Writing A Proposal

In the United States, many Americans are in financial distress. Individuals of all ages are finding it difficult to make their mortgage payments and pay their utility bills. In this instance, many are automatically attracted to free money. After all, who wouldn’t love free money? Unfortunately, many individuals get inaccurate information.
The United States government has many resources to help Americans get out of debt, but these resources rarely come in the form of free money or government grants. There are a few exceptions however. They deal with senior citizens. If you are a senior citizen or know someone is continue reading on for information in which you or your loved one may be eligible for government grants.
The most common types of government grants you will find available for senior citizens focus on housing improvements. For example, there are grants available for rural housing repairs. This grant enables qualifying senior citizens to update, repair, or modernize their rural home to eliminate safety hazards. This specific grant comes with many restrictions. For starters, those under the age of 62 are automatically exempt from grants. Instead, they get a government-funded loan. Next, the location of the home must be a rural area. This is a low-income loan. Senior citizens must fall below the area’s median income. Individuals who do not qualify for this safety improvement grant will be encouraged to seek a loan. In some cases, combination loans and grants may be obtained.
Similar to the above mentioned grant, is a rural housing natural disaster relief grant. As with safety improvements, both grants and loans are available. This government grant is also designed for low-income seniors 62 years of age and up. It is for those unable to repay a loan. This grant is designed to replace or repair property damaged from a natural disaster. These funds can kick in after FEMA assistance has been provided. Grant recipients must show proof of ownership, proof of needed, and must live in an area declared a disaster by the United States President.
The two above grants are a few you will find for individual senior citizens through the federal government. Unfortunately, they are somewhat rare. Most often, government grants for senior citizens are given to non-profit organizations that extend services to seniors. If you are concerned with the affordable activities and services available to senior citizens in your community, don’t sit back and do nothing. Contact local government officials and non-profit organizations. Although you may be unable to receive a government grant to make improvements to your local senior center, others can.
Government grants sound nice because they are free money, but most senior citizens are unable to qualify for and apply for grants on their own. Aside from contacting local non-profit organizations and government officials, make use of other state and federal assistance programs. Many are designed for senior citizens. Medicaid and Medicare can help get seniors much needed medical coverage. Food stamps, food banks, and other similar programs can give seniors access to affordable and healthy foods. Many state and county government organizations have heating assistance programs to make heating a home more affordable. These government assistance programs rarely come in the form of a loan; instead they are designed to provide Americans with moneysaving discounts.
In short, no harm can come from examining grants to find those for senior citizens. However, you are advised against setting your expectations too high. If you find an ideal grant that is only available for non-profit organizations, state or county governments, pass the information on to the appropriate group. Although you do not receive the funds directly, you and other senior citizens can benefit from them.
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Are you an individual, small business owner, or non-profit organization member who wants to seek government help? Depending on your need for the money, you may get help from government grants. Each year, billions of dollars are given to individuals, small business owners, local governments, school districts, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations. Government grants have a purpose, which is typically to improve the economy, the environment, or health of Americans. If your purpose for needing money ties into one of these goals, you may be a qualified candidate for a government grant.
Although you may be a qualified candidate for a government grant, there is no guarantee you will get the money. In fact, the chances are small. For example, there are grants offered that involve youth violence. These grants are designed to monitor youth violence, develop a pattern, and work on a solution for solving it. Youth violence is a significant problem in many areas of the United States, not just large, well-known cities. State, county, and local governments, colleges, non-profit organizations, and even small business owners all across the country are influenced by youth violence and want to solve the problem. For that reason, this type of grant could easily receive thousands of proposals.
Speaking of grant proposals, they are what the grantor uses to determine the winner of the money. Some grantors use standard applications and others request full written grant proposals. This often requires you to explain in detail why you are deserving of the grant, how you intend to carry out the requirements, and so forth. If you are unfamiliar with writing or grant proposals, you may hire a professional grant writer. When doing so:
Do not just hire any writer. Grant proposals are important. After all, they determine your eligibility to receive free funding for a particular project, like a business expansion or youth violence prevention. As previously stated, it is common for one grant to receive thousands of applications and proposals. Yours needs to stand apart from the rest and in a good way. The best way to do this is to hire a well-known and experienced grant writer. A traditional content writer or a fiction writer may not do you justice.
Turn to the internet to find a grant writer. Freelance writers are easy to find online. Most will outline their qualifications for you. Look for those who have experience writing grant proposals. Using the internet is best, as it allows you to reach more writers. Do not limit yourself locally. If you or your organization really needs the funds in question, do not rely on someone who writes for a hobby. Use the internet to find a professional grant writer.
Consider hiring a grant writer who specializes in your field. Government grants come in a number of different formats. You may be surprised what types of grants are offered. There are those that reduce crime, those that improve the climate problem, those that focus on health issues, those that cover agriculture, and so forth. If you are a small farmer looking to get a government grant to transform your farm into an organic farm, consider hiring a grant writer with a background in agriculture. At the very least, you should work by their side to feed them the necessary information to tailor your proposal.
Do not assume professional writers are 100% perfect because they are not. Even experienced and paid grant writers make mistakes. These mistakes could be grammar errors, the wrong contact information, and so forth. Never submit a paid for grant proposal without first reviewing the document. In fact, you should review it and have another trusted individual do the same. With paid grant proposals, you should also get a document for your own computer records. Make any necessary changes and print the final copy.
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Do you want to start a small business? If so, you are not alone. Millions of Americans dream of owning their own business. Doing so allows them to be their own boss and be in control of their earnings. Many individuals have great business ideas and solid plans, but many run into financial problems. Starting a small business is costly. If you need financial help, you may wonder about government grants to start a business. These grants are advertised online and in late night infomercials, but do they exist? Yes and no.

