General Information
Senator Baldwin's office is pleased to assist Wisconsinites find information on competitive federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance for projects. Depending on the federal program, the Senator may also be able to provide a Congressional letter of support for eligible entities to include with their application(s). If you have questions, please feel free to connect with staff in Senator Baldwin's Milwaukee office by calling 414-297-4451.
Getting Started
- Find out Who is Eligible for a Grant? Other government websites may be more suitable for personal needs, student loans, small business assistance, or other business opportunities such as government contracting. The website Government Benefits, Grants, and Financial Aid may also be of help.
- If eligible, search for federal grant program information on the website SAM.gov. Assistance listings on SAM.gov include grants, loans, business and non-financial help.
- Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, obtain a Unique Entity ID, and apply for the program.
- Try searching foundations for project funding using the Foundation Center website or Foundation Center Funding Information Network resources to identify national, state, and community foundations.
- Learn how to write grant proposals by taking the free online Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course or see other tips and sample proposals at Grantspace's How Do I Write a Grant Proposal?
- Download resources prepared by the Congressional Research Service including Resources for Grantseekers or How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal
Key Federal Funding Sources
Assistance Listings at SAM.gov offers official descriptions of more than 2,000 federal assistance programs (including grants, loans, and other financial and nonfinancial assistance) which can be found on SAM.gov. The website houses federal assistance listings previously found on the now-retired Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). Each federal assistance program has a corresponding CFDA program number; these CFDA numbers are still used as numerical program identifiers. Programs are searchable at the "Assistance Listings" domain at SAM.gov; descriptions are updated by departments and agencies, and they cover authorizing legislation, objectives, and eligibility and compliance requirements. For current notices of funding availability, see Grants.gov.
Grants.gov is a federal website that allows eligible grantseekers (see Who is Eligible for a Grant?) to find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL federal agencies. Grantseekers can check on notices of funding availability for different programs, access an RSS feed of grant opportunities, and sign up to receive updates on grant programs that are of interest.
For help in identifying state-level grants, other state and local government agency websites may be found here.
A-Z Index of U.S. Departments and Agencies: To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's website to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site USA.gov also links to Government Benefits information.
Doing Business with the Federal Government: This webpage posts business, contracting, and procurement opportunities with the federal government. Useful information for vendors, including FBO Demonstration Videos and Frequently Asked Questions, appear on this page. Search options include an advanced search form for more targeted filtering of current opportunities.
Student Aid on the Web: This website has information on funding education beyond high school, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.
Benefits.gov: This website includes information on over 1,000 government assistance programs, and how to apply. Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training, or other services.
Grant Scams Information: The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often a scam.
Private & Corporate Funding Sources
Foundation Center Grants Space Gateway to information about private funding sources, the grant seeking process, guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and links to other useful Internet websites. The Center maintains a comprehensive database on foundations; produces print and electronic directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars.
- How do I find grants for my nonprofit?
- Proposal Writing Short Course
- Foundation Information Network Check for locations to receive resources for free
Grants Resources by State Click on state map to find links to information about foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs.
Community Foundations There are more than 750 community foundations in the U.S., which are grantmaking public charities dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area. The Council on Foundations has a listing of community foundations by state.
Disclaimer: This webpage shares information, email addresses and links to other sites or entities on the Internet that are not maintained by Senator Baldwin. Resources, email addresses and links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Senator Baldwin of any of the products, services or opinions of the entity or organization or individual. Senator Baldwin bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
