Writing a Good Grant Proposal

Individuals seeking grants often turn to grant writing services, led by professionals that charge a huge amount of money for something you can do yourself. There are many ways that you can improve your own grant writing to create a quality grant proposal. Great grants should include an executive summary, which is a clear, simple introduction to the proposal, a statement of need, which demonstrates why the grant is necessary, a description of your program/project, a statement of your budget, information on your organization, and a succinct conclusion that ties all of these elements together. If all of these sections are written well and properly, receiving funding is almost a certainty. Read more at Writing a Good Grant Proposal

Write Foundation Grants Fast

If you have a big idea that you want to see come to fruition, consider reading “Five Days to Foundation Grants,” written by Pamela Grow! The author, who is both a fundraiser and grant-making, offers many tips about how to write and gain foundation grants successfully and quickly. The book is organized into five days, in which the reader researches, establishes a grant drawer, assembles testimonials, learns how to communicate how their organization is unique, and then finally begins to write their grant. The book even comes with a Grant Proposal Toolkit, which comes with a variety of samples that were actually funded. Read more at Write Foundation Grants Fast

Where to Find Scholarships

The cost of getting a college education has increased dramatically over the last ten years, so finding other ways to pay for it is essential. Other financial options are student loans, grants, financial aid and scholarships. Loans too and be costly in the long run so choosing one of the options is best. Scholarships are funded by organizations or companies and they usually have various of types of qualifications. If your wandering where to find scholarships you can go to your college financial aid office or search the internet. Government websites are a good place to start as they will have other resource links that can also be helpful. Read more at Where to Find Scholarships

U. S. Government Grant Department

If you are wandering about all the different grants that are available the best place to look is The U.S. Government Grant Department. This website will list all the different categories such as education, housing and urban development, justice, transportation, development and small business administration just to name a few. In total there are 26 federal agencies that award grants and each will have different requirements and ask for different information so it is important to real all the information regarding the grant you are wanting to win. Also none of the 26 federal agencies will provide assistance regarding any grant. Read more at U. S. Government Grant Department

Types of Grants and Where to Find Them

There are so many different types of grants available to those that need funding or require assistance. The most common are government grants, which are funds dispersed by the federal government for numerous reasons. State grants are also available, which are specific to one state, such as California or Texas. In addition, there are Pell Grants, which are federally awarded based on an applicant’s FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and project grants, which are available to individuals requesting funds for a specific development or plan. Other grants may not fit neatly into one of these categories, such as grants for small businesses. Read more at Types of Grants and Where to Find Them

Top Ten Things You Should Know About Grants

Many people know very little when it comes to grants, and assume they are for education purposes only. Grants can be used for so many things like starting a small business, buy a home and even pay bills of various types. Here are top ten things you should know about grants. Know what requirements are needed for the grant, know what type of grant you are wanting, Beware of websites that require a fee, as these are usually scams, make sure you are eligible for the grant you find, and the most important things to know is how to write a grant, providing all the information and proper submission of the grant you want to obtain. Read more at Top Ten Things You Should Know About Grants

Free Grants Community

The Free Grants Community is a great group of individuals that allows people to access the latest information on federal assistance and free money available! There are a wide variety of avenues to consider in the Free Grants Community, including reverse mortgages, microfinance opportunities, grants and opportunities for small business owners, many types of federal aid, and much more! This community can answer many questions that you have about federal and state assistance available, such as the parameters for each type of assistance, how you can qualify, and how to increase your chances of receiving and award! In addition, this resource can offer tips and tricks for grant writing for large projects. Read more at Free Grants Community

Scholarship Information

One of the easiest ways to pay for higher education is through scholarships, or financial awards given to students in undergraduate and graduate studies. There are four primary types of scholarships: merit based, need based, student specific and career specific. Merit based scholarships are awards disbursed based on how well the student has previously done; if a student has done very well in high school or early on in undergraduate education, they could receive a merit based scholarship. Need based scholarships are given to students based on if they have demonstrated financial need, such as if their parents can’t pay for their tuition. Student specific scholarships are given based on particular demographics of students, such as gender and religion, while career specific scholarships help students with particular career goals in mind. Read more at Scholarship Information

