The federal government remains a major provider of grant dollars. Most federal agencies have some type of grantmaking program. For example, the US Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the US Department of Education provides funding to states, territories, localities, and private organizations through block grants and discretionary funding. Block grant funding, through regular formula grants and prevention money, goes to states and territories. The federal government administers funding through subgrants to states and localities.
Discretionary funding is awarded through competitive proposal submissions.
Foundation Grants Foundations have specific priorities and interests , which determine the types of programs they support. Foundations award grants to those presenting a convincing case that they will help the foundation reach its goals. Some foundations make their money available for specific purposes, e.g., operating support, books, or seed capital. Some foundations make their money available to serve specific populations, e.g., at-risk youth, minorities, homeless. Some foundations make their money available to specific types of organizations, e.g., schools, universities, boys' clubs.