Small Business Administration

Small businesses are at the heart of the American economic machine. They provide the engine that drives a large portion of the economy and the Small Business Administration is a resource to help nurture and promote small to medium sized business. The Administration runs programs to educate small business owners on resources available and provides support during national disasters.

Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration was born out of the Great Depressions as a safety net for all American and continues on in that role today. The administration provides economic security for each every citizen ensuring that everyone has access to vital social services.

Deportment of the Treasury

The Department of the Treasury is responsible for promoting growth and stability throughout the American economy. Through its policies and actions it seeks to promote positive economic conditions throughout the world.

National Endowment for the Arts

A public agency with a mandate to support the arts the National Endowment for the Arts has been bringing fine and performance art to the American public since its inception. The Endowment is currently the biggest national funding source for the arts and is used for art education, training, and appreciation programs.

National Endowment for the Humanities

An independent grant agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities was founded with the goal of promoting study and exploration in the humanities. Endowment funds have been used to support education, preservation, and public works in humanities fields.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation was created with the aim of supporting science and technological advancement. The Foundation is an independent federal agency with a profound influence on the fields of national defense, public health, and the economy. It is estimated that about twenty percent of university level research is directly supported by the NSF.

Public funds earmarked for the grant programs are funneled through one of 26 government agencies that manage the day to day operations and coordinates the individual grants programs. To apply for a federal grant award candidates much work and apply directly to the agencies. A sample of the governmental agencies is below.

Department of the Treasury

The Treasury Depart has gained prominence recently as a major player in the ongoing economic recovery. It is the department’s job to guide and support the U.S. economy and financial industry to promote stability and growth. They have also been instrumental in getting congress to approve large amounts of money to fuel the nation’s economic recovery.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Created to help support and care for veterans of the armed service the Department of Veterans Affairs provides a range of services. This department is especially important now as the United States still has many troops fighting overseas. This agency is vital in ensuring that the men and women of the armed services are cared for and supported when then return home and throughout their lives.

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency has worked since 1970 to protect America’s natural environment and keep its citizens safe from dangerous environmental conditions. The agency has been instrumental in recognizing and cleaning potentially dangerous environmental hazards including chemical spills and manufacturing run off.

Institute of Museum and Library Services

As the primary source of public support for over 120,00 libraries and 17,000 museums the Institute of Museum and Library Services is one of the biggest contributors to civic institutions across the country. The institute is at the forefront of encouraging cultural , community, and civic development.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, is responsible for some of the most awe inspiring achievements of the United States’ government including the moon landing and never before seen images captured by the Hubble telescope. The agency has also made many contributions in the areas of science, space operations, computer science, and materials technologies.

National Archives and Records Administration

The National Archives and Records Administration is responsible for documenting and recording all that the federal government says and does. This is an invaluable function for any democracy because it encourages citizen participation and helps to hold government officials accountable for their actions and policies.

These agencies are allocated money by congress and then dispense that money to worthy organization and individuals. If you or your company believes you qualify for grant funds you should inquire with relevant agency. They have design and coordinate the application process and make final rulings on which organization receive money. Some of the agencies include

Department of the Interior

Much better known and more respected than its counterpart the Department of the Exterior, the Department of the Interior protects the countries natural resources including National parks, forests, watersheds, and coastal preserves. The department is at the forefront of protecting and promoting the United States’ cultural history including Native American outreach and development.

Department of Justice

The Justice Department plays a central role in the enforcement of laws and justice at the federal level. The department i responsible with ensuring the safety and protection of American citizens. This is done through promotion of crime prevention initiatives, just punishment for guilty perpetrators, and impartial administration of justice for every American.

Department of Labor

With a mandate to support and improve the welfare of the American worker, the Department of Labor has been instrumental in helping many laborers throughout their careers. Through increased advancement opportunities, social benefits, or health care the department has improved living conditions for many people. The department also tracks economic measures  as a means to monitor the welfare of modern workers.

Department of State

The State Department is a main driver of America’s foreign policy and face to the global community. The department works with foreign governments and international organizations to foster a more secure and democratic world for the benefit of people everywhere.

Department of Transportation

The responsibility of making sure the the transportation infrastructure of the country is safe and convenient falls to the Department of Transportation. The department must ensure that roadways and mass transit options are accessible and efficient both today and in the years to come.