Refine Your Federal Register Search

It can be overwhelming to try and find a federal grant that fits your specific needs online. This is where an advanced search comes in handy! Reformulating how your search for grants can help you come up with more relevant and recent results; for instance, using the Notices section will undoubtedly show more recent grants as Notices of Funding Availability. In addition, a specific year can be searched in order to further narrow the grant possibilities and results. Using the tools of the Advanced Search function weekly or even daily can enable you and your company to learn about new funding opportunities as soon as possible. Read more at Refine Your Federal Register Search

Qualify for a Pell Grant

One of the best options for financing your college education is getting a pell grant. In order to obtain a pell grant you must qualify for a pell grant. The required qualifications will vary from pell grant to pell grant so it is very important that you read all the information in order to know if you qualify. Most financial aid offices will have someone available to help and answer any questions you may have, some may even be able to help you fill out the forms. It's also important to know that the rules and laws change often regarding pell grants so be sure you know what is new and current information. Read more at Qualify for a Pell Grant

Obama?s MyRA: What It Means To You

In his most recent State of the Union Address, President Obama announced the arrival of MyRA, a new retirement savings plan that allows individuals that don’t have retirement plans from employers to save their money as well. This program promises to be federally run, be deducted from after-tax pay, and will offer a fair return rate. However, because the President is creating it by Executive Order, employers are not obligated to offer it to their employees. There are strengths and weaknesses to MyRA; while you are guaranteed to not lose money that you invest and can borrow from it without penalty, the return rate is extremely low compared to inflation and the S&P 500, which may not be enough incentive for low income individuals to invest in it. Read more at Obama?s MyRA: What It Means To You

Microfinancing In The United States

One of the largest growing trends in finance in the United States is microfinancing, or a process of business and individuals receiving large numbers of small loans and other transferable services. Microfinancing can be a great option for small, start-up companies because it allows for appeals to the individual customer; if someone donates a small amount to a company they feel ultimately more connected to the project. One of the best resources on how to best facilitate microfinancing for your company or small business is by reading Alex Counts’ book “Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World.” Read more at Microfinancing In The United States

Important Grant Related Terms

If you are considering writing to win your own grant it is important to know and understand the terms related to grants. Such as grant makers, these are the companies and organizations that create and disperse the grant, family foundations are private foundations who receive their funds from individuals or members, set asides means money set aside by a foundation for a certain purpose as well as trustees which are the decision makers of the grant. There are many many more terms but the terms will vary to the different grants that are out there. Finding their meanings can be done by a simple internet search. Read more at Important Grant Related Terms

Important Grant Related Terms

The article is about terms that are related to "Grant." It tries to educate one about how "Grants" work. The terminology that you will come across will somehow give you a picture of what "Grant" is like. By the way, a "Grant" is actually a support (both moral/financial) given to a deserving person or group of persons endeavoring in a certain field of discipline such as research or education which the giver (Grant Makers) thought that if the above mentioned person or group of persons are backed and assisted would surely contribute a substantial good to the community, country, or world in the broader sense. Read more at Important Grant Related Terms

I Need Help

Are you struggling to make ends meet? Up to your eyeballs in debt? If you need help, there are people out there that can help you and potential government assistance to help you get back on your feet. Some of the best resources for finding government aid include benefits.gov, which can help people not in immediate crisis situations, disability.gov, which can help calculate benefits and plans for those with disabilities, and 211, a phone line that, when dialed, can offer access to local resources for a variety of needs, such as job opportunities, finding good childcare programs, and so on. Local agencies in your community, such as the YMCA and The Salvation Army, can also offer help in times of great need. Read more at I Need Help

