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