Writing A Proposal

Whether you are an individual, the owner of a small business, a local government official, a school district superintendent, or the member of a non-profit organization, you may want to seek financial help from the government. There are a number of programs and resources available from the federal government. One of those is grants. Grants are nice because they do not need to be repaid. Although government grants must be used for a specific purpose, they are essentially considered free money!

If you want to apply for government grants to help yourself, the government, or the organization you represent, are you doing so for the first time? If so, please continue reading on for information on government grants. It is important to enter into the process with your eyes wide open.

Not everyone is eligible for all government grants. These grants come in many formats. It all depends on the grantor and the grant in question. For example, the Center for Disease Control is likely to offer grants for health issues, such as autism, diabetes, and heart disease. The United States Agricultural Department is likely to offer grants that focus on ranching and farming. To improve your chances of getting funding, focus on and apply for grants in which you truly have a chance of winning.

Government grants have restrictions. As previously stated, government grants are free money, but they come with strings attached. If you are a small business owner who receives a grant to monitor youth violence in your community, you will likely be prohibited from using that money to buy new cash registers or inventory. When researching grants, carefully read all information provided. Most grantors will specifically outline what the funds can and cannot be used for.

The competition for government grants is fierce. Since grants are free money, many people want them. For example, if there is a road construction grant available for state, county, and local governments, there will be thousands of applications. Many communities in the United States need road improvements, but don’t have the funds to make the changes. They will seek government funding through a grant. The same is true for non-profit organizations, small business, and individual grants. Don’t let the fear of rejection stop you. A grant that receives 5,000 applications sounds like a stretch, but you still have a chance of winning.

Your grant proposal can automatically be rejected. As mentioned above, some grantors receive thousands of applications. These take time to review. To ease the process, some applications and grant proposals are automatically eliminated. Don’t let this happen. It is often due to a simple mistake. When applying for a grant, only apply for grants that you can truly win. Do not bother applying as an individual if the grant is only open to non-profit organizations. Read all information provided. If a written grant proposal is asked for, don’t submit your application without one.

It is not a quick process. Those who seek government grants are doing so for a reason; they need the money. Small businesses are noticing decreases in sales, individuals are losing their jobs and homes, non-profit organizations are seeing a decrease in donations; the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, it can take months for your grant application and proposal to be examined. Some grantors wait until after the close date to get started. Then, if you are awarded a grant, it can take another few months before you actually receive the money. Instead of relying on grants for your business or organization to survive, consider it an added bonus. If you win and get funding right away great! If not, don’t let it be the downfall, have a backup plan in place.

You now know what to expect when applying for government grants. Remember, there are no guarantees. Do not count on free money for the government. Luckily, if your grant applications are denied, there is more help available. Federal and state governments have a wide range of financial assistance programs in place for individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. These may include loans and moneysaving discount programs.

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