Federal Grant Market Experiences First Rebound Since Inauguration Day; Private Grantmakers Step Up

Federal Agencies Release Substantial New Funding Programs

After months of uncertainty following the January transition in the White House, the federal grant landscape is beginning to show signs of new activity. In just the past week, federal agencies have opened 37 new grant programs worth a combined $1.41 billion, while 57 programs worth $25.3 million have closed their application windows. The larger grant market has added $3.8 billion over the last seven days.

The U.S. Federal Grant Market (April 9, 2025)

Several major federal funding opportunities have been announced in the last seven days:

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released its $982 million Safe Streets and Roads for All program
The USDA announced over $200 million for its 2026 Market Access Program and released its $34.5 million Foreign Market Development Program
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has opened a $47.5 million Joint Hydrographic Center award
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering $45 million through its NAWCA 2026-1 Standard Grants

These funding announcements suggest that the widespread freezes implemented in early 2025 are potentially giving way to a more focused approach as agencies align their programs with the current administration's priorities.

How We Got Here

When President Trump returned to office in January, his administration quickly issued executive orders targeting programs related to immigration, climate initiatives, diversity efforts, and foreign assistance. While the Office of Management and Budget's broad funding pause was officially rescinded after only two days due to legal challenges, many agencies continued conducting internal reviews. Read more.

The impact varied across departments, with some terminating hundreds of contracts while others began releasing funds for programs aligned with priorities such as domestic energy production, critical minerals development, and infrastructure improvement.

Federal courts have been the only force mitigating the freeze's impact, issuing multiple temporary restraining orders against categorical funding suspensions. Simultaneously, Congress provided some stability by passing a full-year Continuing Resolution in mid-March, maintaining previous fiscal year funding levels through the remainder of FY2025.

Private Foundations Begin to Respond

As federal funding underwent significant disruption, private foundations have dramatically increased their giving to help organizations weather the storm. In just the past two weeks, 277 new private funding opportunities worth a combined $191,761,250 have become available on the GrantExec platform.

Notable examples of foundations stepping up include:

The Skoll Foundation has announced it will increase its spending by over 30 percent this year, including emergency funding specifically for awardees and grantees impacted by what its leadership described as "careless and callous cuts to programs around the world."
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will boost its giving over the next two years in response to what it calls a "crisis" prompted by the administration's freeze on federal foreign aid and grants.
The Freedom Together Foundation pledged to double its grantmaking to 10% of its endowment.

This expansion of private funding will be a critical lifeline for many organizations, particularly those working in areas facing the most significant federal cuts.

Navigating the New Landscape: A Dual Approach

For organizations seeking funding in this evolving environment, a dual-track strategy may prove most effective:

Pursue aligned federal opportunities by focusing on areas receiving administration support, such as domestic manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and international market development.
Actively engage with private funders who are expanding their grantmaking to fill gaps left by federal cuts, particularly in areas like climate initiatives, international development, and social equity programs.
Document impacts of funding disruptions to support both advocacy efforts and applications for emergency funding from private sources.
Monitor both sectors continuously as the landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with new opportunities emerging weekly in both the federal and private spheres.

Looking Forward: A Diversified Funding Environment

The current funding environment, while challenging, presents opportunities for organizations able to navigate both federal and private landscapes effectively. The rise in private foundation support demonstrates the sector's resilience and commitment to sustaining crucial programs during periods of government transition.

With major federal programs now coming online and private foundations substantially increasing their grantmaking, organizations that can adapt to shifting priorities while simultaneously building relationships with expanding private funders will be best positioned to maintain their initiatives and find new growth opportunities in this transformed environment.

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What Should Grant Recipients Do Now?

1️⃣ Assess Your Grant’s Risk Level

While the OMB’s central review has been withdrawn, agencies are likely using similar criteria to review funding internally. We recommend reviewing the following litmus test questions originally included in the OMB memo:

Does the grant program align with newly issued Executive Orders?
Does the expenditure comply with statutory requirements?
Does the program rely on agency discretionary funding that could be redirected?
Could the funding decision be politically sensitive?

If any of your grants/contracts may raise flags based on these considerations, prepare for possible continued delays and proactively engage with agency contacts for updates.

2️⃣ Track and Document Financial Disruptions

Work with your finance teams to document any missed payments, additional costs, or delays in project timelines.
If these disruptions impact service delivery, program timelines, or staffing, document those effects carefully—this will be crucial information for advocacy efforts.
These data points can be shared with Members of Congress, who are monitoring the situation closely and may push for interventions.

3️⃣ Stay Engaged with Federal Agencies and Congressional Offices

Continue checking with your agency program officers for the latest updates on funding timelines and required compliance reviews.
If delays in payments or approvals are impacting critical projects, consider reaching out to your congressional representatives to highlight the real-world consequences.

Diversify with State, Local, & Private Funding

Federal grants are only one part of the funding landscape. GrantExec tracks tens of billions of dollars in state, local, and private funding opportunities daily—all available on the platform today.

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We're in This Together

While the situation remains fluid, most federal grant programs will likely see funding resume in the coming weeks—especially those not directly tied to contentious policy areas. However, continued scrutiny and delays should be expected as agencies conduct compliance reviews.

Federal policies shift, but our commitment to your success does not. We’re here to provide guidance, connections, and resources to ensure your impactful work continues uninterrupted.

📢 Stay tuned for updates—we’ll share more as the situation develops. And, as always, we’ll continue researching new grant opportunities for you every day.

💙 Thank you for your dedication, and for trusting us to stand by your side in uncertain times.

📩 Need direct guidance? Reach out to us—our team of experts is here to help.