If you think you may be eligible for funding programs administered by any of the above agencies contact them directly for more information.

Below are some of the agencies that administer the federal grant programs. If you or your organization is interested in government grant assistance you must contact the appropriate agency.

Department of Education

One of the most wide reaching agencies, the Department of Education is involved in coordinating and managing federal education initiatives across the country. With a mandate to promote equal access to schooling and academic achievement for all department supports school efforts on all levels. The organization is committed to increasing the involvement and cooperation of parents, students, and educational professionals.

Department of Energy

The Department of Energy is one of the biggest cabinet level departments. It works to promote many goals including the advancement of the United States’ energy and economic security. To do this the department promotes technological advancements , scientific progress, and runs the environmental cleanup of the countries nuclear power facilities.

Department of Health and Human Services

The federal governments central tool for protecting health and well being of citizen is the Department of Health and Human services. This department works to ensure welfare of all Americans by providing essential health and social services to those in need.

Department of Homeland Security

Created after the attacks on 9/11 the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for keeping Americans safe and securing the homeland. The department focuses their resources on three primary fronts; stopping terrorist attacks within the domestic US, reducing the country’s vulnerability to terrorism, and mitigating or reducing the negative impact of attacks or natural disasters through response preparedness.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Tasked with community development and increasing home ownership, the Department of Housing and Urban Development plays an important role for many Americans in their search for affordable housing. Through close partnerships with community organizations and a focus on accountability, high ethical standards, and efficient management the department has helped millions of Americans afford quality housing.

Below is a breakdown of several of the grant administration agencies with a short overview on each. If any of the agencies appear to deal with topics or industries of interest you should inquire directly with the organization to determine whether you may be eligible for assistance.

Agency for International Development

An independent federal agency, the Agency for International Development, is focused on programs and initiatives that have an impact beyond the borders of the US. The agency provides help and support for over 100 foreign countries and helps to foster a better future around the globe.

Corporation for National and Community Service

There many grant programs that are intended to support public service and volunteering. These initiatives are often run by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This agency is a major driver of domestic service and is responsible for many popular programs including Senior Corps, Americorps, and Learn and Serve America.

Department of Agriculture

Originally convened in 1862, the Department of Agriculture is responsible for ensuring steady and safe food production. To do this the department oversees almost 200 million acres of national forest and  range lands and maintains food safety guidelines. The USDA is responsible for opening new markets for domestic farmers and food producers around the globe.

Department of Commerce

A wide reaching agency, the Department of Commerce is tasked with supporting the nation’s financial, technical, and economic advancement. To promote the domestic economy the department is heavily involved in domestic and international trade policy.

Department of Defense

The head of the different military branches and responsible for ensuring that the United States is able to protect itself from international aggression, the Department of Defense is one of the biggest grant agencies. Their are five primary areas the department focuses its resources; war fighting, peacekeeping, Homeland Security, Humanitarian Aid, and evacuation.

The decisions about precisely what type of grant programs to offer and specific   are made at the agency level. The agencies are solely responsible for running the day to day operations of federal grant programs. This represents a great deal of authority for the agencies because it means they are responsible for the application process and ultimately awarding money. If you are interested in applying for and getting public grant money it is imperative you research and learn about relevant agency.

There are 26 organizations that administer the federal grant program. These agencies represent a range of industries and sectors from the economic to the humanitarian. The many different agencies include the Departments of Transportation and Treasury as well as the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities. These organizations are very different, and like all of the grant agencies have their own program requirements.

If you think you may be eligible for public money you should learn all you can regarding the appropriate  agency or possibly agencies. Some grant categories are administered by one agency while several categories are run by multiple agencies. This means that you will need to understand the application details for each of the individual agencies. Even though you may discover several grant programs across different agencies that appear similar in scope and function they may still have drastically different application requirements depending on what agency they fall under. Before you apply for any program make sure you have researched and and understand both the programs specific rules and the agency rules.

Government grant initiatives provide resources for a vast array of policies and projects. It can be difficult to administer such a wide reaching program because of the need for expertise is so many areas. The solution the government has found is to leverage the expertise of existing government agencies. If you think you should receive federal grant money research the relevant agency and find their eligibility requirements. It is the surest way to determine if you can get money.