Using the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, you may be able to find grants for your business, but it takes some time and patience to navigate the site and weed out all the grants you don't want and aren't qualified for.
Federal grants and grants to states are funded for one of three purposes:
- Who? Who is the grant intended to help? Usually it is intended for women, disabled, minorities, veterans, or tribes. If you don't meet the criteria, you can't apply.
- Where? Grants are often set up to help people in disadvantaged areas, rural areas, or areas that have suffered disasters, to help build or re-build these neighborhoods.
- What? What is the purpose of the funding? Often it is to support programs that help a variety of individuals or to support initiatives (like "green" building) that encourage activities or the public welfare. Rarely would grants to directly to individual companies.
For example, I decided to search on "women" and "business," to find potential grants for women business owners. I found a Women Business Owner's Assistance grant through the Small Business Administration. But the purpose of the grant is not to directly help women in business, but to set up centers where women business owners can go to learn how to run their businesses.
The SBA's Microloan program was also listed, to help set up businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.
Some things to keep in mind
- Watch the expiration dates on these grants/loans. Many of those listed are out of date. Contact the agency listed and check to see if the grant is still available.
- Don't just look at the title. Be careful to note exactly what the grant is for.
- Note who the grant/loan is intended to help. Women, minorities, disadvantaged, disabled, and veterans are often the intended recipients. Others need not apply.
- If you find a grant you are interested in applying for, do your homework and follow the directions. Grants are very difficult to get, and you improve your chances only if you pay attention to the directions and follow them.
Use the "Top Ten" percent page to see the most commonly clicked-on pages within the CFDA site. These are often small business grants and loans.