Funding and Grant Opportunities
Federal Government
Grants, agreements, and other funding opportunities from the federal government can be obtained through various channels. The list of resources below provides insight into what the government is funding in the manufacturing and workforce development spaces. This page also includes information on navigating nonprofit funding.
Grants (assistance money – non-repayable)
Grants.gov – The single official portal for all federal grant opportunities
- Search current funding opportunity announcements (FOAs)
- Use the “Search Grants” tab and filter by agency, keyword, eligibility, etc.
- Register (free) to get email alerts for new opportunities in a specific area.
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) – Official award data
- Visit SAM.gov. You can search for actual grant awards made by going to Entity Information and Federal Award Data section. This provides a view of who has received grants in the last few years.
USASpending.gov – A public tool for seeing where federal money actually went
- Tracks almost every dollar of federal spending, including grants and contracts.
- Filter by agency, recipient, location, CFDA/Assistance Listing number, keyword, fiscal year, etc.
- Great visualizations and downloadable data.
Department of Defense website
- Each military service has its own website or portal for announcing opportunities.
Contracts (procurement – government buying goods/services)
SAM.gov: Provides contract opportunities of all active federal contract solicitations and awards above $25k.
- Search by keyword, NAICS code, agency, set-aside type, etc.
USASpending.gov Shows actual contract awards (who won, dollar amount, agency, etc.).
FPDS.gov Federal Procurement Data System provides raw contract award data (more detailed but less user-friendly than USASpending).
Cornerstone OTA: OTAs (Other Transaction Agreements) is a flexible contract vehicle DoD uses to purchase services and goods. OTAs enable faster and often more affordable acquisition for the federal government, while streamlining the process for both contractors and the government. There are many OTAs the DoD uses; Cornerstone is the vehicle most relevant to defense manufacturing.
The Cornerstone OTA was initially set up to support the Executive Order 13806: Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States.
Quick “one-stop-shop” recommendations
- To browse what is currently open, visit Grants.gov (grants) and SAM.gov Contract Opportunities (contracts).
- To see what has been awarded recently, visit USASpending.gov for both grants and contracts.
- To access downloadable datasets visit, data.gov, USASpending downloads, or agency-specific award databases.
Pro tips
- Set up saved searches and email alerts on Grants.gov and SAM.gov — new opportunities appear daily.
- Use Assistance Listings numbers on USASpending.gov to track entire programs over time.
- Start with USASpending.gov – it’s the most transparent single view.
Philanthropic and Nonprofit Organizations
Many foundations and nonprofit organizations—at both the national and local/regional levels—offer grants and funding opportunities related to defense manufacturing, defense technology, and workforce development/education.
A key point to remember is that nonprofit funders almost always restrict their giving to their stated priority areas. A project or organization must closely align with the nonprofit’s mission and current focus. Understanding this upfront will save applicants from investing time in completing applications that have little chance of success, so thorough research is essential from the beginning.
The most effective starting point is usually local. It is important to identify the foundations and nonprofits active in the relevant geographic area and determine which ones fund projects in defense manufacturing and workforce development. This targeted research will help identify the best matches for the organization’s needs.
Below are some resources to help:
Grant Watch
A robust database with grant listings in a number of areas, including community development and workforce.
Inside Charity
A news source that includes best practices and recommendations on applying for grants as well as some grant announcements.
Jobs for the Future (JFF)
National nonprofit operating at the intersection of education, workforce, and employment, JFF offers grants and acts as an intermediary for federal and state grants.
Ascendium Education Group
National nonprofit that awards approximately $100 million in grants annually to support postsecondary education and workforce training initiatives.