Rankings · Award Ceiling

Opportunities with the Highest Award Ceilings

Individual grant opportunities ranked by maximum award amount, the single largest funding notices posted.

$14.0B
#1 · National Clean In…
50
entries ranked

The verdict

National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) leads with $14.0B, ahead of Bridge Investment Program - Planning, Bridge Projects, and Large Bridge Projects ($10.0B).

$14.0B
#1 · National Clean Investment F…
50
entries ranked by award ceiling
1.4×
the #1 vs #2 gap

What this ranking tells you

These are the individual funding opportunities (not programs) with the highest possible award amounts. Unlike program-level ceilings, these represent specific notices with deadlines, eligibility requirements, and application instructions. The largest opportunities are typically infrastructure projects, state-formula grants, and major research initiatives. Many require matching funds or cost-sharing, and competition is intense. For most applicants, opportunities in the $100K–$10M range offer better odds of success.

Top 10 by award ceiling

The shape of the ranking at a glance.

National Clean Invest…$14.0BBridge Investment Pro…$10.0BCommercial Technologi…$10.0BFY22-23 Federal-State…$9.0BClean Communities Inv…$6.0BFY24-25 Federal-State…$5.1BFY22 Federal-State Pa…$4.6BAdvanced Reactor Demo…$4.0BFY23 National Network…$3.1BFY26-National Network…$3.1B
Top 10 ranked by award ceiling - Grants.gov
# Name Award Ceiling
1 National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) Environmental Protection Agency $14.0B
2 Bridge Investment Program - Planning, Bridge Projects, and Large Bridge Projects DOT Federal Highway Administration $10.0B
3 Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities V Washington Headquarters Services $10.0B
4 FY22-23 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for projects located on the Northeast Corridor DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $9.0B
5 Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) Environmental Protection Agency $6.0B
6 FY24-25 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program - National DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $5.1B
7 FY22 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for projects not located on the Northeast Corridor DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $4.6B
8 Advanced Reactor Demonstration Idaho Field Office $4.0B
9 FY23 National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $3.1B
10 FY26-National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $3.1B
11 FY24 National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $3.1B
12 FY25 National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $3.1B
13 National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $3.1B
14 Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 – 2026 Bridge Investment Program, Large Bridge Project Grants DOT Federal Highway Administration $3.0B
15 Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy $3.0B
16 FY23-24 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $2.4B
17 INFRA Grants 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy $2.3B
18 FY 2010 High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program - Service Development Programs DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $2.1B
19 FY24 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for projects located on the Northeast Corridor DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $2.0B
20 International Emergency Food Assistance Agency for International Development $2.0B
21 International Emergency Food Assistance Agency for International Development $2.0B
22 State Opioid Response Grants Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis $1.5B
23 State Opioid Response Grants Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis $1.4B
24 FY22 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.4B
25 State Opioid Response Grants Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis $1.4B
26 INFRA Grants Department of Transportation $1.4B
27 Notice of Intent to Issue Notice of Funding Opportunity No. DE-FOA-0003442: Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs – Recurring Program Headquarters $1.4B
28 FY21 Supplemental for the National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.4B
29 INFRA Grants 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy $1.3B
30 Capital Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.3B
31 FY20 National Network Grant to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.3B
32 INFRA Grants 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy $1.3B
33 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Additional Clean Hydrogen Programs (Section 40314): Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Golden Field Office $1.3B
34 FY21 Supplemental for the Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
35 Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
36 FY23 Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
37 FY24 Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
38 FY25 Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
39 FY26-Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.2B
40 FY23-24 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.1B
41 Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.1B
42 Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.1B
43 Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.1B
44 Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.1B
45 FY23 Supplemental for the Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.1B
46 FY24 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program DOT - Federal Railroad Administration $1.1B
47 Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.0B
48 Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Department of Homeland Security - FEMA $1.0B
49 U.S. Agency for International Development/Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance/Office of Food for Peace Annual Program Statement for Multi-Year International Emergency Food Assistance Agency for International Development $1.0B
50 DRAFT APS for International Emergency Food Assistance Agency for International Development $1.0B

Source: Grants.gov. See our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an award ceiling on an opportunity?

The award ceiling is the maximum amount the agency expects to award to a single successful applicant under this specific funding notice. It differs from the estimated total funding (which covers all awards under the notice) and the award floor (minimum possible award).

Are these opportunities still open?

This ranking includes both open and closed opportunities to show the full scope of federal funding. Check the close date and status on each opportunity's detail page to see if it is still accepting applications.

How competitive are the largest opportunities?

Very competitive. Opportunities with award ceilings above $10M typically attract applications from large universities, state governments, and major nonprofits with dedicated grant-writing teams. Success rates for the largest opportunities are often below 10%.

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Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants Editorial

According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog tracked 80,922 federal grant opportunities across 504 assistance programs and 25 federal agencies as of July 2026. See our methodology for how this data is sourced and verified.

Every figure on PlainGrants is rendered directly from SAM.gov Assistance Listings data, no number is typed in by an editor. This ranking draws directly on SAM.gov Assistance Listings data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.