Writing A Proposal

You may have seen the late night infomercials claiming you can get free money from the government. This free money supposedly comes in the form of government grants. We all know that most late night infomercials are nothing more than a scam and a waste of money. Although this is true, the money is really available. To who? Who qualifies for a government grant? Many groups of people. It all depends on the type of grant in question.

If you are researching government grants because you saw an advertisement online or a late night infomercial, you are likely looking into individual grants. These are government grants for single persons, such as yourself. These grants are few and far in between, but they do exist. There are grants for those who want to expand a business, improve the climate, attend college, start a non-profit organization, and so forth.

Grants for individuals are limited. One mistake people make is believing it is 100% free money with no restrictions. Despite what an infomercial or another company may tell you, that is not how they work. Grants are given for a reason, usually to help a particular cause. Right now, global warming and the environment is a big concern. You can find grants for individuals who want to do their part. Whether you want to make your house more green or take a more drastic step, financial assistance should be available in the form of a grant. However, you must use the grant money as intended. You cannot take funds you got to improve the greenness of your house to pay off your old student loans. It does not work that way.

Governments grants are most commonly given to state, county, and local governments. The grants available to these organizations come in a wide range of formats. No matter what the format, there is one goal. That goal is to improve the community. For example, some grants are available to those who want to study and monitor youth violence, those who want to properly manage or reduce solid waste, those who want to study and reduce sexual violence in the community, and so forth. Many grants are also available to improve schools, community programs, roads, construction, and more.

Another group that commonly receives government grants is non-profit organizations. As with grants for local and state governments, there are many more results on grants.gov for non-profit organizations than individuals. Grants are offered for a reason. They usually have a purpose. It is common to find grants for non-profit organizations that include AIDS research and prevention, education and screening for those suffering from diabetes, and more. Non-profit organizations help those in need. Grantors provide funds through grants to make continued help possible.

If you are an individual who is interested in starting a non-profit organization, it is best to get started before relying on grant money. Many organizations compete for these grants. Do not assume you will win because it is unlikely your first few attempts. Follow all federal, state, and local laws to get your non-profit organization up and running. Then research and apply for government grants. As previously stated, you can do so at Grants.gov, as well as other government websites.

In short, if you are researching government grants because of a catchy advertisement you saw on television or online, you are likely an individual looking for free money. That money does exist, but it must be used for a purpose. You cannot use it to get out of debt. If that is what you are looking to do, you must opt other forms of financial assistance. The most valuable and easy to find government grants are usually reserved for state, county and local governments, school districts, Native Americans, small businesses, and colleges.

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