Grants Gov Guide: Federal Grants for Disabled People

Author: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Published: 4 Aug 2009 - Updated: 2 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Instructive / Helpful

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This announcement from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides official guidance on accessing federal grant programs through Grants Gov, the centralized portal managed by HHS that consolidates information from all 26 federal grant-making agencies. The information proves valuable because it explains how individuals and organizations, including those serving people with disabilities and seniors, can navigate the single authoritative source for finding and applying to more than 1,000 federal grant programs that collectively distribute over $500 billion in annual funding. The announcement details specific features like webinar training sessions on grant applications, step-by-step registration processes, and targeted support for those new to federal grant seeking, making what can be an intimidating bureaucratic process more accessible to community organizations and individuals who might benefit from federal financial assistance programs.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Grants Gov hosted a webinar series on August 13th, 18th, and 20th, 2009. Sessions covered introductions, finding opportunities, and registration for applicants.
• 2 - HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius launched a Recovery Act feature on the Grants Gov homepage. It directed users to time sensitive ARRA opportunities and related resources.
• 3 - The webinar model introduced in 2009 has since evolved into an ongoing educational resource. This shift helps smaller organizations that lack dedicated grant-writing staff.
• 4 - HHS serves as the managing partner of the cross-agency Grants Gov website on behalf of the entire federal government. Every recorded webinar session was made available to view online after each series concluded.

Topic Definition

Grants Gov

Grants Gov is the single, government-wide online portal where the public can search for and apply to federal grant programs offered across the United States government. Managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the cross-agency partner, it brings together information from all 26 federal grant-making agencies in one place, listing more than 1,000 available programs that collectively award over $500 billion each year. For individuals, nonprofits, and groups serving people with disabilities and seniors, the site acts as the central starting point for finding funding opportunities, registering to apply, and accessing training resources such as recorded webinars that walk new applicants through the process step by step.

Overview

Applying for ARRA Federal Grants on Grants Gov

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has unveiled a new feature on Grants Gov to help users find and apply for The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant opportunities. Grants Gov contains information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs.

The launch of this Recovery Act feature on the homepage of Grants Gov will direct users to Recovery Act opportunities, other Recovery Act resources, and upcoming Webinars.

"Grants Gov is the single government-wide source for information about grant programs across the federal government," Secretary Sebelius said. "Many agencies and departments across government are working together to bring this information to the public. Now we are making it easier for individuals to find critical and time sensitive Recovery Act grants from all over government on the Grants Gov page with new technical improvements to the site and an aggressive outreach campaign to the public."

Guide to Federal Grants Through Grants Gov for Disabled

Working together across government to provide additional information to new grant applicants, HHS will host on behalf of Grants Gov a Webinar series on Aug. 13th, 18th and 20th, 2009. The Webinar sessions are targeted towards potential grant applicants.

The Webinar series topics include:

• Introduction to Grants Gov and the Recovery Act
• Finding Recovery Act Opportunities
• Registration to Submit Recovery Act Opportunities

Each Webinar session will include time for questions and answers.

All Webinars will be recorded and made available to view on Grants Gov after each series is completed. More details for registration can be found on Grants Gov in the new Recovery Act feature on the homepage.

HHS is the managing partner of the cross-agency Web site, which now has information about more than 1,000 available grant programs involving all 26 federal grant-making agencies. These agencies together award more than $500 billion in grant funds annually.

Further information about Government grants for the disabled and Grants Gov

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Who can apply for federal grants on Grants Gov

Grants Gov is primarily built for organizations such as nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions, though it also directs individuals to opportunities they may qualify for. Most grants require completing a registration process before an application can be submitted.

Is Grants Gov free to use

Yes, Grants Gov is a free federal portal and there is no charge to search for or apply to grant programs. Any service asking for payment to access Grants Gov listings is not the official government site.

How long does Grants Gov registration take

Registration can take several business days to a few weeks because it involves obtaining identifiers and validating organizational information. Applicants are encouraged to register well before any grant deadline to avoid delays.

What is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, known as ARRA, was a 2009 economic stimulus law that funded a wide range of federal grant opportunities. Grants Gov added a dedicated homepage feature to help users locate these time sensitive opportunities.

Can individuals with disabilities apply directly for federal grants

Most federal grants are awarded to organizations rather than to individuals, so people with disabilities often benefit through community groups and nonprofits. Some benefit and assistance programs for individuals are listed separately from competitive grants.

What is the difference between Grants Gov and a benefits program

Grants Gov lists competitive federal funding awarded for specific projects and purposes, usually to organizations. Benefits programs provide direct assistance to eligible individuals and are administered through different agencies and websites.

Are the Grants Gov webinars still available to watch

The 2009 webinar series was recorded and made available online after each session concluded. Grants Gov has since expanded its training into an ongoing library of educational resources for new applicants.

How many federal agencies use Grants Gov

Grants Gov brings together all 26 federal grant-making agencies in a single portal. These agencies collectively list more than 1,000 grant programs that award over 500 billion dollars each year.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While the original announcement focused on the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the fundamental structure it describes remains relevant today - Grants Gov continues to serve as the primary gateway for federal funding opportunities across government. For disability advocates, nonprofit organizations, and individuals seeking financial support, understanding this centralized system can mean the difference between missing critical funding deadlines and successfully securing resources that make real-world differences in people's lives. The webinar model introduced here has evolved into an ongoing educational resource, reflecting a broader shift toward making federal grant processes less opaque and more accessible to smaller organizations that may lack dedicated grant-writing staff but possess the community connections and mission-driven focus that federal programs aim to support.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and published on 4 Aug 2009, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.