Guidance and key resources to help eligible grant seekers find information about federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance.

Senator Banks wants to help Hoosiers get connected with resources to help fund projects needed to improve their communities. He has compiled a list of resources you can use to help find opportunities that might apply to your project. If you have questions about a grant application that was submitted to a federal agency, please contact the Fort Wayne office to let us know.

Finding a source of funding

Step 1: Are you eligible to apply for a grant?

• Each federal assistance program has its own set of eligibility criteria. This website (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grant-eligibility.html) describes how these criteria might apply to different programs.  The website Government Benefits, Grants, and Financial Aid (http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml) may also be of help.

Step 2: What program should I consider?

• If your project is eligible for federal funding, search for a program that fits your project in the assistance listings on SAM.gov (https://www.sam.gov/assistance-listings). These listings include grants, loans, business and nonfinancial help.

Step 3: Reach out to the program offices

• Contact the federal office with each Assistance Listing program description (https://www.sam.gov/assistance-listings) you are interested in pursuing.

Step 4: Research the opportunities

• Visit the federal websites provided with each Assistance Listing program description (https://www.sam.gov/assistance-listings) to obtain more information about the program and identify any administering agencies at the state level that are responsible for managing these programs.

Step 5: Complete the administrative steps to apply for assistance

• Check current federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/), obtain a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov (https://sam.gov/entity-registration), and apply online following the links and information provided on the program listing in Grants.gov. Additional notices may appear at FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Default.htm).

Additional Resources

A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies – General Services Administration (GSA) https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a

To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency’s home page to learn more about its programs and objectives. The site also includes the following:

Government Benefits, Grants and Loans https://www.usa.gov/benefits-grants-loans

Grants Management Circulars – Office of Management and Budget (OMB) https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars/

OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in SAM.gov program descriptions. Circulars target grants recipients and audit requirements for educational institutions, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations.

State Single Points of Contact – Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/office-federal-financial-management/spoc-list/

Under Executive Order 12372, some states require federal grants applicants to submit a copy of their applications for state government level review and comment. The state offices listed here coordinate federal financial assistance and may direct federal development. For help in identifying state-level grants, other state government agencies websites may be found at State and Local Agencies.

Other Ways Senator Banks Can Help

If you are in the process of applying for a federal assistance program and would like Senator Banks to consider sending a letter of support on behalf of your application, please send information about your application to casework@banks.senate.gov. In your email please include:

• Your contact information
• The entity applying for the program
• A description of the project
• The name of the program from which you are applying for funds and how much funding you are seeking
• A description of how the project will make a positive impact on the State of Indiana
• What organizations or individuals are supporting your project
• What financial support the project is receiving outside of federal assistance
• Any concerns that have been brought to your attention about the project

For applicants who have already submitted their application and would like Senator Banks to follow up on the status of their application, please complete a privacy release and send it to casework@banks.senate.gov or contact our Indiana office.