Grant Eligibility | GRANTS.GOV
Determining whether you are eligible to apply for and receive a federal grant is very important. If you are not legally eligible for a specific funding opportunity, you would waste a lot of time and money completing the application process when you cannot actually receive the grant.
When considering eligibility, the first step is to know what type of organization you represent (or whether you are applying as an individual). If you already know whether you will apply on behalf of your organization or as an individual, then you are ready to check your eligibility.
There are many types of organizations generally eligible to apply for funding opportunities on Grants.gov. Each type of organization listed in the categories below is a specific search criterion in Search Grants. Individual applicants are welcome too!
Government Organizations
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)
Education Organizations
- Independent school districts
- Public and state controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Public Housing Organizations
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
Nonprofit Organizations
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
For-Profit Organizations
- Organizations other than small businesses
Small Businesses
Small business grants may be awarded to companies meeting the size standards established by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for most industries in the economy.
Individuals
Individual people may submit applications for a funding opportunity on their own behalf (i.e., not on behalf of a company, organization, institution, or government). If you are registered with only an individual applicant profile, you are only allowed to apply to funding opportunities that are open to individuals.
Most of the funding opportunities on Grants.gov are for organizations, not individuals. If you are looking for personal financial assistance or other types of funding, check out the Grant Programs section to learn about how to find other forms of funding from the government.
Foreign Applicants
The authorizing legislation and agency policies will determine whether a foreign individual or organization may apply for the grant. Foreign applicants need to complete the same registration process as domestic applicants, but there are additional steps to this registration process.
Depending on the intended usage of the grant you are applying for, you may need to file a U.S. tax return which requires a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), also referred to as an employer Identification Number (EIN). If a non-resident alien is awarded funding to perform activities outside the United States, then this likely does not constitute U.S. source income and a TIN/EIN is not necessary. Examples of such funding include scholarships, fellowship grants, targeted grants, and achievement awards.
Before applying, foreign applicants should thoroughly review the IRS website and search for their most recent guidance for Aliens and International Taxpayers.
Financial Assistance
Are you an individual or family looking for financial assistance? Visit the Benefits.gov site and find benefits, browse State programs, or learn about Federal programs.
We have all seen them; late night infomercials, websites, and reference guides, advertising “millions in free money”. Don’t believe the hype! Although there are many funding opportunities on Grants.gov, few of them are available to individuals and none of them are available for personal financial assistance. To find an alphabetical listing of federal personal assistance visit the USA.gov website.
Providing Services
Are you a business or organization offering goods or services for the use of the government? Visit Federal Business Opportunities at FBO.gov.
Exploring Eligibility
Learn more about determining your eligibility for a federal grant by reading Grant Eligibility posts on the Grants.gov Community Blog .
Government Grants 2023/2024
Welcome to USGrants.org – your one-stop portal to find and apply for government grants, stimulus packages, and funding opportunities from your local state and federal government agencies.
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Quick Facts about Government Grants
- The United States government has been issuing various types of grants for centuries.
- The end goal of allocating funding in grants is to stimulate the economy by creating new jobs and supporting businesses, large or small.
- Once granted and released, the government does not require recipients to repay the funding amount. (free money)
- Every funding opportunity comes with requirements the applicants need to follow. In addition, the majority of funding opportunities are for new and existing businesses & organizations. Therefore, not everyone or every business is eligible to receive grants.
- The majority of public funding opportunities can be found on www.grants.gov – the official website for government grants in the United States.
Inside USGrants.org Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository – Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides – The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard – We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal
Common Types of Government Grants
- Small Business Grants – A significant portion of federal grant funding is for businesses and corporations, large or small. The Small Business Administration (SBA – www.sba.gov) oversees SBA Grants and has worked together with public and private funding agencies and organizations to offer grants focused on scientific research and development (R&D), technology innovation, and job creation.
- Pell Grants (Education Grants) – The government invests in education.
This type of grant is specifically targeted at pro-profit and not-for-profit organizations and institutions in the education sector to create learning opportunities and improve education quality.
- College Grants – Many post-secondary institutions (colleges and universities) offer monetary awards in scholarships and grants for students. Requirements for applying for these grants will vary from institution to institution.
- HUD (Housing) Grants – The government offers financial incentives for developers in the public housing sector. Small businesses looking to expand may also be qualified for certain opportunities. The government does not provide financial support for personal home renovation/repair needs.
- Veteran Grants – The government offers many financial incentives to assist veterans to adapt back to society.
- Grants for Women – The government has made available many funding opportunities to help women-owned, or women-led businesses capitalize on opportunities.
The goal is to diversify markets and promote equal growth globally.
Typical Government Grants Application (Grant Writing) Process
In order to receive funding from government agencies and funding organizations, applicants go through the following process/lifecycle:
- Searching for opportunities
- Registering for an account on grants.gov
- Preparing for the application package
- Submitting the application package
- Monitoring the status of the application
- Receiving the Notice of Award
- Reporting status and spending progress back to the funding agency
Applicants often face challenges in finding the eligible opportunities to apply for. In addition, poorly prepared application packages often result in rejected applications. In our applicants portal, we have step-by-step videos to guide you along the application process.
