If you are interested in researching federal government grant opportunities, a great place to start is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a government-wide collection of Federal services and activities, including programs and projects that provide benefits or assistance to residents of the U.S.. The CFDA non-financial and financial assistance programs managed by departments and other entities within the Federal government.
In 1984, Public Law 98-169 authorized the transfer of responsibilities of the Federal Program Information Act from the Office of Management and Budget to the General Services Administration. The transfer took place in July 1984. These responsibilities include the dissemination of Federal domestic assistance program information through the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act, Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law 98-169.
The GSA now maintains the Federal assistance information database from which program information is obtained. The OMB serves as an intermediary agent between the Federal agencies and GSA, thus providing oversight to the necessary collection of Federal domestic assistance program data.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is the basic reference manual providing information on all Federal domestic activities. Its most critical function is allowing users to identify programs of particular interest. The CFDA also is a tremendous resource for basic information on Federal assistance programs. Additionally, the CFDA endeavors to improve communications and enhance coordination between State and Local entities and the Federal government.
The Catalog lets grant seekers access all domestic programs managed by Federal agencies and departments in a single resource. All information is cross referenced by functional classification, subject, applicant, Deadlines Index, and authorizing legislation. All of this information is invaluable as resource tools that can make it easier to identify specific areas of program interest more efficiently.
Since its inception the GSA has produced a printed edition of the Catalog. Legislation dating back to 1977 required free dissemination of the CFDA to designated recipients. In 2003 the General Services Administration distributed almost 10,000 copies of the Catalog.
Current legislation, however, authorizes GSA to determine in what form to prepare and publish the Catalog. Consistent with the Administration’s Electronic-Government initiatives, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, and a move to a paper free environment, GSA will now disseminate the Catalog electronically through the CFDA website on the Internet. As a result, effective immediately, General Services Administration will no longer print and distribute free copies of the Catalog.
Michael has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He edits a site on federal government grants and is CEO of Information Organizers, LLC.