When it comes to government grants to start a business, it is tricky. Rarely are grants available for business startups. The rare exception is with technology, health, and environmental businesses. Most government grants serve a purpose. Depending on the grant in question, that purpose may be to solve the climate control problem, improve the health of Americans, or to reduce violence. If the business you want to start can help the government accomplish these goals, there may be a government grant available to you, but it is highly unlikely.

In most instances, small business loans are the best choice. Small business loans give business owners, like you freedom. You present financial lenders with business plans. If they feel you have a good business idea and solid plan in place, they are likely lend money. That loan comes with very few restrictions. Aside from the fact the loan must be used for business purposes and that it must be repaid, you have the freedom to do what you want with the money. You can use the money to buy needed equipment, advertise your business, hire outside help, and more. Government grants for small businesses do not operate this way.

As previously stated, government grants are designed to accomplish a purpose. One purpose mentioned above is to improve the health of Americans. There are grants available that want to monitor the success of autism treatments, develop a connection between alcoholism and the workplace, and so forth. In the event you are awarded a government grant, you are not in complete control of the money. It must be used in accordance with the grantor and their stipulations. For example, if you operate a small business, like an arcade or fitness center, you could apply for a grant aimed at monitoring, preventing, and reducing youth violence. If allowed the funding could be used to start a special after-school program for children. You and the grantor will collect data to determine if the after-school program influenced youth violence in your community.

As previously stated, it is unlikely you will find a government grant to start a business. There are however factors which may increase your chances. In the United States, the government wants to see an increase in minority and women owned businesses. For that reason, you may be able to secure financing to start a small business if you fall into certain categories. A good example is with Native Americans. If you are of Native American descent or belong to a tribe, you can receive funding to start a business. As mentioned above, there are rules and restrictions. Often times, your business must have a positive impact on your tribal government or organization. Your business must bring profits and good things to your community. If the chances of that happening are slim, grant approval is unlikely.

In short, government grants to start a small business to exist, they are difficult to find. In the event you do get a small business government grant, remember you must follow all rules and restrictions. If you misuse the money, you open yourself up to theft charges and repayment. It will not hurt to look for government grants to start a business, but your best chances are to secure a small business loan. To do so, develop a strong business plan, approach local lenders, as well as the Small Business Administration (SBA).

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You may have heard that government grant scams are on the rise. Yes, this is true in many cases. There are home improvement grants for senior citizens hit by natural disasters, there are grants to improve small agricultural farms, but individual grants are few and far in between. Most grants are designed for state and local governments, non-profit organizations, small businesses, colleges and universities. However, one government grant is 100% legitimate. That is the Federal Pell Grant. What can this grant do for you? It can help lower the cost of sending your child college.

