Friday, August 28, 2009

Get a Government Grant: Who, What, How

By Keith Ronson

Funding is available for any number of people who may qualify for a variety of reasons to get a government grant. The qualification process will help each agency decide if you are eligible and can receive the funding. However, grants for the purpose of personal financial assistance are not allowed.

Definition of a Grant

The federal government is the authority that awards grant money. Grants are a form of financial assistance, usually for a business or non-profit agency. Applicants must fill out a form that proves they meet the criteria for the grant money. The funds must be used for something other than a service or property that would benefit the government. Currently available in a wide array of categories, there are over one thousand grants the federal government offers to U.S. citizens.

Can You Apply to Get a Government Grant?

You can apply to receive federal government funding if you own a small business, a non-profit agency, or head up a government, education, or public housing organization.

Individuals may also be eligible. You must apply for the grant on your own behalf, and not on that of an organization or company. Of course, you will also have to prove that your purpose for the funding meets the specific criteria of the grant agency. Such agencies include those involved with crime victims, humanities, fish and wildlife, and the EPA.

Federal Grants for a Small Business

If you are the owner of a small business, there are additional opportunities available to receive federal government funding. In particular, minorities, women, veterans, and disabled people are urged to apply.

A second type of grant is offered to further business development in areas that have been hit by a natural disaster, tribal communities, rural areas, and those places considered largely low-income.

If you are the head of a non-profit group that provides assistance to small businesses, you might also be able to receive federal grant funding. You as the individual do not receive the money; instead it is given to the organization itself.

And still two more types of government grants are available to small companies that are looking to train and hire new staff members as well as those that indicate they are developing certain new products.

How to Apply

Each grant has its own application requirements. The paperwork is long and involved and asks you to answer very specific questions to determine eligibility. Because the packets require a lot of time and effort, there is an online tutorial that teaches individuals how to properly fill them out. Be aware that before you begin the application, you are required to have a budget outlining how the funds will be used and the length of your program. Invalid dates will cause the application to be automatically rejected. Many of the fields on the form limit the amount of characters you can include, so you must be precise in your answers.

Then the waiting begins. There are numerous applicants who are all vying for the same funds. You can opt to receive updates on the status of your grant application, but it is not a quick process.

In many cases, it may be easier to find a company online that can help you get a government grant and go through the process of applying for it. It is never fast or easy; but with some help, it may be a bit less stressful.

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