On January 29, 2003, staff from the US Census Bureau conducted a special Research in Practice Seminar at INDEPENDENT SECTOR on "Government Funding and the Nonprofit Sector." The Census Bureau has publicly available information on this subject from two major data sources: The Federal Audit Clearinghouse and The Federal Assistance Award Data System. Census staff used the seminar to discuss these two primary data sources, but also gave an overview of other available information such as Federal Government spending in general by detailed geographical area. Access the various Census Bureau datasets by visiting the following links below.

Federal Funding and the Nonprofit Sector: Census Bureau Data Sources
The Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR), the Federal Assistance Award Data System (FAADS), and the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) are three data collection and dissemination systems administered by the Governments Division of the U.S. Census Bureau. Operating as executive agent for the Office of Management and Budget, the Census Bureau collects and publishes quarterly and annual detailed data on Federal Government grant awards and other assistance.

FAADS provides quarterly detailed information on the geographic distribution of Federal funds at a level of detail exceeding CFFR, primarily with respect to recipient identity and other individual award transaction information. FAADS data currently must be downloaded in "raw" text format, but an interactive query system is anticipated in the near future.
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/faads.html
govs.faads@census.gov  email
Data series included: 1996 to present (from 1983 on CD by request)

CFFR provides annual summary information on the geographic distribution of Federal funds at a level of detail including Federal agency, Federal award program, and FIPS location code (down to the county and, in some cases, place level). The annual CFFR consists of FAADS quarterly files, supplemented by salary, procurement, and other data files. The CFFR website includes an interactive query system.
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/cffr.html
govs.cffr@census.gov email
Data series included: 1993 to present (from 1983 on CD by request)

FAS (Federal Aid to States) is an annual publication issued as a companion to CFFR. FAS generally covers federal grant outlays to state and local government recipients at a level of detail including Federal agency and program area (to state level geography).
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01fas.pdf
govs.fas@census.gov email
Data series included: 1998 to present (from 1984 on spreadsheet by request)

FAC provides detailed information on audits required of all public and nonprofit entities which spend in excess of $300,000 in Federal funds annually. The FAC website includes an interactive query system.
http://harvester.census.gov/sac/
govs.fac@census.gov email
Data series included: 1997 to present