The Federal Pell Grant is designed to make college more affordable and easier to attend for low-income students. Not all college students qualify for this government grant. A specific formula is used, known as the expected family contribution (EFC). This formula uses the student’s or parent’s income and assets, family size, and household size. There are also restrictions on participating colleges. Luckily, both full-time and part-time students qualify for this grant. Students, however, must be classified as undergraduates or vocational students.

Applying for the Federal Pell Grant is easy. In fact, your soon-to-be college student can do so right online. To get started, have them visit FASA.ed.gov. Once on the website, fill out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). In three to five days, your child will received a Student Aid Report, otherwise known as SAR. You and your child should carefully review this report to ensure all information entered was accurate. A summary of the above mentioned EFC (expected family contribution) will also be provided. Once again, verify this information. The wrong information can prevent your child from getting the necessary funding.

After the FAFSA form is completed and results are gathered, your child must check with their college or university. They will determine how much aid is received. As for distribution of funds, it occurs different ways. Some schools will simply subtract the awarded amount from the tuition bill. Other schools will give your child a check for the amount. In the event your child receives a check, ensure they know the importance of putting that money towards tuition, living expenses, and school supplies. If they misuse the funds, you will be back to square one wondering how to cover the cost of college.

Even if you or your child suspects you will not qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, still complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is not only used to determine federal financial assistance, but state and school too. Application deadlines are important to receive the proper funding. Check with the college in question to ensure their application deadlines match the federal recommendations.

In short, the Federal Pell Grant can help reduce the cost of college for qualifying students. Unfortunately, this money does not cover the entire cost of education. If you are concerned about the remainder, speak with your child and their school guidance counselor. In additional to federal grants, many states also have education grants for qualifying students. If obtaining a loan is a concern, due to poor credit, encourage your child to apply for scholarships. Thousands of scholarships are provided each year to students. Preference is often given to students with good grades, community involvement, and involvement in school related extra curricular activities, but it is free and easy to apply.

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Whether you want to start a small business or are already an established business owner, you may be enticed with government grants. These grants do exist, but they are often advertised online and on television as free money for all. As previously stated, government grants do exist and many are designed for small businesses, but it is not like the late night infomercials and other products make it seem. You do not just get free money that you can use however you like. In the event you win grant money, there are strict rules you must follow. Otherwise, you are at risk for losing future funding and you may be forced to repay the misused funds.

Since there are rules and restrictions on how government grant money can be used for small businesses, you may wonder what they are. It all depends on the grant in question. These grants vary significantly, depending on the organization, government sector, or private grantor offering the funding. Continue reading on for a few sample grants listed on the Grants.gov website as of February 2009. These grantors accept applications from a wide rage of groups, including small businesses.

The Center for Disease Control had a grant available to small business owners, local and state governments, Native American governments and organizations, school districts, non-profit organizations, and colleges. This grant opportunity was titled “Identifying Neighborhood Level Protective Factors for Youth Violence.” Honestly, non-profit organizations and local governments are likely to be the recipients of these safety grants. However, you can still apply. A good grant proposal and application is key, but so is need. The goal is to study youth violence. If your small business is located in an area with a high crime rate, your business has been a victim of youth crime, or if your business offers programs to children in the community to keep them busy and out of trouble, you stand a reasonable chance.

The National Institute of Health had a grant available to small business owners, state and local governments, Native American organizations and governments, school districts, colleges, and non-profit organizations. That grant was tilted “Psychosocial/Behavioral Interventions and Research in Autism Spectrum.” Once again, non-profit organizations will likely win this grant, but no harm can come from trying. If your small business is health focused, such as if you work with disabled children, provide counseling services, or if you provide employment to those suffering from autism, you may be a qualified applicant.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) had a grant available for small businesses, individuals, colleges, and non-profit organizations. That grant was titled “Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. The goal of this grant is to improve organic agriculture by solving current issues farmers face. If you were a small business owner who operates an organic farm, you are at an advantage. A part of the grant’s requirements involves on-the-farm gathering of information and more. Since you are familiar in the field of organic food and ranching and own the property, you should be considered a qualified applicant.

Highlighted above were just three government grants that the United States government makes small business owners eligible to receive. Grants, especially government grants, have a purpose. That purpose may involve improving the economy, the community, agriculture, and safety. If you are a small business owner who can help the government accomplish these goals, you may qualify for free funding.

