Tina Woodward

2-22-05

LS 567

Assignment #3 Survey of Grant Resources

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is published on an annual basis. It gives a grant seeker access to a database of all Federal programs available through state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, as well as private profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions, and individuals. The site uses the term "assistance program" because it offers information on both grants and loans. Even though you cannot apply for an assistance program through this website, you can use it to identify the assistance program that best suits your funding needs. The site contains an assistance program listing page, aids to guide you in the proposal writing process, and a top 10% page listing the programs other grant seekers have been most interested in. If you are still unable to find the program you are looking for, there is a keyword search option and a Frequently Asked Questions page to assist users in their research.

This annual publication was by far the most massive tool viewed. The information is helpful, but cumbersome to use because there is so much to weed through. An element that is helpful is the key word search feature. Since the document is so large, this feature eliminates unnecessary browsing time. This tool provides the user with a lot of information. It gives a list of officials that head each major operating unit, a summary statement of that agency’s purpose and role in the Federal government. It provides a brief history of the agency which might be helpful to know when trying to determine if they would be likely to give to your cause. A description of its programs and activities. Last but not least, information, addresses, and phone numbers to help users locate detailed information on what grants are available, when there deadlines are, and what aspects would be required in a proposal.

The Grant Advisor is a resource that publishes 11 newsletters per year. It is a source of information on grant, research, and fellowship opportunities for U.S. institutions of higher education and their faculty. The information available through this publication is not cheap. The paper version is $225 for a one year subscription. It is a newsletter that holds information on grant opportunities from federal agencies as well as many independent organizations and foundations. Published monthly (except July), each issue has 20-25 program reviews, descriptions, requirements, and contact information.

The web version, The Grant Advisor Plus is $445 for a one year subscription. It offers online access for an entire college or university. Features include: database and article search capabilities, deadline listings, hyperlinks to over 200 funding sources, and hundreds of essays providing helpful tips to guide you through the search and writing process. This source offers a trial subscription free of charge which allows the user complete access to all its benefits for a given period of time. This tool is beyond the reach of most individuals, but an excellent source for institutions of higher education.