CFDA Numbers Explained

What Is a CFDA Number?

A CFDA number (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number) is a unique 5-digit identifier assigned to each federal assistance program. The format is XX.XXX — for example, 84.063 is the Federal Pell Grant program, where "84" identifies the Department of Education and ".063" is the specific program number.

How to Read a CFDA Number

CFDA numbers follow a simple format:

• First two digits — The federal agency code (e.g., 84 = Department of Education, 93 = Health and Human Services, 10 = Agriculture)
• Decimal and three digits — The specific program within that agency

So CFDA 93.268 tells you: agency code 93 (HHS) + program 268 (Immunization and Vaccines for Children).

Common Agency Codes

• 10 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• 14 — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• 15 — U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
• 16 — U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
• 20 — U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
• 43 — National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• 45 — National Endowment for the Arts / Humanities
• 47 — National Science Foundation (NSF)
• 59 — Small Business Administration (SBA)
• 66 — Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• 81 — U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• 84 — U.S. Department of Education (ED)
• 93 — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• 94 — AmeriCorps (Corporation for National and Community Service)
• 97 — U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA

From CFDA to SAM.gov Assistance Listings

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) was originally published as a printed reference and then as a website. In 2019, CFDA.gov was merged into SAM.gov, and the catalog was renamed "Assistance Listings" as part of the DATA Act implementation.

Key points about the transition:

• The numbering system (XX.XXX format) remains exactly the same
• You still see "CFDA number" referenced in grant notices and award documents
• The official database is now at SAM.gov under "Assistance Listings"
• All programs still have the same numbers — no renumbering occurred

Where You'll See CFDA Numbers

CFDA numbers appear in many places in the federal grant process:

• Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) — Identifies the program you're applying to
• SF-424 Application Form — Required field for all federal grant applications
• Grant award documents — Identifies the federal program that funded the award
• USASpending.gov — All federal awards are searchable by CFDA/Assistance Listing number
• Single Audit reports — Organizations receiving $750,000+ in federal awards list each CFDA program

Using CFDA Numbers to Research Programs

CFDA numbers are useful for research:

• Search USASpending.gov by CFDA number to see all past awards, amounts, and recipients
• Look up the program in SAM.gov Assistance Listings for official description, eligibility, and contact info
• Search Grants.gov by CFDA number to find open competitions
• On PlainGrants, each program page shows the CFDA number and links to the official program

Worked Example: Decoding a Federal Grant Award

Imagine you see a $50,000 grant awarded under CFDA 84.063 on USAspending.gov. Here is how to decode it:

Component	Value	Meaning
Agency prefix	84	U.S. Department of Education
Program number	.063	Federal Pell Grant Program
Award amount	$50,000	Typical annual award per institution allocation
Match requirement	0% (formula grant)	No matching funds required — federal share is 100%

Contrast this with a $250,000 HUD Community Development Block Grant (CFDA 14.228): agency prefix 14 = HUD, and many CDBG sub-recipients face a 20% match requirement, meaning a $250,000 grant at 20% match = $50,000 in local matching funds the community must provide. Education formula grants like Pell typically carry 0% match; competitive project grants in housing and transportation often require 10-25% cost sharing.

How CFDA Numbers Connect to Award Tracking

Every federal grant award carries its CFDA number through the entire lifecycle. When HHS awards a $2.3 million research grant under CFDA 93.223, that number appears on the SF-424 application, the award notice, quarterly financial reports (SF-425), the Single Audit (if the organization receives $750,000+ in total federal funds), and the USAspending.gov public record. The CFDA number is the thread that connects a program description on SAM.gov to the actual dollars flowing to a specific organization in a specific location.

Common Mistakes When Using CFDA Numbers

• Confusing CFDA with opportunity numbers. CFDA 93.223 identifies the Traumatic Brain Injury program, but each funding cycle on Grants.gov has its own opportunity ID (e.g., HRSA-25-038). The CFDA number is permanent; the opportunity number changes each cycle.
• Assuming CFDA equals eligibility. A program having a CFDA listing does not mean every organization can apply. CFDA 84.366 (Arts in Education) lists eligible applicants, but a rural nonprofit without education partnerships would not qualify despite the listing existing.
• Treating CFDA as a funding guarantee. A CFDA listing simply means a program exists in the federal catalog. It does not guarantee funding is currently available, that applications are open, or that Congress has appropriated money for the current fiscal year.