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Archive for the ‘Grants’ Category

Are you tired of the day-to-day grind of corporate environments? Are you thinking about starting your own small business but worried about where to get your start up capital? If so, consider how grant money for small business can help you along.

But first thing’s first. What’s this you’re hearing about “free money” scams? A lot of people are saying that there’s no such thing as grant money for small business since government does not “give away” money so you can start your own for-profit business. In fact, government grants are often limited to community-based projects or those that would do the general public some good like research on a cure for cancer for instance, or something simpler like a street-paving project.

But to say that grant money for small business is nonexistent is a bit going over the top. Believe it or not, there are actually a lot of funders out there, besides the government, that are willing to provide you with funds so long as your project or your idea fits their funding objectives. The only problem is that while grant money for small business is out there, especially from the government, there’s often a lot of red tape involved. The key, therefore, is to remain dogged in your quest for seed money.

When it comes to grants, the first place that people often turn to is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which is where all listings of government grants approved by Congress are announced. But the problem with this resource is that there are only very few grant money for small business programs available. And we all know that to increase our chances of getting grant money for small business, we need to increase the number of our resources as well. So, we can’t just depend on only one resource, the CFDA, for your grant.

A variety of local sources may provide you with the grant money for small business you need. Here’s all you need to know:

Dig Deep

Grant money for small business is often buried within other programs used as incentives to attract, retain, or grow small businesses such as enterprise and empowerment zones. As good starting points, consider incubators, universities, small business development centers, and business information centers, as well as your local chamber of commerce and professional organizations.

Consider Contracts

Government money can sometimes come in the form of contracts. “If you can demonstrate that your company can execute a budget line item, if you can shape part of your idea to what the government wants done for a particular project — say something educational or construction-oriented — if you can fill a need, you can compete,” says Francie Ward, CEO of the Business Owner’s Idea Caf

Grant money is a crucial part of funding for starting a new business. Although poor management is said to be one of the top reason that new businesses do not succeed, inadequate or improper financing is a close second. That’s why sufficient startup capital is essential, whether you are starting a new business or expanding an existing one.

When it comes to grant money for new business, government and organizations grants are always a viable option. Often, the purpose of government-funded grant money for new business is to aid in the development and finance of new businesses in all fields.

However, there are certain types of financial assistance that are better geared for some business than others. The factors that affect what kind of government assistance you need include type of business, location, future plans, and amount of financial aid needed. Knowing all this could help your bid or application for grant money for new business get quickly approved.

The Federal Government announces available grant programs in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The site, found at CFDA.gov, serves as an online database, containing listings of all available grants provided by the government.

But the problem with this resource is that there are only very few grant money for new business programs available. So unless your new business is aimed to develop rural business opportunities or is a minority business enterprise, you have very little chance of getting approved for grant money for new business.

On a another note, a variety of local sources may provide you with the grant money for new business you need. Here’s all you need to know:

Dig Deep

Most grant money for new business is buried within other programs. These programs are used as incentives to attract, retain, or grow small businesses such as enterprise and empowerment zones. To find grant money for new business, therefore, you need to look for this kind of programs and dig around to see if they are accepting or offering grant applications. A good starting points, consider incubators, universities, small business development centers, and business information centers, as well as your local chamber of commerce and professional organizations.

Consider Contracts

Government money can sometimes come in the form of contracts. “If you can demonstrate that your company can execute a budget line item, if you can shape part of your idea to what the government wants done for a particular project — say something educational or construction-oriented — if you can fill a need, you can compete,” says Francie Ward, CEO of the Business Owner’s Idea Caf

When it comes to paying for a college education, the biggest source of direct student aid is grant money for college. After all, the best money is free money, and while loans and scholarships make up more than 50% of student aid, grant money for college are widely preferred because you don’t have to pay the money back.

The qualifications for grant money for college, however, can be very strict. Unlike in loans and scholarships where money may be awarded based on your credit standing or merit, grant money for college is usually based largely on need.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid Program under the Department of Education even has a specially designed formula to determine whether or not the student is in dire need of financial assistance from the Federal Government for his education. Grants aren’t just given to anybody; you will have to prove that you or your parents do not have the means to support you in college.

In addition to the economic restrictions, grant money for college is often parceled out on a first-come, first-serve basis. Government funds are limited and you certainly cannot expect government to fund every student in need that comes their way. So late applicants will have a lesser chance of winning a grant from government since all the money reserved for student aid would have been given to earlier applicants. That’s why it’s very important to apply early for financial aid and be aware of any available grants that might help lower your overall college contribution.

Below are the basic types of grant money for college:

Federal Pell Grants

Considered as the largest grant money for college program, Pell grants ranged from $400 to $4,050 for the 2004-2005 academic year. These grants are based solely on need. The entity who will determine the student’s need will be the college of choice but with the use of guidelines that have been previously approved by the Federal Government.

