Writing A Proposal

Free money is available from the government. This free money comes in the form of government grants. Although there are government grants for individuals, the most common recipients of these grants are state and local governments, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, and small businesses. Regardless of who you are or who you represent, you may want more information on this free money offered by the government. So how can you get it?

When obtaining information for government grants, you must proceed with caution. The internet, late night infomercials, and 24-hour infomercial shopping channels make it easy to make mistakes. One of those mistakes is paying to get access to information you can easily find online for free. Do not buy an infomercial product that claims it will share thousands of government grants with you. Do not pay for a membership website claiming to do the same. There are two easy ways that you can find information on government grants with no fees and no hassle.

1 – Visit Grants.gov

Grants.gov is a trusted website. It is operated by the United States government, hence the reason for the .gov address. This website is free and easy to use. To get started, visit the website. You may want to look around to learn more. Familiarize yourself with the search process. If you are an individual looking for a personal grant, don’t waste time browsing through thousands of grants for non-profit organizations. Learn how to customize searches and properly use the website.

After doing so, you can get started with an advanced search. Search for open grants only and grants you are eligible to apply for. Individuals must select individuals from the eligibility section, non-profit organizations must select non-profit organizations, and so forth. You will then be directed to a list of grants. You can review these grants free of charge and without registering for an account. Closely examine all information provided. Just because you are eligible to receive a grant does not mean you truly qualify or will stand a chance.

In the event you find applicable grants, you can get started with the application process. This varies. Some grantors want a standard application to determine initial eligibility. If you make it past the first states, a formal grant proposal may be required. These grant proposals do vary. Specific directions should be provided. In most cases, the grantor wants to know about you or the organization you represent, the need for funding, and your intent of use. You can apply for most grants right on the Grants.gov website, but registration is required.

If you don’t immediately find what you need, signup for email or RSS feed updates. Get automatically updated when new grants appear on the website!

2 – View the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

In all honesty, it is much easier to use the Grants.gov website, but this resource is easy to find and has the information you need. To view the downloadable copy in PDF format, visit CFDA.gov. The latest 2008 version is over 2,000 pages. This packet is jam packed full of financing options for individuals, non-profit organizations, Native American governments, state and local governments, colleges, and so forth.

What is unique about the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is that not only government grants are covered. There are discount programs, loan programs, and more. Having this information on hand is ideal if you do not qualify for a grant, win the grant, or if it gives you comfort to have a backup plan.

Since the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is long, utilize the search feature on your PDF document. Search for related keyword phrases that fit your needs, such as home improvement, non-profit, grants, and so forth. Searching makes the process of finding government grants and other financial assistance easier with this large document.

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