Government Grants
Did you know that the government hands out billions in cash every year to individuals, small businesses, and groups? Why?
To help people build up their communities or help their families by providing some sort of service or product. Most
grants, with the exception of financial assistance for families, require that the money be spent a very specific way. One
can not just spend it on whatever. The provisions of each grant lay out what is required in return for the money. Remember,
these are not loans. They don't have to be paid back in cash, but their requirements must be met.
And as you can imagine, where there is money to be gotten, especially free money, a lot of people want in on the action.
This makes the process very time consuming with tons of paperwork, but with the right concept and the proper documentation,
it can be done.
The process begins by selecting the proper category that fits your project. For instance, there are certain grants for
women, minorities, businesses, non-profit organizations, and even educational ones. Choosing the right grant will shorten
the time it takes to apply and keeps errors to a minimum. This is where a guide comes in handy. The government prepares
such a guide with categorized listings of the grants available and what each one requires.
You can find The Guide to Government Grants here.
Once you've decided on a particular grant, the next step is writing a proposal. The proposal is where you will sell the
idea to the grant issuers. In it, you must provide complete details about the concept, goals, and it's operation. It is
important to have all your ducks in a row about what you plan to do. If you are heading up a community project for example,
knowing the potential impact on the community will help in convincing those giving out the money to approve yours. Make sure
that you also include all budgetary requirements of this project, including any that you plan to provide yourself. Sharing
the cost is a good way to show the government you are committed to the project and that you recognize their costs as well.
The best tip though is to be extremely careful that you follow the guidelines and make sure to apply to the right place.
Some grants go to the local government, rather than the national one. Applying to the wrong place, or not following
directions will only delay matters and make it more difficult to convince the issuers that you accomplish what want to do.
If you can't stay within the rules, then how can you be trusted with a large sum of money? The whole point is to shed a
positive light on you and the project. Getting it right, making sure it has the proper grammar and spelling, is a good
way to start. Again, a government guide can help keep you on track.
The other thing to pay attention to is any time deadlines that are listed. This is because the government may only have
money for a particular grant at a time, only to see it spent later on. By not filing by the deadline, you not only miss
having your project looked at, but it may be months to years or never before they get the money again. As the saying goes,
"Strike when the iron's hot."
The bottom line is believe in the project, work to make it happen, and you'll find that there is money out there to help
you accomplish your goals.
Government Grant Guide - Find out what grants are available and how to file for them!