Article - Government Grants - Government Grant Facts
Types of Government Grants
Government grants are financial assistance issued to both ordinary people and business owners by the federal government for different purposes like:
· Personal Needs: Buying or repairing houses, paying utility bills, mortgage payment, paying debts, childcare, general living expenses etc. · Businesses: Starting a new business or expanding an existing business. · Education: From preschool children and nursery level education to higher studies abroad.
Types of Government Grants
Five main types of government grants are awarded to US citizens of ages 18 or older, though eligibility criteria for each category vary. The five main categories are:
· Project Grants: These government grants are most common and are awarded on competitive basis. Most of project grants are issued for scientific research, education, social services, technological development, healthcare, and arts. · Formula Grants: These types of government grants are aimed at families bringing up children, and employment training programs. · Categorical Grants: One third of these are formula grants but these grants are all given for narrowly defined purposes like urban forestry assistance, abatement of certain types of hazards etc. · Block Grants: These government grants encompass categorical grants into one program like Mental Health Services Block Grant etc. · Earmark Grants: These are the most specialized form of government grants that are not awarded on a competitive basis. There has been controversial debate regarding the securing of these grants due to involvement of political lobbyists.
Eligibility
First of all you need to make sure you are eligible for US government grants. By US law, any adult (18 year or older) who is either a US citizen or a legal resident alien is eligible to apply for a government grant.
Grant Categories
There are more than 900 government grant programs that are offered by 26 federal agencies. US government grants are issued in 21 categories including Health, Education Regional Development, Science and Technology, Business and Commerce, Food and Nutrition, and so on.
Advice for Government Grants Seekers
Grants for Social Services
Grants for Social Services are mostly awarded for only one year. Seeing satisfactory performance, this can be renewed for up to 3 years. If you do not meet the necessary reporting deadlines, renewal is not granted.
Political Influence
Government grants may require political influence, requiring that you get some support from officially elected individuals.
Attending Workshops
If you understand the in-depth guidelines and narrowly defined criteria for applying to government grants, you have better chances of catching the grant. Thus you should attend the workshops for applicants conducted by federal agencies, even if they cost you traveling.
Follow Ups
To have a good idea of the ratio of applicants to that of grantees, follow up with the contact person in charge of the federal grant scheme. You will also become clear on the criteria of funding, deadlines, and other related issues.
Contacting Previous Grant Recipients
Try not to hesitate in contacting people who have previously received government grants. The situation of competition requires that you keep from seeking information from current grant applicants since they may misguide you (except people who are on intimate terms with you).
Tip: It can be hard to find direct sources of government grants, let alone a source that would actually consider your appplication. Recently I found a few websites that lay it all out for you, all the sources, websites and telephone numbers you need to apply to numerous agencies that offer any type of grants. I also found a great resource that takes you by the hand and tells you how to write the perfect grant application. I marked these websites with stars and you can see them below on this page.
Articles and Info
