A CFDA number is the five-digit code the federal government assigns to every domestic assistance program so that a specific grant, loan, or payment can be traced back to the specific program funding it. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance was the original name of the system, and the code itself has since been renamed the Assistance Listing Number (ALN). As of October 2025, SAM.gov labels the same field “Federal Assistance ID.” The underlying identifier does the same job under all three names: it ties federal money to the program that authorized it.
What the Number Looks Like
The identifier follows an XX.XXX format. The two characters before the decimal identify the federal agency that runs the program. The Department of Labor uses 17, so every Labor program starts with 17.xxx. The three characters after the decimal identify the individual program inside that agency’s portfolio.
Beginning in October 2025, those three trailing characters can include letters as well as digits. A traditional code looks like 31.123; a newer one might look like 31.A1A.1SAM.gov. Federal Assistance Listings Changes Beginning October 2025 Old numeric codes assigned before the change still work for historical awards.
Where to Find the Right Number
The authoritative source is the Assistance Listings database at SAM.gov, which every federal agency is required to keep current.2eCFR. 2 CFR 200.203 – Requirement to Provide Public Notice of Federal Financial Assistance Programs You can search by agency, keyword, or program title and pull up both the code and a full program description.
In practice, the fastest place to grab the number is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the grant you’re applying to. The NOFO lists the Assistance Listing Number near the top. If you apply through Grants.gov, the field is often pre-populated.3Grants.gov. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Form Instructions Once you receive an award, the number also appears on the federal award notice, which is the document your finance team will work from during reporting and audits.
ALN Versus FAIN
Two federal identifiers show up on grant paperwork, and they do different things. The Assistance Listing Number (ALN) identifies the program, so it’s the same for every recipient drawing from that funding stream. The Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) identifies your specific award, so it’s unique to your organization’s grant. Both appear on your award notice, and both get referenced in financial reports. Confusing one for the other is a common mistake that creates problems during audits.
Entering the Number on the SF-424
The Standard Form 424 is the uniform application for federal financial assistance. Field 11 is designated for the Assistance Listing Number and the corresponding program title.3Grants.gov. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Form Instructions The code you enter must match the official listing exactly. A transposed digit or an outdated number can route your application to the wrong office, delay processing, or trigger a rejection.
Copy the number directly from the NOFO rather than typing it from memory, and check it against the SAM.gov listing before you submit. If Grants.gov auto-fills the field, still verify it against the NOFO. Auto-fill is usually right, but “usually” isn’t the standard when funding is on the line.
What the Listing Itself Tells You
Each Assistance Listing on SAM.gov is more than the code. It includes the program’s objectives, the authorizing legislation, eligible applicants (some programs are limited to states, tribes, nonprofits, or institutions of higher education), and the type of assistance offered. That last piece matters because federal programs aren’t only traditional grants. Assistance types include formula grants, competitive project grants, direct loans, loan guarantees, insurance, and direct payments.4SAM.gov. Assistance Listings Knowing whether you’re taking on a grant or a loan shapes how you budget, report, and plan for any repayment.
Why the Number Matters After the Award
If your organization passes federal money to a subrecipient, the ALN travels with the funds. Every subaward agreement must include the Assistance Listing title and number, and the dollar amount tied to each listing has to be identified at the time of disbursement.5eCFR. 2 CFR 200.332 – Requirements for Pass-Through Entities Auditors check this routinely. The same identifier is a required data point in Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting on first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more.
Any organization that spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards during its fiscal year must undergo a Single Audit or a program-specific audit under the Uniform Guidance.6eCFR. 2 CFR 200.501 – Audit Requirements Organizations below that threshold are exempt for that year. When an audit does happen, the Assistance Listing Number is how auditors identify which programs were tested, tie expenditures to the right compliance requirements, and report findings in the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. A wrong ALN in your accounting records can lead to questioned costs or findings of noncompliance that put future funding at risk.
The 2025 Alphanumeric Change
The shift to alphanumeric identifiers in late 2025 has a practical consequence for anyone with older grants management software, tracking spreadsheets, or accounting systems. Any tool that validates the field as digits only will reject a legitimate Federal Assistance ID containing letters. Check with your IT or finance team that your systems accept the new format, and review SAM.gov announcements periodically for further structural changes.1SAM.gov. Federal Assistance Listings Changes Beginning October 2025 Numeric CFDA numbers assigned before the transition remain valid for historical awards; new programs created after the change may carry codes that won’t appear in legacy databases.