If you would like to see additional grants available for small business owners, visit Grants.gov. This is a well-known and trusted website, operated by the United States government. Perform an advanced search for small business grants. Each listing tells you about the grant, the funds available, what those funds must be used for, and the grantor’s name.

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Do you want to apply for a government grant? If so, you need to avoid scams and untrustworthy websites that provide you with old and outdated information, yet have no problem charging you a fee. Government grants do exist for all different types of individuals and organizations, but you need to know how to find them. So, how do you find legitimate grants? In 8 easy steps!

1 – Have the Needed Supplies

To find legitimate government grant opportunities, you need a computer and internet access. A computer printer is not required, but you want to have that or a notebook handy to record your findings and to gather additional information.

2 – Visit Grants.gov

Grants.gov is the leading website for up-to-date and free information on government grants. Many experts claim it is your one stop resource for obtaining this free money.

3 – Browse the Website

When browsing the website, visit the frequently asked questions section, the help section, and so forth. For first time grant seekers, this is mostly just to familiarize yourself with the process as well as give you comfort and peace of mind. Grants.gov is a legitimate website, not a scam or a program you must pay to use. It is a government operated website that is safe. Still, browsing the website will let you see for yourself.

4 – Perform an Advanced Search for Grants

Click on the link to perform an advanced search. This link can be found under the heading of “Find Grant Opportunities,” from the main menu bar. There are other methods of finding grants, but this is your best option. You are able to customize your search to include open grants only. Searching for grants based on agency and category is nice, but you can get a list that goes back two years or more. An advanced search saves time.

5 – Customize Your Search

After clicking on the advanced grant search link, customize your search. Do not limit yourself. Opt to get information on open grant opportunities only. Then, scroll down the page to the eligibility sections and select the best choice. If you are an individual, select individual. If you are in charge of running an IRS recognized non-profit organization, select that. You can further customize your search, but you may mistakenly miss quality grants. It is best to have a larger list that you can sort through.

6 – Hit the Search Button

Once your information is properly entered in, hit the search button at the bottom of the page. A new webpage will appear with all grants listed. Since you customized your search, you are eligible for these grants.

7 – Review the Results

As previously stated, your search page will include grants you are eligible to apply for, but that does not mean you should. For example, if your run a small agricultural farm, a grant that wants to study and monitor autism is not the perfect fit for you. When reviewing your results, play close attention to the close date.

8 - Apply for Government Grants

If you find information on open government grants that you are eligible to apply for and you honestly feel you have a chance of receiving, apply. You have nothing to lose. As for the application process, it varies. Read and follow all information provided to you. Some grants require a simple application, others want an application and a short grant proposal, some want full grant proposals, and so forth.

As you can see, it is easy to find legitimate government grants on the Grants.gov website. In addition to performing the 8 above mentioned steps, signup for email alters. New grants appear on the website throughout the year. You may be unable to check for daily, weekly, or even monthly updates. In that case, email notification of applicable grants is advised.

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You may have heard that the government gives out free money in the form of grants. Yes, this really does happen. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation circulating about these government grants. Yes, these grants do not need to be repaid. However, they cannot be used for any purpose. Those who win government grants must follow the rules and restrictions put forth by the grantor. Also, government grants are not just handed out to anyone. To determine if you have a chance of winning a government grant, continue reading on for information pertaining to the most common recipients.

The most common question asked about government grants is “are there personal grants available?” These grants are classified as grants for individuals. Yes, they do exist, but they are very rare and hard to come across. As previously stated, government grants cannot be used for any purpose. It all depends on the grantor in question. For example, the Center for Disease Control is likely to fund grants that study medical related issues, such as autism, alcoholism, sexually transmitted diseases, and so forth. It is possible to find government grants for homeowners who want to conserve energy or water, as well as grants for senior citizens to repair their home after a natural disaster, but that is about it. It will not hurt to look, but if you are an individual looking for free money, don’t get too excited.

The most common recipients of government grants are government organizations. These may include state, county, town, city, and village governments. These government groups are known for seeking grants that make new construction possible, curb youth violence, and so forth. Also under the category of government organizations, you will find Native American Tribal Governments. These fall into two categories, those recognized by the United States government and those not. Native Americans seek out these grants for the same reason others do; they want to improve their community and reduce operating costs.

