Federal Government Grants: An Overview of Salient Information - By: Aline Heller

A grant is a type of gift with legal conditions attached between the grantor and the grantee. Because of its conditional nature, it should not be confused with free gifts such as what you receive for special occasions. The obligations laid on the grantee, as well as the responsibilities taken on by the grantor, are all legally bound, and must be fulfilled to the full extent of the law.

There are a lot of federal grants available for organizations and institutions that set up projects for the benefit of communities and groups of people. Projects can range from a re-urbanization program of a certain city sector, alternative career training among laid-off workers to parks and wildlife preservation and disaster remediation programs. Organizations who receive federal grants need to abide strictly with regulations set forth by the government agency that issued the grant. They are accountable for meeting agreed upon performance standards throughout the duration of a grant.

All expenditures related to the grant pass through strict auditing. If ever there were excess funds, then these would be returned to the Treasury. Program goals are developed and go through a comprehensive approval process. Once approved, then all of these goals must be executed exactly as described in the grant proposal. If changes need to be done on the project, then government approval must be obtained. Otherwise, no changes on the project can be admitted. A schedule for project completion is followed, and the completed project must show definite proof of success.

If after the completion of the project, the grant recipient is unable to meet the performance requirements of the grant, then, that institution will be penalized. The severity of the penalty ranges from economic sanctions to imprisonment. The latter is usually applied to cases of improper use of public funds or theft.

Majority of federal grants get awarded to government agencies, city governments, research organizations, and colleges and universities. The process of applying for a grant is a costly and time-consuming endeavor. Few individuals have the resources for adequately meeting the requirements. Institutions and agencies that apply for grants usually have a whole department charged solely with overseeing their grant applications and ensuring all requirements are fulfilled.

Funds for federal grants become available after Congress passes the federal budget. Specific amounts of funds are made available to different government agencies for use in projects that would benefit the public. In the past few years, grants have become scarcer due to the country's economic problems. This has resulted to more stringent competition for available funds. Available grant projects are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which is accessible through libraries and over the Internet. This listing includes information on eligible organizations and individuals, the specific purpose of the grant, and application requirements.

Federal agencies also have information on grants on their Web sites. These agencies include the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health.

About the Author

Aline Heller writes about community projects. To learn more about federal government grants, go to US Grant Source. Another resource is Free Grants and Loans Guide.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Aline-Heller/211335

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