Getting Started

There are several mandatory steps that your agenc y needs to take prior to submission of grants. When applying for grants at the federal level or through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, you must register for a DUNS Number and register with the Central Contractor Registry. Note: this process may take up to two weeks to complete – start early.

  1. DUN and Bradstreet Number – To apply for grants you must have a Dun and Bradstreet Number (D&B Number).  Check with your city finance manager to determine if your agency has a D&B number. If unsure, check the Dun and Bradstreet website at www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
  2. If your agency is not listed in the D&B database, register with DUN and Bradstreet, Register with the Central Contractor Registry at www.ccr.gov or by calling 1-888-227-2423. Note that you are required to update your CCR information at least once per year to remain in an active status.
  3. To apply for grants directly from the federal government register with grants.gov at www.grants.gov. You must complete steps one and two prior to registering with grants.gov.
  4. For Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Grants register at www.usdoj.cops.gov.
  5. Maintain your D&B Number, CCR information and grants.gov password in one place so that you can easily retrieve this information when filing for a grant.

Professional Assistance: ILEAS has partnered with the Public Grants & Training Initiatives, a professional grant writing and funding solution for public safety, school, and not-for-profit organizations, in order to provide the information contained within these pages.  If you would like professional assistance in applying for a grant, you may contact them if you wish. NOTICE - ILEAS has no arrangement for any fees from PGTI if you use them for a grant application. You are free, of course, to apply for grants on your own or use PGTI or any other grant assistance vendor at your discretion.