Educational organizations are another common recipient of government grants. Falling into this category are independent school districts, public and state controlled higher education institutions, and private higher education institutions. These types of organizations qualify and receive a large number of grants. As with government organizations, they can receive government grants to improve or start new construction, offer new services, reduce violence, and offer new classes. It is common for colleges and universities to work with health and technology based companies, which also provide grants.

Non-profit organizations are also common recipients of government grants. There are two types of non-profit organizations. Those that are recognized by the IRS and those that are not. Regardless, both are eligible to receive many grants. As for why non-profit organizations are common recipients of grants, their goal is to help the American people. They do so without turning a profit. This is the same goal that many grantors have. The Center for Disease Control may award a grant that focuses on AIDS research and monitoring to a non-profit organization that helps individuals suffering from AIDS and their family.

Finally, there are small businesses. To be classified as a small business, certain restrictions must be met. A small business should have a limited number of employees and make under a certain dollar amount. It is rare to find a government grant to start a business. Typically, grants are awarded to small businesses that have a direct impact on the community. For example, a privately run doctor’s office that provides affordable care to low-income families, may qualify for grants to keep the business financially afloat and stable.

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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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If you are one of the millions of Americans in financial distress, you may look for ways to improve your income. Most individuals look for second part-time jobs or reduce their spending. Due to late night infomercials and online advertisements, many are now turning to government grants. If you are researching personal government grants for individuals, you likely have many questions. Continue reading on to get your answers.

Question: Are government grants available for individuals? Answer: Yes. There are governments available for individuals like you, but they are few and far in between. The most common recipients of government grants are state and local governments, school districts, colleges and universities, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. However, since there are some government grants available for individuals, it will not hurt to look.

Question: Is there such a thing as debt relief government grants? Answer: No, not usually. Government grants serve a purpose. That purpose is typically to improve the economy, health, and agriculture of America as a whole. Yes, the government wants people to be financially stable and debt free, but money is rarely handed out with no-strings attached to accomplish this goal.

Question: Are government grants really free money? Answer: Yes and no. Those who get grants do receive free money. This money does not need to be repaid. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy, simple, or as nice as it sounds. As previously stated, government grants serve a purpose. Some grants are available to individuals who want to conserve energy or water. Should you win one of these grants, you cannot use it to repay your debt or buy a new car. Grantors outline in detail what their funds must be used for. You must follow these guidelines.

Question: What happens to individuals who misuse government grants? Answer: Nothing good. Unfortunately, the poor economy has many Americans in financial distress. Crime is on the rise in many areas. Some individuals break into businesses to steal food, money, and other items they believe to be necessities. Some individuals go as far to lie or misrepresent themselves to obtain free government grants. Do not do this, no matter how much you need money. Those found to be misusing government grants are likely to face theft charges and must repay the misspent and stolen money.

Question: How should I find government grants? Answer: Although government grants are rare for individuals, expect for Federal Pell Grants for qualifying college students, they do exist. If you want to search the available list of government grants, visit Grants.gov. This is a government-operated website that is free to use. It contains up-to-date and accurate information. Perform an advanced search for open grants with individuals as eligible recipients. Closely examine the grant. Searching and browsing can be done without an account, but you must register for one to apply for funding.

Question: What if someone contacts me about a government grant? Answer: You should walk away. Government grants do not come to you; you must find them. Do not fall victim to a common grant scam. This is when someone contacts you by phone or email. They believe you are eligible to receive a grant. They will even help you apply for that grant with a processing fee. However, before you get any information, you are asked to provide your bank account numbers. Do not do this! Remember, government grants do not come directly to you. The scammer will take their processing fee, but they now have your bank account information. They could drain your account before you catch onto their fraud.

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Are you a parent? It is expensive to raise a child; that is no secret. Depending on how many children you have, your current income level, and your employment status, you may need financial assistance. Your best option is to seek financial assistance through government run programs, such as Medicaid and Food Stamps. However, some government grants can help offset the cost of raising a child. What are they?