Grants to Pay Bills

Today in the United States, over 12 million people don't have a job. And that figure does not even include those who are simply discouraged to continue searching for a job. Look out: Good people can be good preys for those claiming to assist you in your predicament but who are really out their to take advantage of your financially distressed situation. One of the ways they present themselves to help you is by way of obtaining a grant to pay bills. Unfortunately, this is totally untrue. There is no such thing as as a government grant to pay bills. That is all. What and how in the world did you obtain such a relieving promise- sorry but hoping for it will avail you not. Nevertheless, you are not alone left an orphan to this problem: There are legit solutions to pay your existing financial obligations and thereby lowering your expenditures and debt. You can turn to some organizations and other agencies in your search for relief. To refrain from future recurrence of this problem, check on the new “MyRA”. This new retirement plan is introduced by President Obama himself. This will assist you begin setting aside some cash. Learn more about Obama's plan Read more at Grants to Pay Bills

Grants Process

While it can be very profitable process to gain a federal or state grant, it is also a lengthy one. There are five essential steps in the grant process. First, one must find grants for which they are eligible, which can usually be done online. Once you find an applicable program, it is time to write a grant proposal, which you can either do yourself if you feel confident, or by a professional writing service. After this is done, it is time to actually apply for the grant. The applicant must then wait for their proposal to be either denied or accepted. After it is accepted, you are then free to use the funds in the way described in your proposal! Read more at Grants Process

Grants In Texas

The largest state in the U.S. is also home to one of the largest grant programs! Texas has three primary grant areas: grants for college, grants for public programs in the humanities, and other texas state grants. Many Texas grants for college are available for individuals that fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For movements that support education, literacy, or the arts, grants are available through the organization Humanities Texas, which is associated with the National Endowment for the Arts. Any other types of grants not falling into these categories, such as small business grants, can be searched for through Texas’ eGrants website. Read more at Grants In Texas

Grants For Women-Owned Business

Grants for women who own business won't be coming from the government but don't be discouraged. There is still plenty of grant money available for women. The Small Business Administration is a great place to start. They don't award grants but they can direct you to many possible places to get money to fund your business. The Cartier Women's Initiative Award, The Eileen Fisher Business Grant Program for women and Amber Grants are three other good places to get money to help you start your business. Getting finance today might take a bit of work but you can still find a lot of grants to help you out. Research will help you find the money you need. Read more at Grants For Women-Owned Business

Grants For Widows With Children

While losing your husband can be an extremely traumatic and saddening experience to do through, this does not mean that you must suffer financially as a result. There are many different ways for widows that have children to receive federal funding as a result of their hardships. Many of these pathways to federal aid can be accessed through benefits.gov, which can help assess damages, hardships, and potential financial troubles through questionnaires. While not every widow with children will be able to receive a lot of money though the federal government, the process of assessment for grants can potentially be extremely rewarding. Read more at Grants For Widows With Children

Grants For Single Moms

It’s never easy being a single mom and the statistics say that 85% of single parent households are headed by women and of those about 40% are living at or below the poverty line. So, finding ways for women to support themselves and their family is a priority. The article “Grants for Single Moms” compiles several services that can help moms figure out the best way to get on their feet and provide for their families. One organization called 2-1-1 is a good place to start for a woman to find out what options are available in her area because just going to school isn’t always the best and most helpful decision to make. Government programs that offer temporary assistance for families, government job corps programs and Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) are all places that can offer single mothers places to start to help pull their family above the poverty line. Seeking out local housing agencies can help a family find more affordable housing and local churches and non profit organizations can be a good place for single mothers to find the help that they need. Read more at Grants For Single Moms

Grants for Research

Individuals and groups seeking to further academic knowledge or increase understanding in a facet of life may seek a research grant. Perhaps the most important and popular of these grants are the medical grants, which are very competitive and can come from a variety of funders, including federal and private agencies. The National Institute of Health can offer great advice on how to get the best grants and contracts. Research grants can be found in a variety of ways, including through grants.gov, Internet searches in your field of interest, or through GrantsNet, a subsection of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Read more at Grants for Research

