From the Mayo Clinic, to the University of Minnesota, to the strong local businesses throughout our state, Minnesota is the home to some of the world’s best research facilities. And no one knows that better than the unparalleled talent from here and around the globe that calls Minnesota home. These institutions, businesses, and communities have produced some of the world's most innovative and life-changing achievements in medicine, business, agriculture, and technology. This work does not happen by chance—it happens because Minnesotans know the importance of investing in these critical endeavors.

As your Senator, it is my priority to help Minnesota businesses, institutions, and communities compete successfully for grants offered by the federal government. These grants are critical investments in projects that spur discoveries, cure diseases, and create the industries of the future.

Furthermore, my office is committed to guiding you through the process of identifying and securing these grants. On this site you will find links to resources for locating various grant programs as well as information about how to make the most of your grant application.If there is anything we can do to assist you, please don't hesitate to contact my office at 612-727-5220.

Where to Look for Grants

The best place to begin a grant search is with the agency which administers the area for which you are seeking funding. Those agencies frequently have details of various federal programs on their web sites. For example:

Key Federal Funding Sources

Grants.gov (via Dept. of Health and Human Services)

Federal grants website that allows organizations to electronically find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL Federal agencies. Grant seekers can check on notices of funding availability posted in the last 7 days; sign up to receive e-mail notification of future grant opportunities; and apply for Federal grants online through a unified process. For full Federal program descriptions, see CFDA below.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (General Services Administration)

The Catalog (CFDA), issued annually and updated continuously on the Web, describes some 1600 Federal grants and non-financial assistance programs. Grantseekers can identify programs that might support their projects and can learn the program's objectives, requirements, application procedures and contacts. For current notices of funding availability, see Grants.gov.

  • Catalog Indexes and Listings (CFDA)
    Although keyword searching is often a good place to start, also browse by broad subject (Functional Area), by Federal Department or Agency, or by Beneficiary to identify more Federal funding programs. CFDA program descriptions refer to local and regional Federal office addresses, to related programs, and to Office of Management and Budget circulars, all available full text on the Internet.
  • Developing and Writing Grant Proposals (CFDA)
    Guidance in formulating Federal grant applications, including initial proposal development, basic components of a proposal, review recommendations, and referral to Federal guidelines and literature.
  • Federal Regional or Local Office Addresses (CFDA Appendix IV; by Agency or by State)
    Much of the Federal grants budget moves to the States through formula and block grants — State, regional, and local Federal offices often handle grants applications and funds disbursement. If the CFDA program description refers to a State or regional Information Contact as listed in Appendix IV, grantseekers should contact them before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.

State 'Single Points of Contact' (Office of Management and Budget)

Under Executive Order 12372, some States require Federal grants applicants to submit a copy of their application for State government level review and comment. The State offices listed here coordinate government (both Federal and State) grants development and may provide guidance to grant seekers. For help in identifying State-level grants, other State government agencies websites include: State and Local Agencies by Topic, State Governments Information and the National Association of Development Organizations.

CFDA in Print (Government Printing Office)

Although the Catalog is available full-text on the Internet, some may prefer a print edition. However, only the Web Catalog is continuously updated— the published volume is annual with no supplements.

Find funding programs and learn how to write grant proposals:

  1. Search or browse the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) by Keyword and other indexes for grants, loans, business and non-financial help.
  2. Contact Federal office given in CFDA program description: if indicated, use CFDA Appendix IV: Federal Agency or Local Office Addresses (by Agency or by State).
  3. Search Federal websites given in each CFDA program description for more information and for State Administering Agencies responsible for managing these programs.
  4. Check current Federal grants opportunities at Grants.gov, sign up for email notification, and apply online.
  5. Search also foundations for project funding: use the Foundation Center website or Foundation Center book collections in libraries to identify national, State, and community foundations.

Learn how to write grant proposals:

Follow CFDA's Developing and Writing Grant Proposals, or take the Foundation Center Proposal Writing Short Course.