1 – Immunization Grants

Immunization grants are awarded a number of different ways. It is possible for individuals, such as yourself if you are a parent, to obtain a grant to immunize your children. As with applying for other grants, you must show need. An individual applying for an immunization grant must typically have a child under the age of 18 or 19, must be without medical insurance, and must have no other means of paying for immunization.

Although immunization grants are awarded to individual recipients, they are most commonly given to qualifying pharmacists and healthcare providers. These professionals apply for the grant and receive funding. This enables them to extend affordable services to parents. Patients seen by physicians or pharmacists who received these immunization grants can get free or deeply discounted shot for their qualifying children.

As for how this type of grant can benefit you as a parent, it does so by protecting the health and safety of your children. Their risk for dangerous diseases and illness significantly decreases with proper immunization. You will spend less time at the doctor’s office, your child will miss less school, and you will miss less work.

2 – Special Education Preschool Grants

With special education preschool grants, you, as a parent, do not apply. Instead, your state does. Local governments and schools can also apply for other similar education grants. This particular type of grant is designed to improve and make available preschool programs for children with disabilities. Children with disabilities require extra care and attention, which costs preschool programs money. For that reason, some must limited the number of disabled children they accept. This is not an issue when your state makes use of these grants.

In addition to special education preschool grants, other government grants are available to help improve school systems. These grants may focus on construction, reducing school violence, and so forth. Unfortunately, you do not apply for and receive these grants yourself. Although your hands are tied, contact school and local officials. Make sure they are applying for and receiving this much needed grant money. It improves the quality of education children receive and helps to reduce school taxes.

3 – Federal Pell Grants

If you are a parent, you may have a child attending college soon. Whether that will be in 15 years or 1 year, cost is likely a concern. It is no secret that college is expensive and that cost always seems to increase. Luckily, there are government grants available for your children.

The amount of money your child receives from a Federal Pell Grant will depend on a number of factors. They include the college of your child’s choice, their enrollment status, the cost of their education, and how much you and other family members will contribute to their education. Regardless of how large or small the funding is, it will help you as a parent save money while still ensuring your child gets a quality education.

In short, there are grants available to help parents like you. The three above mentioned grants are just a sample. Unfortunately, grants for individuals are rare. If you need financial assistance, you should turn to government programs that offer affordable loans or other moneysaving discounts to low-income families. With that said, don’t completely forget about government grants. Although you cannot apply for and receive many of these helpful grants, you can make sure your state and local governments, as well as nearby school districts and non-profit organizations are taking advantage of this free funding.

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Have you seen an advertisement online or a late night infomercial claiming you can gain access to free money through government grants? If so, you may have paid close attention. Free money sounds great, especially when the economy is in trouble, millions of Americans are losing their jobs, and many are unable to afford their mortgage payments.
Yes, government grants do exist. Although most grants are designed for local governments and non-profit organizations, there are grants for individuals such as yourself. Although they do exist, they are difficult to find and harder to obtain. Unfortunately, this is not something that Americans in financial distress want to hear. They want free money and they want it now. That is why some find themselves victims of government grant scams.
Government grant scams come in a number of different formats. Some individuals will contact you by phone or email. They claim you qualify for a government grant. For a processing fee, they will help you get that free money. Others are products sold which are designed to help Americans get free grant money. Unfortunately, these products are usually filled with general information you can find online for free. These are just two examples of government grant scams, but they are the two most common.
As previously stated, free money sounds nice, but you need to be cautious of government grant scams. They do can a lot of damage. Continue reading on for five legitimate reasons why you should avoid these scams or anything else related to grants that sounds too good to be true.

1 – Embarrassment
In the initial stages of providing an individual with your information or the beginning stages of buying a government grant infomercial product, you will be filled with excitement. After all, you were all but provided with a guarantee you will get free money. Unfortunately, when that free money does not arrive, reality will set in. You will realize you were swindled. Although thousands of Americans are scammed each month, some with government grant scams and some with work-at-home scams, it is embarrassing. You likely want to sweep the incident under the rug. Many scammed rarely seek reimbursement for the money spent, contact consumer-reporting websites, or contact the authorities out of embarrassment.
2 – It Costs You Money
Government grants do exist. There are grants available for individuals who want to attend college, want to expand a business, want to rebuild their home after a natural disaster, and so on. Government grants themselves aren’t scams, but the people and companies who get you to pay usually are. A late night infomercial product may have old and outdated information that you paid for. A caller claiming you qualify for a government grant will ask you to pay a small processing fee for your application, which they will never submit because they do not have the authority to do so. Essentially, you spend and waste money.

