The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government.
In 1984 the Office of Management and Budget transferred responsibility for Federal domestic assistance program information to the General Services Administration. This transfer was mandated by the Federal Program Information Act and included requirements for distribution of the CFDA.
Responsibility for the database of Federal assistance lies with the General Services Administration. The Office of Management and Budget interfaces with the range of Federal agencies on behalf of the GSA delivering the required oversight to the program data related to domestic assistance.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is the basic reference manual providing information on all Federal domestic activities. Its most critical function is allowing users to identify programs of particular interest. The CFDA also is a tremendous resource for basic information on Federal assistance programs. Additionally, the Catalog endeavors to improve communications and enhance coordination between State and Local entities and the Federal government.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance lets grant researchers investigate every domestic program managed by Federal agencies and departments in a single database. All information is cross referenced by functional classification, subject, applicant, deadline(s) for program application submission, and authorizing legislation. All of this information can be used as a valuable research tool, making it easier to identify specific areas of program interest more effectively.
Since its inception the General Services Administration has produced a printed edition of the CFDA. Legislation dating back to 1977 required free dissemination of the CFDA to designated recipients. In 2003 the GSA distributed almost 10,000 copies of the CFDA.
New rulings now gives the GSA discretion in what form to produce and disseminate the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. The General Services Administration is endeavoring to move to a more paper free environment and toward that end now maintains and distributes the Catalog through the CFDA Website. The General Services Administration no longer prints and distributes free copies of the Catalog.
Michael has an MBA from the Stanford Business School. He edits a site on federal government grants and is president of Information Organizers.
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