Public Sector Grant Landscape: How to Find and Win Funding

As a leader in the public sector, you’re passionate about serving the community. Unfortunately, constrained resources can limit your agency’s ability to serve more effectively. Imagine what you could accomplish with new equipment, facilities or software – public sector grants can help you realize those dreams.

There are more than $600 billion in grants available every year. But applying for a grant and receiving funds is easier said than done. It takes time and resources to:

Find the best grants for your agency and community
Create a strategic, data-informed proposal
Win the grant over other organizations competing for it
Manage the funds and adhere to grant requirements

Taking advantage of best practices and helpful resources will increase your chances of being funded. In this article, we will provide exactly that: helpful tips and tools for finding and securing grants for your agency’s next project or purchase.

What You Need to Know About Public Grants

Grants are available to fund a focused project that improves your community. It’s an investment in the future. It’s not a loan (no repayment), and it’s not a short-term purchase solution. After submission, it can take 6–12 months before an award letter and funds are received.

Once you receive and sign your award letter, it becomes a legally binding contract. It’s important to read through the letter to make sure your agency can comply with the terms and conditions. A grant is not free money, no strings attached. Grants often come with reporting and matching requirements, which must be adhered to.

You can source grants from federal, state, and local government, as well as community and corporate foundations. Don’t limit yourself to grants that provide 100% of the funding. A diversified funding strategy that includes federal, state, local, and private funds may be necessary. It just requires a more thoughtful approach.

Overview of the Current Public Grant Landscape

Like most things, there are trends in the type, nature, and requirements of public grants. For example, new government administrations often come with new priorities, affecting which projects are funded. Here are four other trends in public sector grants.

Sustainability and Innovation

Sustainability and innovation are growing trends in US grants. Increasingly, funds are provided to green initiatives, renewable energy projects, and innovative solutions to public health and safety challenges.

Technology and Data Utilization

As technology and data analytics improve, so does the grant process. More grant programs are using data to measure impact, improve transparency and ensure funds are used efficiently. Recipients are also leveraging technology to better manage and report on grants.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

More agencies are including communities and stakeholders in the grantmaking process. This collaborative approach helps agencies align their projects with community needs and priorities.

Homeland Security

Traditionally, the main concern of homeland security has been terrorism and critical infrastructure. In recent years, however, priorities have expanded to include the protection of soft targets in crowded places. This shift makes homeland security grants an ideal option for public sector agencies looking to improve emergency response systems (CAD-to-CAD, CAD RMS) and PSAP collaboration.

View this webinar by CentralSquare to learn more about the current public grant landscape.

Types of Grants Available to Public Sector Agencies

Public grants come from various levels of government funding. Each level targets specific needs. Federal grants often focus on broader national priorities such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and defense. State and local grants tend to address more regional issues like community development, public safety, and local cultural projects.

Competitive and Non-Competitive Grants

Competitive grants require applicants to submit proposals and compete based on merit or project efficacy. Formula grants, or non-competitive grants, distribute funds based on predefined criteria such as population size or poverty levels. This article is mainly focused around competitive grants.

Federal Programs

Federal grants are often the most substantial, coming from sources like the Department of Education, Department of Transportation, or the Department of Health and Human Services. They support a broad range of public services, including education, transportation and public safety improvements. Here are some specific grants that could be a good fit for your agency, depending on its needs and location.

The Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program could be good for rural communities looking to develop essential community facilities. In contrast, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a Community Development Block Grant that can be ideal for public agencies in urban areas.

For counties along US borders, the Operation Stonegarden Grant Program could be a great fit. In 2024, the program offered $81 million in total funding for security along the Mexico and Canada borders.

With over $103 million in total funding for 2024, the FEMA Emergency Operations Center Grant Program can help EOCs address any deficiencies and needs in their emergency management and preparedness. This is one of many public safety grants that may benefit your agency.

State Programs

Offered by state governments, these grants can help fund projects that comply with specific state priorities, such as economic development, emergency response and education enhancements. Examples include the Safe Oklahoma Grant, the Virginia Combating Hate Crimes Grant, and Homeland Security Grants for many different states.

Local/Private Programs

These are provided by city or county governments, as well as corporate and community foundations. They often target localized projects like workforce development, environmental sustainability, and regional economic initiatives.

Examples include:

Challenges in Securing and Managing Grants

Applying for grants can be quite competitive. With numerous organizations vying for limited funds, it’s more important than ever to create a data-driven, strategic proposal.

However, the application process is more complex than it appears. It’s more than just filling out an application and hitting submit. The bulk of the time is spent identifying the problem, proposing a solution, defining the scope of work, and gathering data to validate the problem and justify the request. It also involves collaboration with stakeholders like finance departments, end users, and partners – making the entire process both resource- and time-intensive.

Once a grant is secured, the funds must be managed according to strict guidelines and timelines, which add another layer of complexity. Compliance with the specific requirements and reporting standards is mandatory to ensure continued funding and avoid legal or financial repercussions.

Fortunately, there are tools and resources to help you procure and manage government funding.

Tools and Resources to Navigate the Grant Application Process

There are several tools and resources to navigate the grant application process more effectively. Grant databases like Grants.gov and the Foundation Directory Online provide comprehensive listings of available grants, helping agencies find opportunities that align with their needs.

Grant writing software can help you create proposals, making sure they meet specific guidelines and deadlines. Additionally, workshops and seminars offered by grant-making entities or professional associations can provide valuable insights into the grant application process.

Last, but certainly not least, CentralSquare has a free Grant Assistance Program that helps you find and secure grants for public safety and public administrative software solutions.

How CentralSquare Helps Agencies Leverage Public Grants

There are more than $600 billion in grants available every year. As valuable as they can be, preparing grants is a time-consuming process, involving:

Identifying the problem
Proposing a solution
Collecting data to validate the problem and justify the request
Obtaining administrative approval and engaging partners/stakeholders
Completing strategic planning and administrative requirements (UEI #, SAP, etc.)

Fortunately, CentralSquare offers a free Grant Assistance Program to help you find and secure public sector funding.

With our program, you get access to the most extensive grant listing database available (GrantFinder) to identify the best grant for your agency’s project. You also get unlimited and personalized grant research assistance and coaching from our team of experts. Our Grant Experts help you position your application for success with detailed reviews and editing. Visit centralsquare.com/grants to learn more.

One of CentralSquare’s products, Finance Enterprise, even has a Grant Management module. Schedule a discovery call today to learn how our government solutions and Grant Assistance Program can help your agency secure funding.