3 – It Can Ruin Your Credit
As previously stated, a common scam is when someone contacts you by phone or email claiming you qualify for a government grant. For a processing fee, they will gather your information and submit an application on your behalf. Since this is done via phone or email, you will be asked for your bank information, including the routing number and the account number. Do not provide it. Some individuals only have the above mentioned “processing fee,” taken, but many have more. You provided your account information to a scammer. They can clean out your accounts and ruin your credit.

4 – It Is Hard to Get Your Money Back
If you fall victim to a government grant scam, there are resources available to help you. If you provided your bank account information to someone promising to help you get free grant money over the phone or via email, take action now before it is too late. Contact the police and your bank. If you purchased a late night infomercial product filled with inaccurate or old and outdated information, request a refund. Unfortunately, you may be charged a restocking fee or must pay additional shipping and handling charges, meaning you get only a portion of your money back.

5 – They Are Easy to Avoid
Luckily, government grant scams are easy to avoid. If you truly want to apply for a grant and believe you qualify for one, head to a government website. These websites end in .gov. Or, contact a local government official. They can give you information on grants available to individuals like yourself and legitimate resources on how to find them.

Do you want free money? Of course, we all do. For some individuals, that money is available in the form of government grants. Although government grants are typically reserved for non-profit organization and business expansions, there are grants available to everyday Americans, just like yourself. Unfortunately, they are limited, hard to find, and even more difficult to win. But, as previously stated, we all want free money. After all, who wouldn’t. That leaves many of us susceptible to government grant scams. So, how do you avoid becoming a victim?
1 – Do Not Pay Money
Many websites and infomercial products advertise they can help you get hundreds of thousands of dollars in government grant money. These websites and infomercials do sound convincing. Once again, the phrase “free money” attracts us. As previously stated, there are government grants available for Americans. These grants may allow you to expand a small business, go to college, get job training, rebuild a home hit by a natural disaster, and so forth. Since they do exist, you should be able to find them on your own. It will take a lot of hard work and research, but it is free of charge.
A good sign that you are faced with a government grant scam is when asked for payment. There are real government websites online that let you search for grants, get additional information on these grants, and apply for them free of charge. Don’t waste your money. Often times, these paid websites and infomercial products are filled with inaccurate and outdated information.
2 – Turn to Reputable Grant Websites Online
As previously stated, paid government grant websites are a sign of a scam. Yes, some legitimate websites do charge a small fee, but why take a chance? Remember, a lot of information on government grants is available free of charge online or by speaking to local government officials. Your best bet it is to go right to government websites. On those websites, perform a search using the phrase “grants.” If information is available, it will appear in your search. Grants.gov is a legitimate website for government grants, especially those aimed at non-profit organizations.
3 – Check Website and Product Reviews
As mentioned above, some legitimate grant websites charge a small fee. It is your decision as to whether or not you want to pay this fee. However, before doing so, read reviews. You can easily check website and product reviews online. You can do so by visiting the online website for the Better Business Bureau, the popular consumer-reporting website Rip Off Report, or you can perform a standard internet search. Search with the product or website name and add the phrase “scam.”
Product and website reviews are easy to find online and they give you a lot of insight. Do not waste your money if multiple consumers say the website or government grant product in question is a scam.
4 – Ask Questions
One of the reasons why you are advised against buying a government grant product from an infomercial is because of lack of assistance. In these cases, you buy the product and are on your own. You rarely get any support. On the other hand, legitimate websites should provide you with this support. Before paying any signup or membership fees, ask questions. If someone is unavailable to answer your questions or cannot provide you with the right answers, you may be on your way to being a government grant scam victim. Stop now.
5 – Use Your Best Judgment
Just like receiving a student loan, mortgage, and automobile loan, you need to prove yourself. You need to fill out an application, sell yourself, and do research. Always use your best judgment. It is possible to find government grants for individuals like yourself, but they are hard to find and even more difficult to get. Do not count on this money and do not fall victim to get rich scams. Legitimate government grants are designed to help Americans in moderation. Grants that are available are rarely large in size.