A grant is a type of fund that is usually given by companies, nonprofit organizations, and in some cases the government. If a grant is provided by the government then it is considered as a government grant. A government grant has both advantages and disadvantages. The best part of government grants is they are non-repayable, widely available, and boosts credibility. However, getting a government grant is a very lengthy process and you have to abide by lots of rules!
Definition of Government Grants
You can think of government grants as financial awards. Usually, the federal government, the state government, or the local government support and provide financial support to various projects that are beneficial for society. According to U.S. Government Services and Information –
“A grant is one of the ways the government funds ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the economy. Grants support critical recovery initiatives, innovative research, and many other programs.”
You should keep in mind that a government grant won’t provide any technical or other financial support. You will only get one-time financial support from government grants. If you receive a government grant then you don’t have to repay the money. There are more than 1,000 grant programs available in the USA that are monitored by Twenty-six federal agencies. These grant programs provide funding for the arts, sciences, educational institutions, etc.
Who is Eligible for Government Grants in the USA?
Individuals and various types of organizations are eligible for government grants in the USA. For example –
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal governments (other than federally recognized)
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits having a 501(c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS
- Organizations other than small businesses
Types of Government Grants in the USA
There are quite a few types of government grants available in the USA. They are –
- Categorical Grants: The US government offers various grants depending on the category and this type of grant is known as categorical grants.
- Project Grants: USA government offers this type of grant for various research projects. If the duration of the project is a minimum of three years then it might qualify for the project grants.
- Formula Grants: This type of grant is offered to a precise formula in the legislation creating the program.
- Block Grants: These types of grants are large grants and they are offered by the federal government to the state or local governments.
- Earmark Grants: These types of grants are specified in appropriations of the U.S. Congress.
List of USA Grant Categories
In the USA, there are 900 grant programs available and they are offered in 20 categories. They are –
- Agriculture
- Arts
- Business and Commerce
- Community Development
- Consumer Protection
- Disaster Prevention and Relief
- Education Regional Development
- Employment, Labor, and Training
- Energy
- Environmental Quality
- Food and Nutrition
- Health
- Housing
- Humanities
- Information and Statistics
- Law, Justice, and Legal Services
- Natural Resources
- Science and Technology
- Social Services and Income Security
- Transportation
State by State Data of Governments Grants in the USA
| Name of the State | Federal Funding Per Resident | Total Federal Funding | Benefits Recipients | Median Household Income |
| Virginia Kentucky New Mexico West Virginia Alaska Mississippi Alabama Maryland Maine Hawaii Arkansas South Carolina Arizona Oklahoma Missouri Montana Louisiana Vermont Tennessee Idaho North Carolina Delaware Ohio Oregon Michigan Indiana Pennsylvania Georgia Rhode Island Florida Kansas South Dakota Nevada Iowa Minnesota Wyoming Wisconsin Texas Utah California Colorado Nebraska Washington New Hampshire Illinois North Dakota New York Massachusetts New Jersey Connecticut | $10,301 $9,145 $8,692 $7,283 $7,048 $6,880 $6,694 $6,035 $5,572 $5,270 $5,080 $5,008 $4,430 $3,986 $3,949 $3,808 $3,785 $3,741 $3,591 $3,428 $3,358 $2,892 $2,750 $2,477 $2,474 $2,359 $2,299 $2,253 $2,228 $2,187 $1,983 $1,409 $1,140 $1,105 $959 $670 $536 $304 $296 $12 -$95 -$164 -$184 -$234 -$364 -$720 -$1,792 -$2,343 -$2,368 -$4,000 | $1.77 billion $70.80 billion $31.70 billion $24.60 billion $13.00 billion $37.80 billion $65.80 billion $105.10 billion $17.40 billion $19.90 billion $35.10 billion $59.70 billion $82.80 billion $45.10 billion $72.30 billion $12.20 billion $52.00 billion $8.00 billion $76.30 billion $17.50 billion $113.10 billion $11.50 billion $125.70 billion $45.70 billion $108.40 billion $67.80 billion $155.80 billion $104.50 billion $12.60 billion $237.70 billion $31.30 billion $9.30 billion $28.70 billion $29.90 billion $64.40 billion $7.10 billion $55.40 billion $269.00 billion $23.90 billion $436.10 billion $57.50 billion $17.70 billion $80.50 billion $15.00 billion $131.80 billion $7.90 billion $220.60 billion $78.70 billion $97.70 billion $41.10 billion | 0.08% 0.14% 0.17% 0.17% 0.11% 0.15% 0.14% 0.10% 0.13% 0.11% 0.12% 0.12% 0.11% 0.13% 0.11% 0.09% 0.16% 0.11% 0.14% 0.10% 0.12% 0.10% 0.13% 0.15% 0.13% 0.09% 0.13% 0.13% 0.15% 0.14% 0.08% 0.09% 0.12% 0.10% 0.08% 0.06% 0.11% 0.12% 0.07% 0.09% 0.08% 0.08% 0.12% 0.07% 0.13% 0.06% 0.15% 0.12% 0.09% 0.12% | $74,222 $50,589 $49,754 $46,711 $77,640 $45,081 $50,536 $84,805 $57,918 $81,275 $47,597 $53,199 $58,945 $52,919 $55,461 $54,970 $49,469 $61,973 $53,320 $55,785 $54,602 $68,287 $56,602 $62,818 $57,144 $56,303 $61,744 $58,700 $67,167 $55,660 $59,597 $58,275 $60,365 $60,523 $71,306 $64,049 $61,747 $61,874 $71,621 $75,235 $72,331 $61,439 $73,775 $76,768 $65,886 $64,894 $68,486 $81,215 $82,545 $78,444 |
