What is Grants.gov FIND?

Grants.gov FIND is the single government point of entry for Federal government discretionary 
grant and cooperative agreement opportunities.


What are the benefits?

Benefits of using Grants.gov FIND include:
•	Provide agencies a single location to post Federal assistance funding opportunities;
•	Potential applicants have a single location to seek Federal assistance funding and 
        monitor and retrieve funding information on opportunities;
•	Provide potential applicants with e-mail notification when requested;
•	Utilize a common Government-wide format for announcements;
•	Grants.gov FIND posting can link to the full announcement, the Catalog of Federal 
        Domestic Assistance (CFDA), and a standardized application mechanism (Grants.gov); and 
•	Beginning October 2003, applicants will be able to connect to Grants.gov APPLY where 
        they may apply for assistance electronically.

When should I begin using Grants.gov FIND?

Beginning immediately, you must enter discretionary grants and cooperative agreement 
announcements in Grants.gov FIND.  

What assistance programs should be included?

All discretionary grants and cooperative agreements are required to be included in 
Grants.gov FIND except for:
1.	Programs that only publish funding opportunities in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
        Assistance (CFDA): and/or
2.	Announcements for awards less than $25,000 for which 100% of eligible applicants live 
        outside of the United States; and/or
3.	Single source announcements of funding opportunities issued by a bureau/office which 
        are specifically directed to a known recipient; or
4.	A waiver from OMB has been approved.

Please note that any other forms of assistance may be included in Grants.gov FIND as appropriate.

What if I currently provide assistance announcements in another location?

Other formats may be used to provide information on assistance programs in addition to 
Grants.gov FIND.  If the bureau/office has a web site with the assistance information, it is 
recommended that a link to the bureau/office web site be available in Grants.gov FIND.  It is 
also recommended that bureau/office web sites include a link to Grants.gov FIND.  Note that 
bureau/office web sites must use the Government-wide standard format for announcements.

How do I enter information?

Information may be entered into Grants.gov FIND via the Internet at http://www.Grants.gov.  
This URL will take you to the Grants.gov website.  Once on the Grants.gov website:
1.	Click on “Program Management Office”;
2.	Click on “Pilot of Find Grant Opportunities”;
3.	Click on “Enter the Find Grant Opportunities Pilot Site.”

You are now at the Grants.gov FIND (formerly FedGrants) main page.  In order to add 
opportunity announcements, click on “Grantors.”  You will need a password in order to gain 
access.  See your bureau/office Grants.gov FIND Administrator or the Office of Acquisition 
and Property Management.

How do I obtain an account?

Contact your Grants.gov FIND bureau/office administrator.  After you provide the necessary 
information, your administrator will provide you a login and password.  In order to create 
an account, your administrator will need the following information from you:
1.	First Name
2.	Middle Initial
3.	Last Name
4.	Office
5.	Title
6.	Telephone
7.	Fax
8.	E-mail address

When do I need an account?

You will need an account if you are responsible for entering/posting federal assistance 
announcements in Grants.gov FIND.  If you only want to view announcements, an account is not 
necessary (Select the “Applicant” option).

What format should I use for announcements?

The 27 data elements in Grants.gov FIND are as follows:

1.	Funding Agency User Identification - User ID of Federal agency representative who is 
        authorized to post information to the Grants.gov FIND site.
2.	Federal Agency User Password - Password of Federal agency representative who is 
        authorized to post information to the Grants.gov FIND site.
3.	Announcement Type - Type of announcement to which the synopsis relates:  Initial 
        announcement or modification to previously issued announcement.
4.	Funding Opportunity Title - The Federal agency’s title for the funding opportunity 
        (including program subcomponent names, as the agency deems appropriate).
5.	Funding Opportunity Number - Optional for initial announcement if you give no 
        number, Grants.gov FIND will assign one.  Agency input is required for modification.  
        The number, if any, that the Federal agency assigns to its announcement.  For a 
        modification of a previously issued announcement, use the funding opportunity 
        number of that earlier announcement.  
6.	Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers - Number(s) of the CFDA listing(s) 
        for program(s) included in the announcement (e.g., 15.220).  For programs that are not 
        subject to the requirement in 31 U.S.C. Chapter 61, you may arrange with Grants.gov to 
        insert an alternative number that will allow listing of the funding opportunity.
7.	Federal Agency Name - Optional.  If you give no office name, Grants.gov FIND will 
        insert the office name you gave when you initially registered and got your user ID and 
        password.  Name of the Federal organization responsible for the announcement, including 
        agency name and, as applicable, specific subcomponent (e.g., bureau, division).
8.	Federal Agency Contact for Electronic Access Problems - Should list name of person(s) 
        (e.g., web master) to whom potential applicants should refer questions if they cannot 
        link from Grants.gov FIND to the full announcement (this person is distinct from 
        programmatic and other agency contacts who are listed in the full announcement).
9.	E-mail Address for Federal Agency Contact for Electronic Access Problems - E-mail 
        address of Federal agency contact that can help with electronic access problems.
10.	Telephone number of Federal agency contact that can help with electronic access 
        problems - Telephone number of Federal agency contact that can help with electronic 
        access problems.
11.	Funding Opportunity Description - A concise description of the funding opportunity, 
        designed to contain sufficient information for potential applicants to decide whether 
        they are interested enough to read the full announcement.
12.	Funding Instrument Type - Types of instruments that may be awarded are:
•	Grant (G)
•	Cooperative Agreement (CA)
•	Procurement Contract (PC)
•	Other (O)
Note that if your announcement states that you may award procurement contracts, as well as 
assistance awards, the announcement must be posted in both the procurement and assistance 
modules of Grants.gov FIND.   Select all that apply (up to 4 codes).
13.	Category of Funding – Designed to allow potential applicants to narrow their searches 
        to programs in CFDA categories of interest to them.  Note that the terms are defined 
        in the CFDA.  List all categories that apply (codes provided for system-to-system 
        interface):
•	Agriculture (AG)
•	Arts (AR- see “Cultural Affairs” in the CFDA)
•	Business and Commerce (BC)
•	Community Development (CD)
•	Consumer Protection (CP)
•	Disaster Prevention and Relief (DPR)
•	Education (ED)
•	Employment, Labor and Training (ELT)
•	Energy (EN)
•	Environment (ENV)
•	Food and Nutrition (FN)
•	Health (HL)
•	Housing (HO)
•	Humanities (HU- see “Cultural Affairs” in the CFDA)
•	Income Security and Social Services (ISS)
•	Information and Statistics (IS)
•	Law, Justice and Legal Services (LJL)
•	Natural Resources (NR)
•	Regional Development (RD)
•	Science and Technology and other Research and Development (ST)
•	Transportation (T)
•	Other (O- see text field entitled “Explanation of other category of funding activity” 
        for clarification.)
You may list as many as needed.  There is no default value.  If the category of funding 
activity does not clearly fit in any other listed category, you must select “Other.”
14.	Explanation of “Other” Category of Funding Activity - A text description of what other 
        category or categories of activity is eligible for support under the funding opportunity.  
        Required if an agency selects “other” as a category of funding activity, either by 
        itself or in combination with one or more other categories.  
15.	Estimated Total Program Funding - The total amount of funding the agency expects to 
        make available for awards under this announcement.  Default, if agency provides no 
        input, is “not available.”  However, as a matter of Government-wide policy, agencies 
        are strongly encouraged to provide this information whenever possible.
16.	Expected Number of Awards - The number of individual awards the agency expects to make 
        under this announcement.  Default, if agency provides no input, is “not available.”  
        However, as a matter of Government-wide policy, agencies are strongly encouraged to 
        provide this information whenever possible.
17.	Ceiling, if any, on Amount of Individual Award - Any maximum dollar amount for an 
        individual award under this announcement that the awarding agency will not exceed.
18.	Floor, if any, on amount of individual award - Any minimum dollar amount for an 
        individual award under this announcement (i.e., if the awarding agency will not make 
        smaller awards under any circumstance).
19.	How to Get Full Announcement - Hypertext stating where to get the full announcement.  
        If it is available on the Internet, this field should include the descriptor that 
        precedes the URL for the full announcement (e.g., “Click on the following link to see 
        the full text of the announcement for this funding opportunity:”).
20.	Electronic Link to Full Announcement - The URL for the full announcement, unless the 
        announcement is uploaded in Grants.gov FIND.  Agency input is optional because there 
        will be no URL if the agency uploads the announcement in Grants.gov FIND and does not 
        also post it on the Internet.
21.	Eligible Applicants - Designed to help potential applicants narrow their searches to 
        programs where they are most likely to be eligible, although they still must read the 
        full announcement for details because eligibility may be further limited to certain 
        subsets of applicants within the categories below (codes provided for system-to-system 
        interface).

•	99- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity below), subject to any exceptions 
        listed in the text field entitled “Additional information on eligibility.”