Grants For Home Repair

For individuals that do not have disposable income, such as those on fixed incomes or single parents, there is thankfully funding available for home repair. There are three primary places people can turn to for help with home repair. The first option is public utility programs in your area, which may pay to upgrade your appliances or look for structural damage in your home. In addition, funding may be available from each state’s housing agencies; these programs offer counseling about your housing situation, and can offer low interest loans in some circumstances. Finally, it may be worth it to check your state for Home Rehabilitation and Repair programs, which can help people that are disadvantaged bring their homes up to code. Read more at Grants For Home Repair

Grants for Historical Buildings

Historical buildings enrich the culture and experience of many local residents, and offer a window into the past for those who wish to indulge in the mystery of previous times. There are many ways to gain funding for historical buildings. For instance, the National Endowment for the Humanities offers challenge grants, which allows the applicant to raise a set amount of funds to receive additional grant money. In addition, also available are preservation assistance grants, which are given to historical buildings that are deemed by the National Endowment for the Humanities necessary to be important to the preservation of a particular historical phenomena pertinent to the development of a city, town, or region. Finally, historical buildings are able to receive funding based on cultural significance; for instance, if a building was an integral part of a Native American, Hispanic, or other minority group, it could potentially be eligible for a grant. Read more at Grants for Historical Buildings

Grants For First Time Home Buyers

Over the last few years the economy has effected everyone and not in a good way. Some have to suffer through cutbacks making it harder to stretch the almighty dollar making it impossible at times to save any of it. Because of this many feel it will take a lot longer to buy a house. surprisingly there are grants available for first time home buyers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have billions of dollars set aside specifically for first time home buyers. There are also federal, state and local agencies that provide grants as well, or you may qualify for a down payment assistant program. So it is possible to buy your first home sooner than later. Read more at Grants For First Time Home Buyers

Grants for Business

Receiving government grants to help pay for your business is fairly easy. Grants.gov lists a number of different grants available for businesses in need based on the rulings of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is also known as the Recovery Act. Small business grants are also available; while the government doesn’t directly disburse these grants, it supports the organizations that do, so that these funds are indirectly supported by the federal government. There are many legitimate places to look for small business grants, such as the Small Business Administration, which can determine your eligibility for grants based on a short online questionnaire. Read more at Grants for Business

Grant Writing

Most people assume that you need some type degree or training to write grants but, that is not true. Anyone can write a grant but it is like a form of art and science and writing one can be time consuming and tedious. The most important thing to remember when grant writing is that all grants are different and each will require different qualifications and information. There are resources available to help you through grant writing such as books and specific websites. You can also find courses or one day classes about grants in your community most likely at your local college or community college. You can also hire a professional but they can be expensive. Read more at Grant Writing

Fund A Startup Business

Many individuals miss the opportunity to follow their dreams and start their own business because of the misconception that they don’t have enough money to do so, and wouldn’t be able to get funding from outside sources. However, this is not the case! There are many ways to find money to start a new business venture. For instance, crowdfunding, or using the Internet and different websites to pitch your business model in an attempt to gain donations, has been extremely successful for many companies and products. There are many types of loans available to small business owners, such as a SBA 7(a) loan, a great resource designed specifically for starting businesses with less than two million dollars in sales and have no real estate. Another option could be franchising, or purchasing a business, chain, or store from an already successful business model; popular franchising opportunities include with Subway and Starbucks. The Small Business Administration website can help you develop a plan to start your own business today. Read more at Fund A Startup Business

Free Unclaimed Money

Did you know that there are billions of unclaimed money that people don't know about and some of that money may belong to you. Unclaimed money comes from varies sources. For example: A forgotten savings or checking account, a refund from a utility company, money claims from insurance companies, and of course money that IRS owes you. Finding unclaimed money can be found for free and you should never pay a fee. Read more at Free Unclaimed Money

Free Tax Help

It's that time of year again to get those taxes completed and filed. Many avoid the hassle and stress of preparing their own taxes by going to places like H&R Block but going their as well as other tax service companies can be costly and not affordable to all. There are many free tax help service that some do not know about. Such as The United Way, which is a non profit organization that offers a variety of services for income qualified people. Also the IRS has free tax help forum and an faq page that many find helpful. Read more at Free Tax Help