10 USA States with Highest Total Government Grants
| Name of the State | Total Federal Funding |
| California Texas Florida New York Virginia Pennsylvania Illinois Ohio North Carolina Michigan | $43.61 billion $26.90 billion $23.77 billion $22.06 billion $17.68 billion $15.58 billion $13.18 billion $12.57 billion $11.31 billion $10.84 billion |
10 USA States with Lowest Total Government Grants
| Name of the State | Total Federal Funding |
| New Jersey Massachusetts New York North Dakota Illinois New Hampshire Washington Nebraska Colorado | -$2,368 -$2,343 -$1,792 -$720 -$364 -$234 -$184 -$164 -$95 $12 |
10 USA States with Highest Funding per Resident
| Name of the State | Total Federal Funding |
| Virginia Kentucky New Mexico West Virginia Alaska Mississippi Alabama Maryland Maine Hawaii | $10,301 $9,145 $8,692 $7,283 $7,048 $6,880 $6,694 $6,035 $5,572 $5,270 |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Government Grants
| Advantages of Government Grants | Disadvantages of Government Grants |
| Government grants are less restrictive and there are no hidden fees | Getting a government grant is a very time-consuming process; you might need to spend lots of time researching the granting agency before writing the grant |
| The award amounts of a government grant are often substantial because you might get generous amounts of money | There is a lot of competition for government grants and the success rate is very low |
| Government grants are non-repayable means you don’t have to pay back the money | Usually, the funds of a government grant are low compared to other types of grants |
| There are various types of government grants available; you can easily apply for one that suits your requirement | Reporting requirements are also very specific for a government grant |
| Getting government grants is considered highly credible | Applying for a government grant requires lots of paper works |
| Receiving a government grant can open the opportunity of getting other types of grants | If you get a government grant then you will be contractually bound to the government |
Examples of USA Government Grants
- Fund for The Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
- Community Engagement and Edutainment in South Africa – South Africa Addendum APS
- Supporting Tribal Youth: Training and Technical Assistance and Youth Leadership Development
- Long-term Exceptional technical Assistance Project (LEAP) Local
- The fiscal Year 2022 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
- Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence
- Scholarly Editions and Scholarly Translations
- NRCS’s Wetland Mitigation Banking Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2022
- Advancing Health and Malaria Services
- USAID/Ethiopia Civic Engagement Activity
- RFI Ultra-Fast-Triggered Semiconductor Devices for Enhanced System Resiliency
- Countering Stigma and Prejudice Against the Transgender Community
- Strengthening Landscapes Management and Conservation
- Reproductive Scientist Development Program (RSDP)
- NEA Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects, FY2024
- Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
- Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP)
- The fiscal Year 2022 Tribal Wetland Program Development Grants
- Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program 2023 Southern and IITF
- Advancing Research to Understand Congenital Malformations
- Allergy and Asthma Statistical and Clinical Coordinating Center
- Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership
- AHRQ Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
- NHPRC-Mellon Planning Grants for Collaborative Digital Editions
- Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- Regional Probation and Parole Liaison Program
- Global Fund for Women – Localization Activity
- FY 2022 Operation Allies Welcome Airport Assistance Grant
- Geriatrics Academic Career Awards
- Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing (NGMM)
- Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_grants_in_the_United_States
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grant-eligibility.html
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/federal-aid-by-state