Government codes:
•	00- State governments
•	01- County governments
•	02- City or township governments
•	04- Special district governments
•	05- Independent school districts
•	06- State controlled institutions of higher education
•	07- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
•	08- Public housing authorities/ Indian housing authorities

Non-Government organizations:
•	11- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 
        governments)
•	12- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education
•	13- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education
•	20- Private institutions of higher education
•	21- Individuals
•	22- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
•	23- Small business
•	25- All Other
22.	Additional Information on Eligibility - Explanatory information to provide any needed 
        clarification of the meaning of “unrestricted” (e.g., all but foreign entities), to 
        identify types of recipients meant by “all others” or to provide further information 
        about limitations for any other categories (e.g., for categories 6 and 20, a limitation 
        to historically Black colleges and universities).  Required if agency selects category 
        25 or 99 in “eligible applicants” field.  If agency selects category 99 and there are 
        no further limitations, enter “no restrictions.”  Optional for additional information 
        related to any category other than 25 or 99.
23.	Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement - Answer to question:  Is cost sharing or matching 
        required?  (Y or N).
24.	Due Date for Applications - Date when applications are due (or latest date when 
        applications are accepted, if announcement has multiple due dates or is a general 
        announcement that is open for a specified period with applications accepted at any time 
        during that period).  NOTE:  This field is to contain the date when pre-applications, 
        rather than applications, are due if an applicant must submit a pre-application to be 
        considered for an award.  Required if “Explanation of application due dates” field is 
        not completed.  Optional otherwise.
25.	Explanation of Application Due Dates - Used by agencies wishing to post more information 
        about due date(s) for potential applicants.  For example, the field may be used to 
        describe programs with multiple due dates or ones where applications are accepted, 
        reviewed, and funded at any point within a broad time window.  The field also may be 
        used to add information about the time when applications are due (e.g., 5 p.m. EDT on 
        the date given in the “Due date for applications” field).  Optional (note “Due date 
        for applications” field is required if this “Explanation of application due dates” 
        text field is not completed).
26.	Date of Grants.gov FIND Posting - Month, day, and year when the agency wants the 
        synopsis posted on Grants.gov FIND (e.g., some agencies may build in delays to allow 
        announcements to appear first in the Federal Register or at agency internet sites.  
        Format is MMDDCCYY.
27.	Date for Grants.gov FIND to Archive - Month, day, and year when the agency wants the 
        synopsis archived.  Format is MMDDCCYY.  Optional.  Default, if agency provides no 
        input, is 30 days after the date given in the “Due date for applications” field.

What do I do if I forget my password?

If you have forgotten your login and/or password, use the “Forgot your password?” feature on 
the grantor login screen or contact your bureau/office administrator.

How do I change my password?

Use the profile function in Grants.gov FIND to edit user information, including changing the 
password.  Consult the Grantor Guide available on the Grants.gov FIND site for instructions.  

When should I have my access cancelled?

Access should be cancelled when you no longer have the need to enter assistance announcements.  
Examples include a change in duties or leaving the Department.

What does the Department System Administrator do?

The Grants.gov FIND Department System Administrator is responsible for ensuring all appropriate 
DOI employees have proper access to Grants.gov FIND.  Duties include:
•	Leading the senior Grants.gov FIND bureau/office administrators;
•	Ensuring proper communication on Grants.gov FIND initiatives to bureau/office leads;
•	Providing training and assistance to senior bureau/office administrators;
•	Providing appropriate Grants.gov FIND access to bureau/office administrators;
•	Providing passwords to bureau/office system administrators;
•	Removing Grants.gov FIND access to bureau/office administrators; 
•	Answering questions from bureau/office administrators;
•	Represent DOI at Grants.gov FIND related meetings, both within DOI and Government-wide;
•	Testing the system (as necessary); and 
•	Working with policy staff to provide efficient, effective policy on Grants.gov FIND.

What are Bureau/Office responsibilities?

Bureaus/Offices are responsible for providing the Office of Acquisition and Property 
Management (PAM) a minimum of one Grants.gov FIND Bureau/Office Administrator.  PAM will 
provide communication and offer training as required to the senior bureau/office leads.  
Bureaus/offices are responsible for training and communication within their bureau/office.

What does a Grants.gov FIND Administrator do?

The bureau/office administrator duties include:
•	Ensuring proper communication on Grants.gov FIND initiatives within their bureau/office;
•	Providing training and assistance within the bureau/office;
•	Providing appropriate Grants.gov FIND access within the bureau/office;
•	Providing passwords within bureau/office;
•	Removing Grants.gov FIND access within bureau/office (as necessary);
•	Answering questions within the bureau/office;
•	Representing the bureau/office at Grants.gov FIND related meetings within DOI and bureau;
•	Testing the system (as necessary); and
•	Providing PAM with recommendations for policy and system enhancements.