Cooperative Agreement
A type of federal financial assistance similar to a grant, but with "substantial involvement" by the government in carrying out the funded activity.
How It Works
Cooperative agreements sit between contracts and grants. Like grants, they provide federal funding for a public purpose. Unlike grants, the government actively participates in the project — providing technical direction, reviewing work products, or contributing resources. Cooperative agreements are common in research partnerships between agencies and universities. They're tracked on USASpending.gov alongside grants and contracts.
Related Terms
- Federal Grant — Government funding awarded to state/local governments, nonprofits, or institutions for a specific public purpose — unlike contracts, grants are not purchases of goods or services.
- Federal Contract — A legally binding agreement between the U.S. government and a private company to provide goods or services — from fighter jets to IT consulting.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the TaxDollarData Federal Spending Glossary — 31 terms explaining how the U.S. government spends taxpayer money. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, contractors, and researchers.