Does anyone know how to start the process of getting a personal government grant?

Question

Has anyone received a grant without having to pay for the information?

OK, other than doing a search...has anyone actually successfully received a grant on their own WITHOUT having to purchase any "guides"? How did you do it?

Not welfare, that's public aide/assistance.

Government grants, they're are tons of them but a lot of these sites want you to buy some "guide".

Answer 1

I have received federal and private foundation grants -- not for myself but for non profits I worked with. The most recent was for a $500,000 grant for a social science database that I helped develop.

The government is NOT in the business of giving away free money for the sake of giving away money. Grants are free, but it means OBLIGATION. You will be obligated to do as the grant sets out to do. Grants have objectives, and your purpose must fit the objective of the grant.

For one, you have to write the grant application and the grant application is not a simple document - you have to explain how your purpose for applying for the grant fits well with the objectives set out by the grant.

There there is a stringent review process through a committee. You will compete with other applicants for the grant money, and this grant review committee will evaluate the merits of each proposal. Only those that they feel exemplifies the objective of the grant will be approved.

You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two FREE sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support your purposes.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.

Note though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants.

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

http://www.cfda.gov
http://www.grants.gov
http://gtionline.fdncenter.org
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

Answer 2

Contact your local city hall and ask for information as to how to request a grant. They should have a list of different government grants that you can choose from but be very careful as to the one you decide to apply for. Make sure to read ALL the fine print and make sure you understand what it states about paying it back.
Also it will depend on what you want the grant for that will determine is you qualify for it or not for that certain grant. It's all worth checking out and no, you should not have to pay to get the information from the court house and if you do there is something wrong with that department. That information is free for the asking.
Good luck.

Answer 3

You mean like welfare? Grants are usually for a reason and they are not personal unless you are making a documentary that i spersonal and has social, economical, historical and political implications.

Answer 4

Do a google search on "grant assistance" ... its a big headache to take the time and strength to do it yourself.

Answer 5

do a yahoo or google search for grant money

Answer 6

http://www.governmentgrantsresources.com/