Eligible colleges receive a fixed amount of Pell money each year, and many students apply for a grant every school opening. The grant money runs out pretty fast and once it’s gone, it’s gone. So if you want to win a Pell grant for college, then apply for aid early.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants

The grant money for college you receive from one grant may not be enough to support all your expenses. That’s why the government is offering the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Program. This grant program is reserved for the neediest of students and may supplement your grant money for college with amounts ranging from $100 to $4,000. Like Pell grants, you may apply for this grant through your college’s financial aid office.

State Grants

Most states have some kind of free money program, based on need, targeted to encourage study in certain areas, such as teaching or nursing. The State of California, for example, has 3,000 Cal Grants for future teachers. The grant comes with certain obligations, such as in the case of Cal Grants, the grant money for college must be repaid if the student doesn’t end up teaching in low-income area for at least one year for every $2,000 received.

The art and science of apply for grant programs is called grantsmanship, and you can be assured, that it’s no walk in the park and no stroll on the beach. Grant applications take a lot of skill and a lot of effort on your part. It may even cost you money and time.

There are many things you ought to consider during grant applications. Below are some of them:

Make a difference in the world.

That is the point of grants after all. Keep this in mind even before you approach that agency and apply for a grant. Make sure that your project is something that is going to help them do that. Your grant application should be in consonance with the overall goal of your prospective funder.

Know the specific goals of your funding source.

Alright so the general goal is to make a difference, but you also need to know the particulars for grant application. Ask them. They will be all too happy to tell you.

Also, you can ask them if they give funding to your local area. It is possible that some of these agencies provide free grants to entrepreneurs operating in a particular area. If you are one of these entrepreneurs, you stand a better chance at getting a local grant than a national one.

Plus, the agencies may also tell you what institutions they fund for. This kind of information would be a great help in your grant application.

Know the person who will be looking over your proposal.

Is he a person who knows nothing of your field? Or is he someone who knows a lot about your field and what is going on? If they know nothing about your field, you need to stay away from technical information that they may not understand. Write your grant application to their level of understanding. If they know your field, then it is acceptable to use more technical definitions. But the rule should always be to write simply. Use jargons only when absolutely necessary.

Know your fund source.

It will help you to know how to sound and feel in your proposal. Always back things up with facts and a clear understanding of the need for the funding.

Prepare a budget that is easy to read and clear on what it is you want to do.

Be as detailed as possible in your proposed budget. Always fully explain everything that is going to cost and include other match funding from other organizations. This is to allow your funding agency a clear picture of what your proposal entails.

At all cost, never ever slop together a proposal and hope for the best.

It never works and they see this right away. In fact, the proposal is already half of your grant application, and it is the one half of which you have control over. Don’t mess it up.

Do not spend a lot of money going all out on the presentation.

It almost never impresses the funding agency. Never sacrifice the content of your proposal for style of the presentation. If you must spend money, spend it on the amount of planning you need for the project, not on mere presentation.

Most ads have been talking about nothing else. Government grant money — does such a thing really exist? The answer is yes, it does exist, but you have to be careful what you mean by “grant money.”

Contrary to what people and the ads may say, the U.S. Government is not giving away free grant money. A government grant money is not a Christmas present, nor a gift with no strings attached.

“A grant is a form of gift that entails certain obligations on the part of the grantee and expectations on the part of the grantor,” explains Jay M. Shafritz, author of the book American Government and Politics.

Too many people have been misled into believing that the government is so rich that it’s giving away free money to anyone who applies for it. The truth is that government grant money is not available to everyone for often, grants are awarded to groups or organizations that have projects designed to benefit the community.

For instance, government grant money may be awarded to a civic group who is planning to finish any of the following projects:

* A neighborhood street paving project
* A state-wide program to re-train displaced workers
* A project to attract new businesses to a depressed downtown area
* A regional water conservation program
* A county-wide flood control project

If you notice, all these projects are in one way or another community-oriented or community-based, which should give you some idea on what government grant money is for — a good cause. So all these ads you read or see telling you that government is giving away free grant money to help you with debt consolidation or start up your small business may not be all together true.

Government grant money is not given to individuals for purely personal reasons. You have to have a good cause or a project that would benefit your community in order to qualify. And even then, the competition is tough. Some non-profit groups even hire their own staff to handle the grant application process on top of their own regular staff who’ll administer the grant once approved. For this reason, not many ordinary citizens qualify to receive government grant money.

The plain truth is that with federal funding cutbacks and competition for them becoming more intense as times goes, seeking government grant money always requires a lot of time and potentially a lot of money up front with no guarantee of success.

