Grants.gov MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for government grants discovery and analysis, powered by the Simpler Grants API with advanced AI-driven insights and Docker containerization.

System Architecture

Technical Stack

Framework: FastMCP (Python)
API Integration: Simpler Grants API
Containerization: Docker with multi-stage builds
Transport: Dual support (stdio and HTTP)
Deployment: Cloud-ready (Google Cloud Run, AWS ECS/Fargate)

Core Architecture

src/mcp_server/
├── server.py          # Main MCP server implementation
├── config/            # Configuration management
├── models/            # Data models and schemas  
├── tools/             # Grant discovery tools
└── prompts/           # System prompts

Advanced Features

🔍 Grant Discovery & Analysis

Smart Search: Keyword-based grant discovery across federal agencies
Advanced Filtering: Funding categories, agencies, deadlines, eligibility
Trend Analysis: Funding landscape patterns and insights
Agency Mapping: Comprehensive federal funding ecosystem overview

Key Features

🔍 Smart Grant Search

Search for grants by keyword across all federal agencies
Advanced filtering by funding amount, deadline, and eligibility criteria
Real-time access to the latest grant opportunities

📊 Detailed Grant Information

Comprehensive grant details including funding amounts and deadlines
Eligibility requirements and application procedures
Agency contact information and application links

🗂️ Pagination Support

Navigate through large result sets efficiently
Configurable results per page
Seamless browsing of extensive grant databases

🎯 Claude Integration

Native integration with Claude's conversation flow
Contextual grant recommendations based on research topics
Instant grant analysis and comparison

Technical Implementation

Built using the Model Context Protocol specification, this server provides Claude with the capability to:

Execute real-time searches against the grants.gov API
Parse and format complex grant data structures
Provide structured responses for optimal readability
Handle API rate limiting and error scenarios gracefully

Use Cases

Researchers seeking funding for academic projects
Nonprofits looking for federal grant opportunities
Startups exploring government funding programs
Grant writers needing quick access to opportunity details

This MCP server democratizes access to federal funding information by making it easily searchable and analyzable through natural language conversations with Claude. No more manual browsing through complex government databases.

The tool has been recognized by the AI community for its practical utility in bridging AI capabilities with government data access.