FEDERAL GRANTS: HOW CURRENT POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES ARE IMPACTING THE FEDERAL GRANTMAKING PROCESS, FROM AN APPLICANT PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Pursuing competitive funding through the federal grantmaking system is a complex process that is often burdensome and difficult to navigate. Given that the federal government awards billions of dollars per year in federal funding, it is to be expected that many prospective applicants will have difficulty understanding the complexities of how the government distributes funding. After decades of academic research, there is a greater understanding of the forces that impact the distribution of federal dollars, but the dynamic nature of the political landscape in Washington requires that new developments and issues be continuously evaluated so we have an accurate understanding of what influences the distribution of federal funding. This analysis provides a greater understanding of how the current realities of the federal grantmaking process may affect the distribution of federal funding by evaluating three different issues impacting the federal grantmaking system today, using the perspective of a prospective applicant, the primary user of the federal grantmaking system, as a way to understand which issues are important to examine and understand. The first chapter examines the return of congressionally directed spending in Congress, the second chapter examines issues in the process of identifying federal funding opportunities, and the third chapter examines the complexities of federal funding application processes. The issues explored in each chapter of the portfolio contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex tasks facing entities seeking competitive federal funding. The analysis finds that the federal government must do more to improve and streamline the federal grantmaking process to ensure federal funds are provided in the most efficient and effective manner.