Web Site Provides Information on Federal Funds for Nonprofit Groups

A new feature of a Web site devoted to tracking government subsidies allows the public to search a database for detailed information about federal grants to — and contracts with — nonprofit organizations.

The Web site, created by Subsidyscope, also provides information and analysis on federal loans and tax expenditures.

Subsidyscope, a project of Pew Charitable Trusts and the Sunlight Foundation, says it aims to make government subsidies “more transparent” to the public and policymakers.

“By aggregating information across sectors of the economy, Subsidyscope hopes to inform the debate over the creation of new subsidies and the efficacy of existing ones in a nonpartisan manner,” said a statement from the project, which has previously posted data on federal transportation spending and bailout money for the financial industry.

The federal government gave $38-billion in grants to nonprofit organizations in 2008 and provided groups with $10-billion through “non-competed” contracts, according to Subsidyscope.

The federal government lent at least $7-billion to nonprofit groups through 12 direct-loan programs in 2008 and guaranteed more than $284-milllion in loans through four programs, the project said.