Finding Government Grants What You Need To Know

Finding Government Grants: What You Need to Know

Free money is something we all hope for. It is rare to come across, but some individuals and organizations can get free money from the government. This free money comes in the form of government grants. If you would like to find and apply for government grants, but are doing so for the first time, you should know some things.

Government grants are not 100% free money. Yes, you do get free money if awarded a government grant. There are however, strings attached. Grants serve many purposes. Some grants want to improve the health of Americans, reduce youth violence, curb the climate control problem, and improve the economy as the whole. To do that, certain steps must be taken. If you win a government grant, you cannot use the money however you see fit. It must be used according to the stimulations set forth by the grantor, the individual, company, or government organization giving you the money.

You can be charged for theft by misusing government grant money. Some individuals are so desperate for free money they will do just about anything. This includes faking documents, misrepresenting themselves, or even starting a fake non-profit organization. If you are in dire need of financial assistance, contact your local bank for a loan, speak to friends and family, or make use of financial assistance programs offered by local, state, and federal governments. Do not lie to get a grant. You misuse the funds. This is considered theft. Not only can you be charged, but you will need to repay the money too.

Now that you know exactly what government grants are and that they come with rules and restrictions, are you still ready to find government grants? If so, continue reading on for some helpful tips.

The best way to find government grants is to visit Grants.gov. This website is free, safe, and easy to use. It is not a paid membership website or the product of a late night infomercial. Government officials operate the website, meaning you get up-to-date and accurate information. If you have never visited the website before, take a few minutes to look around. Familiarize yourself with website features, the different methods of searching or browsing for grants, and so forth. In just a few minutes, you will see how easy it is to get the information you need.

While on the government grants website, perform an advanced search. This search allows you to enter in your eligibility. For example, if you are individual looking for grants on turning your home green, select individual and so forth. Make sure you check the box for open grants only. This automatically eliminates grants in which it is too late to apply.

As previously stated, Grants.gov is your best resource for finding legitimate government grant opportunities. Not many individuals think of government grants. If you are an individual and not a non-profit organization member, you may have seen an advertisement on a late night infomercial or an advertisement online. Avoid these. Remember, Grants.gov is free and easy to use. You will waste your money by paying for a “professional,” product or service. When apply for government grants, the only instance in which you should pay money is if a full grant proposal is required. If you are unfamiliar with grant writing or worry about your writing ability, consider hiring a professional grant writer. Otherwise, save your money and head directly to Grants.gov.

Most importantly, you need to find government grants; they do not come to you. The only instance in which you may be provided with information on a grant is if another well-known non-profit organization in the area was reviewing the database and saw a grant that your non-profit organization could qualify for, but not theirs. They will likely provide you with a link to the Grants.gov website and nothing more. This is done out of the kindness of their heart. Anything else is likely a scam. Do not fall victim to scammers who phone or email you claiming you qualify for a government grant, which they will help you apply for with a small processing fee.