Submitting an Application Package as an Individual
- Find a funding opportunity that is available for individuals and obtain the funding opportunity number.
- Complete the registration form as an individual on grants.gov and obtain a username and password.
- Submit the application package containing all of the materials required by the funding opportunity. Obtain a tracking number.
- Track the status of the application with the tracking number.
Apply for Grants as an Individual
Submitting an Application Package as an Organization
- Obtain a DUNS number. This is a unique 9-digit identification number provided by Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) for your organization. This is a mandatory step and will take up to 2 business days to complete.
- Register with the System for Award Management (SAM). The United States utilizes SAM to manage funding applications for organizations. This is a mandatory step and will take up to 4 weeks to complete.
- Complete the registration form as an organization on grants.gov and obtain a username and password.
- Submit the application package containing all of the materials required by the funding opportunity.
Obtain a tracking number.
- Track the status of the application with the tracking number.
Apply for Grants as an Organization
Applicant Expectations
Applying and receiving government grants is not a quick funding option. The time it takes for you to receive the money depends on the number of applicants and the response time of the issuing agency or organization. On average, it takes up to 6 months, and sometimes up to a year, for a grant application to be reviewed, approved, issued, and released.
Tips on Grant Applications / Grant Writing
- Read the grant application carefully.
- Understand all the requirements thoroughly and make sure you are eligible.
- Write a strong, convincing, and concise summary statement.
- Create an outline for your proposal in a logical order.
- Write your proposal with details. Go beyond the requirements.
- Format your proposal to help the grant issuer read, such as images, infographics, tables, and lists.
- Proofread your proposal three times minimum and by three different individuals.
- Add a cover letter to your application package.
- Show your application package to 3 other individuals outside of your organization and see if they can be convinced of your plans and requests.
- Submit both digital and hard copies of your application package well before the deadline.
Inside USGrants.org Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository – Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides – The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard – We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States.
We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal
Recently Published Government Funding Opportunities:
Funding Opportunity |
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Fiscal Year 2024 Distinguished Early Career Program Apply for DE FOA 0003043 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003043 |
Justice Sector Training, Research, and Coordination (JusTRAC) 3.0 Apply for SFOP0009845 Funding Number: SFOP0009845 |
DOD, Parkinson’s Investigator-Initiated Research Award Apply for HT9425 23 PRP IIRA Funding Number: HT9425 23 PRP IIRA |
NOFO for Strengthening Preservation of Tibetan Culture Apply for 72038623RFA00004 Funding Number: 72038623RFA00004 |
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Employment Service (ES) Allotments for Program Year (PY) 2023 Apply for ETA TEGL 15 22 ES Funding Number: ETA TEGL 15 22 ES |
Improving Practical Skills in Serbia’s Legal Education Apply for INL23GR0032 EASERBIA LEGALEDU 04182023 Funding Number: INL23GR0032 EASERBIA LEGALEDU 04182023 |
Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Expanding Testing and Evaluation Apply for NTIA PWSCIF 2023 Funding Number: NTIA PWSCIF 2023 |
Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Public Perception Assessment Apply for INL23GR008 PCPWESTBANK JLA 03012023 Funding Number: INL23GR008 PCPWESTBANK JLA 03012023 |
Request For Information on Rethinking Energy Storage Technologies for Planes, Trains & Ships “Battery 1k” Apply for DE FOA 0002972 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002972 |
DRL FY2022: Empowering marginalized racial and ethnic communities in Europe, including people of African descent and Roma people.![]() Funding Number: SFOP0009350 |
Government grants in local states
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Scholarships to study in the USA
Government scholarships and grants to study in the USA
Government scholarships and grants to study in the USA are available to Russians and Kazakhstanis.
In the United States, the state does not deal with issues of higher education – they are placed under the jurisdiction of the states. Americans can study for free or significantly reduce the cost of education in many universities in the country by providing evidence of low income. For foreign students, only a few top universities provide such opportunities, including Harvard and MIT.
Global Education – Scholarships and grants to study in the USA for Russians
There are 65 American universities on the list of the Global Education Scholarship Program of the Government of the Russian Federation, which provides future masters and graduate students with 100% scholarships to study in the USA. Upon completion of your studies, you must return to Russia and work for at least three years in one of the Russian cities (not necessarily in your home city) in your specialty. Learn more about the Global Education program.
Bolashak – Scholarships to study in the USA for Kazakhstanis
The Bolashak Scholarship Program allows undergraduate and graduate students from Kazakhstan to receive a full grant to study in the USA from the country’s budget. Under the terms of the contract, after completing your studies, you need to return to your homeland and work in your specialty for three to five years. More details – here.
Foundation Scholarships and Grants
Fulbright
The grant provides for full tuition at a US university master’s degree program from the foundation’s list, and also provides for a monthly stipend, medical insurance and transportation costs. Fulbright awards 8,000 grants each year to 155 countries. More than 1500 students, graduate students and young scientists from Russia have already received Fulbright grants to study in the USA.
