I have been searching for grants and even bought a useless cd. Does anyone know of a quicker and easier way?

Question

I am looking for a grant to help me pay for bills and my house. I am a single mother with a very busy life and don't have the time or the flexability for another job in my life right now. Does anyone know where and how I can find and apply for a grant. The cd's on the internet are basically worthless.

Answer 1

First off, let me warn you that there are many companies out there promising grants for starting a business or paying off bills but are in effect SCAMS. You may want to read the warnings FTC has issued against these "grant" companies:

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/03/grantresources.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt134.htm

Here is also one of the warnings issued by the Better Business Bureau http://www.concord.bbb.org/tips_timesharescams.html

Contrary to what is being advertised on TV or in CDroms, 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. That's why the CDROM you purchased is worthless because it misrepresents what grants are.

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 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 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

Answer 2

Many people who look for grants are looking for something for nothing and unfortunately, you don't get something for nothing. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forward, go to school at night, get more training, cut back on everything or get a second job. When in debt, YOU have to work yourself out of it. That doesn't mean you have to go it alone, but you still have to do the work. Set an example for your kids by being frugal, working harder or longer or at a second job or even, get a better paying job. If you would like a real example of a single father doing what you need to do, just email me and I'll tell you a good story.

Answer 3

You should consider applying for a one time TANF grant. At least that is what its called in Texas. Go to your state's department of health and human services website to search see if they offer benefits for lower income families. That's where I would start.

Answer 4

it mite be confusing but id say check out HUD.gov and go from there.