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

It is very easy to get an application for Federal Student Aid. This is because the internet makes it very simple to sign up and be an the way to free money for college. College prices are not easy for one person to pay on their own. This is why the government has the proper resources to make sure you are successful. Between Fasfa and federal grants, paying for college has never been so easy. It is very important to make sure you read all applicable paperwork because you do not want to miss out on free money which is waiting for you to take advantage of. Read more at Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Find Unclaimed Money In California

One of the largest states in the United States, California, is also how to one of the largest sums of unclaimed property and money: over $6 billion dollars total! What many people do not know is that any unclaimed funds, items, or property after three years goes to the state. The State Controller can easily determine if there is unclaimed property in your name through their website. Through the Unclaimed Property Search Page, one should be able to determine if there is unclaimed property in their name. However, beware! If you ever get an email from the Controller stating that you do have property, ignore it, as it is most likely a scam. Read more at Find Unclaimed Money In California

Find Grants

Many people find it impossible to succeed without the proper funding, thinking it is too difficult or impossible to find. However, there are many grants from the federal government available for anyone willing to exert the proper time and energy to receive them. The type of grant you can get largely depends on how you wish to use the federal money; some people use their money to fund their small business, while others may invest in their education with it. By visiting grants.gov and looking over your options, you can make a smart and beneficial decision by choosing the perfect grant that suits your needs. Read more at Find Grants

Federal Grants

Federal grants aren't just for education purposes as many assume. Federal grants is an award of financial assistance used for certain task or purpose authorized by a U.S. law and funded by a certain federal agency. There are grants available for starting a small business, for buying your first home, for repairing your home and for people who have been effected by a major natural disaster. Grants will require certain qualifications based on the grant you are interested in and they will have different submission instructions. So, it is very important that you read all the documentation provided on the grant you want to win. Read more at Federal Grants

Federal Grant Recipient Categories

Many people attempting to gain federal grants fail to realize that there are different recipient categories for these grants. There are six primary recipient categories for federal grants identified by the U.S General Services Administration. State governments belonging to any of the 50 states can receive federal aid, as can local governments, such as particular cities, counties, or towns. Territories and possessions of the United States, such as Guam and American Samoa, can also receive federal grants. Indian Tribal Governments native to the United States territory are also eligible to receive federal funding. Non-profit organizations, such as charities, are the fifth category for federal aid recipients. Finally, some individual persons, such as farmers, can be eligible for federal funds if they fit the proper criteria. Read more at Federal Grant Recipient Categories

Free Tax Help

It's that time of year again to get those taxes completed and filed. Many avoid the hassle and stress of preparing their own taxes by going to places like H&R Block but going their as well as other tax service companies can be costly and not affordable to all. There are many free tax help service that some do not know about. Such as The United Way, which is a non profit organization that offers a variety of services for income qualified people. Also the IRS has free tax help forum and an faq page that many find helpful. Read more at Free Tax Help

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

It is very easy to get an application for Federal Student Aid. This is because the internet makes it very simple to sign up and be an the way to free money for college. College prices are not easy for one person to pay on their own. This is why the government has the proper resources to make sure you are successful. Between Fasfa and federal grants, paying for college has never been so easy. It is very important to make sure you read all applicable paperwork because you do not want to miss out on free money which is waiting for you to take advantage of. Read more at Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Find Unclaimed Money In California

One of the largest states in the United States, California, is also how to one of the largest sums of unclaimed property and money: over $6 billion dollars total! What many people do not know is that any unclaimed funds, items, or property after three years goes to the state. The State Controller can easily determine if there is unclaimed property in your name through their website. Through the Unclaimed Property Search Page, one should be able to determine if there is unclaimed property in their name. However, beware! If you ever get an email from the Controller stating that you do have property, ignore it, as it is most likely a scam. Read more at Find Unclaimed Money In California

Find Grants

Many people find it impossible to succeed without the proper funding, thinking it is too difficult or impossible to find. However, there are many grants from the federal government available for anyone willing to exert the proper time and energy to receive them. The type of grant you can get largely depends on how you wish to use the federal money; some people use their money to fund their small business, while others may invest in their education with it. By visiting grants.gov and looking over your options, you can make a smart and beneficial decision by choosing the perfect grant that suits your needs. Read more at Find Grants