For a list of academic fields eligible for Fulbright scholarships to study in the US, and information on how to apply, see here.
Edmund Muskie
The Edmund Muskie Scholarship is for graduate and graduate students studying at universities in the United States and covers 100% of expenses including airfare and travel expenses within the country, as well as a monthly allowance.
Scholarships and grants from American colleges and universities
Grants in the US are the hardest to find for undergraduate students – American colleges offer them infrequently and competition is high. If you are looking for such options, take a look at the Eastern Michigan University Scholarship: you can reduce the cost of studying to the level that is offered to residents of the state. Sign up for an online consultation with Education Index specialists to find out how to get an undergraduate grant in the USA.
It is much easier to get a grant to study in the USA for undergraduate students, and most of the options are for graduate students.
How to get a grant in the USA
You can apply for a grant in the USA after receiving an offer of admission to a university. Each university has its own set of requirements for scholarship holders. Most often, the application will include: a document on previous education with grades, a letter from the university about enrollment, as well as a letter of motivation, which must be carefully and accurately drawn up.
In rare cases, such as the case of Eastern Michigan University, the university will automatically consider all applicants, but only the most deserving students will be able to receive a grant to study in the USA.
If you are applying to one or more scholarship funds, you will also need a letter of acceptance from the university in order to be considered.
The main difficulty in obtaining a scholarship or grant in America is that there are a lot of really good educational institutions in this country, while there are no uniform standards of higher education for all universities. University admission deadlines, start and length of the academic year, admission requirements, and of course tuition fees and student financial aid options vary. Because of this, it is not only difficult for students to assess the chances of admission and scholarships, but it is even difficult to find and select options that are suitable in all respects.
Sign up for an online consultation with Education Index specialists. And be sure to subscribe to the Educationindex newsletter to regularly receive information about the best scholarships for Russians and students from the CIS countries.
Yana Drapkina talks about scholarships for Russian-speaking students entering UK universities.
grants for free study in the USA
In 1945, Senator William Fulbright introduced a bill to the US Congress that provided for the development of international student exchange to strengthen ties between countries in the field of education, culture and science. 1 August 1946 years President Gary Truman signed the bill, creating the Fulbright program.
Over the 70 years of the program’s existence, 325 thousand students and scientists have passed through it – 123 thousand from the USA and 202 thousand from other countries. Today the program operates in 155 countries and annually allocates 8,000 grants.
The program is popular in Russia – more than 1500 students, graduate students and young scientists have already received grants to study in the USA.
Who receives grants?
Grants are provided to graduates of Russian universities, including those who are in their last year, to study in the master’s program of higher educational institutions in the United States. The length of stay in the USA varies from 1 to 2 years, depending on the chosen educational program.
Graduate students receive grants to conduct research activities at an American university and collect materials for a dissertation. In this case, the grant is allocated for a period of 1 year.
How much is the Fulbright grant?
The grant allows you to fully pay for your studies at a US university for the chosen program, provides for a monthly stipend, medical insurance and travel expenses.
Fulbright grants are available for study in the following subject areas:
Agriculture, American History, American Literature, American Studies, Anthropology, Archeology, Architecture, Art, Art History, Astronomy, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Communications, Computer Science, Writing, Dance, Economics, Education, Engineering , environmental sciences, film theory, geography, journalism, geology, world history, Information Sciences, foreign languages and literature, law, library science, linguistics, mathematics, medicine, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, public administration, Public/Global Health, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Language Teaching/Applied Linguistics, Theatre, Urban Planning.
Important: in the application you can choose not the university, but only the field that you want to study.
How to get a grant?
To receive the Fulbright Grant , you must apply for participation in the competition, which takes place in three rounds. The annual d closing date for applications is 15 May.
In the first round of you fill out an application on the Fullbright website, where you tell about yourself, about everything that has helped you in your personal and personal growth. In addition to the questionnaire, you need to prepare a CV, 2 essays (1 – personal statement, 1 – esse study objective + 2 Russian translations), 3 letters of recommendation. All of these documents are uploaded to the scholarship website and sent via email. All originals are also mailed to the scholarship office.
Important: if somehow it turns out that the student resorted to the help of agencies or third parties, then the application will be disqualified.
If the application is successful, you are invited to take the TOEFL. If the city where the student lives does not have a center where the TOEFL is accepted, then the scholarship pays for travel to the drop-off point. The test is taken in July-August, the cost of the test is paid. Even if you do not pass to the next stage, Fullbright pays for the exam itself ($260), and you will still have a certificate.
Second round – interview in Moscow + GRE (logic, mathematics, geometry + English). At the same time, the Fulbright program pays for accommodation + travel in Moscow. The interview lasts 20 minutes and is conducted by a commission of 4 people.
Third round – waiting for a decision. The Commission sends documents to the Institute of International Education in New York. There, the commission decides on scholarships, and they distribute students to universities.
Competitors must meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of the Russian Federation and permanently reside in the country.