses. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has a few basic rules to keep you from losing money to scams:
Don’t give out your bank account information to anyone you don’t know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
Don’t pay any money for a “free” government grant. If you have to pay money to claim a “free” government grant, it isn’t free. A real government agency won’t ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded – or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov.
If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online, or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.