Federal Grants

Federal grants aren't just for education purposes as many assume. Federal grants is an award of financial assistance used for certain task or purpose authorized by a U.S. law and funded by a certain federal agency. There are grants available for starting a small business, for buying your first home, for repairing your home and for people who have been effected by a major natural disaster. Grants will require certain qualifications based on the grant you are interested in and they will have different submission instructions. So, it is very important that you read all the documentation provided on the grant you want to win. Read more at Federal Grants

Federal Grant Recipient Categories

Many people attempting to gain federal grants fail to realize that there are different recipient categories for these grants. There are six primary recipient categories for federal grants identified by the U.S General Services Administration. State governments belonging to any of the 50 states can receive federal aid, as can local governments, such as particular cities, counties, or towns. Territories and possessions of the United States, such as Guam and American Samoa, can also receive federal grants. Indian Tribal Governments native to the United States territory are also eligible to receive federal funding. Non-profit organizations, such as charities, are the fifth category for federal aid recipients. Finally, some individual persons, such as farmers, can be eligible for federal funds if they fit the proper criteria. Read more at Federal Grant Recipient Categories

Federal Assistance in the United States

Did you know that the American federal government gives over 400 billion dollars in assistance to its citizens every year? There are a variety of federal assistance programs offered that can help you in times of need, such as federal grants, food stamp programs, section 8 housing, and aid to families with dependent children. Browse the wide variety of funds available to citizens online to determine which criteria you fall into for assistance. Please keep in mind that each type of assistance (usually) has a “Period of Availability of Federal Funds,” which is essentially a timeline for which the funds dispersed to the citizen must be used properly. Please keep these periods in mind when looking for aid from the federal government. Read more at Federal Assistance in the United States

Crowdfunding News

One of the fastest growing ways to get funding for business ventures is through crowdfunding; originally known as microfinancing, crowdfunding allows individual investors to view a business plan or idea (usually online) and donate in small increments. Some crowdfunding sites already exist, such as KickStarter, but these sites typically do not allow the investor a divided or share in the company in return for their investment, instead offering a special “gift” or favor. This format may be good for some companies (such as if you sell a material good), but not feasible for others. SEC rules on how businesses get funding from individuals may make it easier to crowdfund in the future, but it is difficult to tell as of now. Read more at Crowdfunding News

Block Grants

One of the most popular types of grants is the block grant. A block grant is usually a large grant disbursed at a fixed amount, which is given to a state or local government by the federal government to fix a particular issue or problem. These grants can be beneficial because they allow local and state governments to experiment with solutions to problems, and the fact that local governments can address the problems means that they are more likely to be solved. However, they can be detrimental because it can result in wasted funds; because the federal government cannot keep track of how the block grant is spent, there is the possibility of it going to things unrelated to the actual grant. Read more at Block Grants

Black Business Resources

In the last decade, the number of businesses owned by African American entrepreneurs has drastically increased; however, these businesses are sometimes the most vulnerable to economic downturns, such as what we are seeing today. Thankfully, there are many resources available from the federal government for black-owned businesses that most are eligible for. The best resource may possibly be The Minority Business Development Agency, a division of the United States Department of Commerce that helps struggling business owners of minority races, with both information and funding assistance. Other outlets for funding include the Small Business Administration, banks and crowdfunding platforms, which allow investors to donate smaller sums of money. Read more at Black Business Resources

A Quick Guide to the Federal Register

Many people requiring assistance are unaware of The Federal Register, a governmentally run publication that list a variety of federal announcements every day. Keeping updated with these announcements can keep you on track to find helpful grants. The most crucial part to understand of The Federal Register is the search option, which can be varied through both simple searches and advanced searches, based on how much you know about the type of grant, publication, or other information you are looking. Another great feature of the Register is that when an individual result is found that appears profitable or interesting, it can be viewed both in HTML or as a PDF, which can keep you organized. Read more at A Quick Guide to the Federal Register