Are there any reliable sources out there for grants?
2006-12-31 07:00:09 · 12 answers · asked by okwaho 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
YES -- There are grants. But not in the way advertised on TV.
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
The government is NOT in the business of giving away free money for the sake of giving away money. There are no grants for paying bills, no grants for paying off credit cards, no grants for getting out of debt and no grants for simply fattening your wallet.
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. Grants have objectives, and the grant applications that best captures the grant's objectives are approved.
There is a stringent review process through a committee composed of federal employees and selected experts in the field. 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.
2006-12-31 08:19:57 · answer #1 · answered by imisidro 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
any advertisement is likely selling something, they'll give you a book that tells you what a grant is and some examples of them. no ad is going to give you a grant or lead you to an application for one.
There are scientific grants, educational, even social and governmental, for example if you wished to open an orphanage or homeless shelter you could get social or govt grants,
You must convince people you can do this and already be working in the feild or fund raising. A scientist with a great idea that promises to better us all could get a grant or a private grant if he works for someone and promises the grant giver rights over the invention. educational grants are easier.
No ones going to give you money unless you are either well accomplished or a genius. While you don't have to give the money back they expect results, you can be sued if you missuse the money and spend it on something other than the orphans.
2006-12-31 07:10:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
One that I know of is a first time home buyer's grant by Fannie Mae. You sit through a class on how to buy a home, and buy it in one of the areas that they encourage, and there is a $2K grant that goes toward your closing costs.
Another is an educational grant. Check the University/college's financial aid department.
For anything else, try navigating www.grants.gov
2006-12-31 08:32:09 · answer #3 · answered by helblindison 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of the grants he speaks of are entitlement programs, for which most people do not qualify.
There are many sources for government grants for a myriad of purposes, such as the arts, education, environment, etc. Here's a site that lists a number of them:
http://www.grants.gov/
2006-12-31 07:11:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Grants are called that because you don't have to pay them back.
check the regular federal government sites for lists of grants. They are very hard to obtain because nobody likes to do all the paper work and some are only for certain sex's or ethnic groups.
2006-12-31 07:02:32 · answer #5 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of these grants have very specific criteria and are almost impossible to qualify for. You can try if you like. You have nothing to lose. A good rule of thumb is "You get nothing for nothing." You usually have to work to get what you want. Try that if it doesn't start raining hundred dollar bills over your house.
2006-12-31 07:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by Big R 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it sounds to good to be true, then its probably a bogus ad.Its like Ed mcmahon sending out them envelopes claiming that you have won a million dollars.I actually knew a guy that believed it.Gotta remember, this world revolves around money... you get nothing for nothing..just remember that. Best of luck.
2006-12-31 07:24:24 · answer #7 · answered by kleenkarsrus2003 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, but one must qualify for them first. Usually they are for low-income families. Personally, I think they are a bunch of crap because we tax-payers are the ones paying for them. And most of the time, those who get them, abuse them.
2006-12-31 07:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by MJ 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no there not real, i got the 70$ book at the library, not true at all....
2006-12-31 07:07:11 · answer #9 · answered by hazegrey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.
2006-12-31 07:07:09 · answer #10 · answered by theshadowknows 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