However, if you have a worthy project in mind, then try out the following government grant money resources below:

* Department of Education Grants and Contracts Information at GCS.ed.gov
* Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at HHS.gov — over 300 HHS grants are administered by several agencies. You may find them listed in the CFDA listings.
* Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at HUD. Gov
* Department of Justice (DOJ) at OJP.USDOJ.gov
* Department of Transportation (DOT) at DOT. Gov
* Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at EPA.gov
* Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) at FEMA.gov

If you’re a student seeking money for college, one of the options (and for some, the only option) you have is a grant. A grant is a federal fund given to a student based on his economic need. Unlike student loans, a grant doesn’t have to be paid back after you graduate from college. The money is given to you freely without any obligations to repay what you received.

A grant is also different from a scholarship in that scholarships are often given based on merit. A grant, on the other hand, is based solely on the student’s need for financial assistance, using the guidelines set up by the Federal Government.

One of the most reliable resources for free online grant applications for students is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the FAFSA ran by the Department of Education. The FAFSA Program at FAFSA.ed.gov offers general student aid information and free online grant applications for students seeking grant sources.

The site lists the criteria and important documentations that you need in order to qualify for their free online grant applications, along with deadlines and other pertinent information.

Below are some tips to help get free online grant applications without delay:

Read the Instructions

The FAFSA website offers free online grant applications forms for download. After downloading the form, you will need to fill it up before submitting it for approval. As you’re filling up the form, be sure to read the instructions carefully.

Many questions on the free online grant applications forms are straightforward. You may be asked for your Social Security Number or your driver’s license, and other such documentation. But there are also questions that are asked specifically for purposes of student financial aid. Common words like “household,” “investments,” and even “parent” may have special meaning. That’s why you need to read all instructions in your free online grant applications discriminately.

Apply Early

State and school deadlines for free online grant applications will vary and tend to be early. Also, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will process your FAFSA free online grant applications if received on or before this deadline. So make sure to check with your school to find out the exact deadline dates.

Note that to actually receive aid from ED, your school must have correct, complete FAFSA information on your free online grant applications before your last day of enrollment.

Complete your Tax Return

One important document that is required in your free online grant applications is your tax return (or if you are a dependent student, your parents’). It is recommended that you complete your tax return before filling out your FAFSA to make the whole free online grant applications process easier for you. If you have not filed your tax return yet, you can still submit your free online grant applications but you must provide income and tax data. Once you file your tax return, you must correct any income or tax information that changed.

Additional Forms

Many schools and states rely on the FAFSA as the single free online grant application for student aid. However, your school or state may require additional forms. To find out what these forms are, just check with your state agency and the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend.

Are you worn out by trying to raise money for a good cause with bake sales, car washes and raffles? You know, there is another way to go about raising money. Ever heard of free grant money? That’s where you’re going to get yours.

But first, what is free grant money?

Free grant money is funding provided by a federal, state, local group or funding provided by a private, charitable or civic organization. Often, the people who receive free grant money are non-profit groups, such as health care organizations, schools, arts programs, and service agencies.

There are also instances where free grant money is provided to help assist in or underwrite the costs of various projects, ranging from providing food and shelter to the homeless to funding art programs to disabled adults. Free grant money may also be used to underwrite the cost of computers for a classroom or certain extra costs in public libraries.

The Federal Government of the United States gives away free grant money every year to various individual groups with community-based projects. Congress allocates money every budget year just for these government grants. In addition to federal free grant money, state grants are also available.

But while there are government funds available, competitions during the application process may be tougher with various organizations countrywide competing for a grant. For this reason, it often helps if you look closer to home for a source of free grant money. Besides which, local funding is less likely to have administrative and regulatory mandates and is most often the easiest type of grant funding to secure.

Aside from the government, there are several other groups that offer free grant money. Think about organizations in your community that raise funds for good causes. The Elks Club, Women’s Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, and other civic or fraternal clubs. They don’t have to be grand corporate groups or philanthropic celebrities. Any group whose agenda include doing some good to the community may consider giving you free grant money if your project idea deserves funding.

Sometimes even, grant funding is available from local businesses especially the local division ofa national firm such as Wal-mart or Blue Cross Blue Shield.

To find out who in your community are offering free grant money, it’s helpful to start by talking with people who are in a position to know. These people are the kind who does fundraising professionally. Because of their background in fundraising, they can be great resources in helping you locate sources for your free grant money.

Many communities these days have their own professional network of fundraising professionals. Check to see if your own community has one of these. Contacting a network may be the easiest way for you to go about seeking funds for your cause. Not only will they help you locate resources for free grant money, but they will also help you with the application process by providing you with detailed reference material giving information about funding availability, grant writing, how to apply and levels of funding that may be available.