How to find federal grants
Where federal grants are posted, who can apply, what registration you need, and how to use past awards to judge your chances before you write an application.
Where grants are posted
Federal agencies post their funding opportunities (a notice of funding opportunity, or NOFO) on Grants.gov, with the eligible applicants, the amount available, the expected number of awards and the closing date. Each program also has an Assistance Listing on SAM.gov (the numbers formerly called CFDA numbers) describing what it funds year after year.
Who can apply
Each opportunity lists the eligible applicant types: state and local governments, tribes, school districts, colleges and universities, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, individuals. Most federal grants go to governments, institutions and nonprofits. For small businesses, the largest grant-like programs are SBIR and STTR (research and development awards); most other help for businesses comes as contracts or loans.
Register before you need to
To apply on Grants.gov an organization needs an active SAM.gov registration (its Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take weeks, so start well before a deadline, and renew it every year.
Use past awards to judge your chances
USAspending.gov shows every past award under a program: who won, how much, and where. Before applying, look at the program's recent recipients. If they are mostly organizations like yours, in places like yours, and of a size like yours, the program fits; if every award went to large universities, a small nonprofit's odds are different.
On SpendQuery
Official sources
Questions people ask
Can a small business get a federal grant?
Some programs accept for-profit applicants, and SBIR and STTR fund small businesses' research and development. Most federal grants, though, go to governments, schools and nonprofits; check each opportunity's eligible applicants.
What is an Assistance Listing number?
The number (like 93.778) that identifies a federal assistance program on SAM.gov, formerly the CFDA number. Awards under the program carry it, so you can look up who received money from it.
Is Grants.gov free?
Yes. Searching and applying on Grants.gov, and registering on SAM.gov, are free. Be wary of anyone charging to register you.
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Updated 2026-10-13. General information, not legal advice; the solicitation and the FAR govern each purchase.