Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): What It Was

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) was a governmentwide directory of domestic federal assistance programs — grants, loans, scholarships, counseling, insurance, property, and other services — available to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. In 2018 the CFDA site was retired and its data was consolidated into SAM.gov’s Assistance Listings, but its purpose and program listings continue to be available there.

Key takeaways

• The CFDA listed federal assistance programs and provided program descriptions, eligibility, and contact information.
• Each program had a unique five-digit CFDA number in the format ##.### (first two digits = agency, last three = program).
• CFDA covered domestic programs only (no foreign aid).
• CFDA content now appears in SAM.gov’s Assistance Listings, maintained by the General Services Administration (GSA) within the Integrated Award Environment (IAE).
• Beware of scams: neither CFDA nor SAM.gov solicits awards or asks for payment to receive grants.

What the CFDA included and who used it

The catalog described:
* Types of assistance: grants, direct loans, loan guarantees, scholarships, insurance, technical assistance, counseling, real property, and more.
Eligibility and intended recipients: individuals, state/local governments, federally recognized tribes, companies, and nonprofit organizations.
Program identifiers and contact details to help applicants follow up with agencies.

Users relied on the CFDA to discover programs, confirm eligibility, and find application contacts. Programs that provided federal funding were listed alongside nonfinancial assistance programs.

How program numbering worked

Each program was assigned a CFDA number formatted as ##.###:
* First two digits — the federal agency responsible.
* Last three digits — a unique program identifier within that agency.

This system supported transparency and consistent referencing across reports and applications.

Transition to SAM.gov

In May 2018, CFDA content was merged with other federal award-related systems and moved into SAM.gov to streamline access for applicants and reduce duplication. The Assistance Listings section of SAM.gov now provides:
* Program descriptions, eligibility, and contacts for over 2,000 federal assistance programs.
Links to related opportunities on Grants.gov or to specific agencies for follow-up.
Centralized search across departments (Health and Human Services, Agriculture, HUD, Interior, Justice, etc.).

SAM.gov is part of the GSA’s Integrated Award Environment and is the authoritative place to find current federal domestic assistance listings.

Getting started on SAM.gov

1. Decide whether you only need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) or full SAM registration to apply for awards and contracts.
2. If applying for grants or contracts, complete SAM registration — this assigns a UEI and makes your entity searchable.
3. Renew and maintain your registration annually to keep eligibility active.
4. Use the Federal Service Desk or SAM.gov support resources for technical help.

Note: A UEI is required for many federal awards and grant systems.

Examples of commonly referenced programs

• Pell Grant (Education) — federal undergraduate grant for students with financial need.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) — cash assistance program for low-income families.
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) — flood insurance administered by FEMA.
• Small Business programs (SBA) — multiple programs including technology partnerships and development assistance.

Program details and current listings are searchable in SAM.gov’s Assistance Listings.

Scams and safety tips

Scammers sometimes pose as CFDA or SAM.gov representatives offering guaranteed grants in exchange for fees or personal information. To avoid fraud:
* Remember: the government does not charge fees to apply for federal grants.
Verify program listings directly on SAM.gov or Grants.gov.
Do not provide bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, or pay fees to claim a grant.
* Report suspicious solicitations to the Federal Trade Commission or the agency the scammer claims to represent.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the CFDA still exist?
A: The standalone CFDA website was retired in 2018. Its data and functions now reside in SAM.gov’s Assistance Listings.

Q: Why was CFDA consolidated?
A: Consolidation aimed to streamline federal award processes, reduce administrative burden, and provide a single portal for applicants.

Q: Are the programs listed legitimate?
A: Yes—programs in SAM.gov are federal programs. Exercise caution to distinguish official listings from fraudulent offers.

Bottom line

The CFDA was the federal government’s catalog of domestic assistance programs. Its content remains available and up to date within SAM.gov’s Assistance Listings. Use SAM.gov to search programs, obtain a Unique Entity ID, register to apply, and verify legitimate federal opportunities — and be alert for scams that impersonate government programs.