Federal Funds for Organizations That Help Those in Need
Reposted from ww.whitehouse.gov

If you are in the business of caring for people in need, you need money to do your job. Chances are that if you had a little more money, you'd be able to help more people and do your work better. That's where Federal grants come into play. If you run an organization to help those in need, you may be eligible to receive Federal money through grant programs.
This booklet provides some basic information about the Federal grants process. It also lists close to 200 programs that may interest your organization. Grants programs are organized into general categories ranging from programs for elders and the homeless to those that serve at-risk youth and people making the transition from welfare to work.

How Federal Agencies Use Grant Money

The Federal government uses two kinds of grants:
Grants awarded by an agency of the Federal government (also known as 'discretionary' grants) - for instance, a homeless assistance grant given out by the Department of Health and Human Services to a homeless shelter. Grants that put Federal money in the hands of States, cities, or counties for them to distribute to charities and other social service providers, usually under their own rules and regulations (also known as 'formula' or 'block' grants). Therefore, you can apply directly to the Federal government or you can apply for funds to an entity that distributes money it receives from the Federal government.

An Important Point

More money is available from programs administered by States and localities than from the Federal government. For example, last year, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded significantly more money to States and localities, which in turn made much of the money available to non-governmental organizations, than it gave directly to grant applicants. So, in addition to finding out more about grants from the Federal government, you will probably want to look into partnering with your State and local government.

Identifying Federal Funding Opportunities

How can our organization find out about funding opportunities?
First, you must become familiar with what's available. The following list contains general information on close to 200 programs operated by multiple Federal agencies. Use this list as a starting point. If you find a program that interests you, you can get more information about when and how you can apply for funds from the agency contact in each listing or from the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or CFDA. To use the CFDA, locate the CFDA number at the end of each listing. Enter that number into the "program number" box on the CFDA's website http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/e2e53df4cab953c1a13766af5dde9d4ad8f66127.html). Agency websites also contain information on funding opportunities. In particular, faith-based and community groups should check for information on the website for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (www.fbci.gov), as well as on the websites for the Agency Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Many States and cities also have liaisons that can help faith-based and community applicants identify grant opportunities.

We've found some programs we're interested in. What's next?

All Federal grants have to be announced to the public. These announcements (sometimes called a "Program Announcement," "Request for Proposal," "Notice of Funding Availability," or "Solicitation for Grant Applications") are the government's way of looking for charities and other groups to provide a Federally-funded service. Each grant announcement will contain instructions on how to apply, including where to get an application packet, information the application should contain, the date the application is due, and agency contact information.
Grant announcements are issued throughout the year. Unfortunately, there is no single document that contains every Federal grant announcement and no uniform format for these announcements, although the President's Administration is working to change this. In the future, it hopes to have all Federal agencies publish grant announcements electronically, in a single format and on a single website (www.fedbizopps.gov).

Currently, most grant announcements are listed in the Federal Register, a daily publication that can be accessed on the Internet (http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/06864a6516073fa86caff0d97a97618d2f1622e6.html) and at major public libraries. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/2b6f2e3e02989f9243fcc98d1a9e67e8a6dcb71e.html) also contains information about grant announcements. You can also call the agency contact identified in the list that follows and ask that person how you can get a copy of the grant announcement.

How can our organization get more help?

Most Federal agencies have experts who are available to help organizations apply for and manage their grants. Applicants should call the contact identified in the grant announcement or contact an agency's regional office. These agency staff are available to answer questions over the phone. They may also refer applicants to local or nearby technical assistance workshops or to organizations that are under contract with the Federal government to provide this kind of assistance. A listing of agencies' regional and local offices can be found on the CFDA's website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/6cd2b01f27012e150e664445ac658c0f0b442db6.html).
Assistance may also be available from over thirty organizations funded by the Department of Health and Human Services's Compassion Capital Fund. These organizations help small faith-based and community organizations learn about the grants process. They may also help small groups with other challenges, such as training volunteers and staff or expanding the reach of the services they provide. They do this at no cost to your organization. You can learn more about the Compassion Capital Fund and the organizations it funds at www.fbci.gov or http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/621d71e132291a2c9e1e573337d6ab5b535f8d15.html.
In addition, for general questions about writing a grant proposal, many state governments and cities provide grantwriting workshops, as do a number of nonprofit organizations and foundations.

Also, be sure and check the information provided in the brochure Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government. That brochure is available directly from the White House Office, as well as at www.fbci.gov. It addresses some of the questions that are frequently asked by faith-based and community organizations that are interested in receiving government funds.
Finally, be sure to visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/ and the 7 Cabinet Centers' web sites regularly for new and useful information on navigating the grants process.

To Find Gauranteed Grant Funding Sources Click Here

"It is a common occurrence for funds to be returned at the end of the year because not enough people qualified for the grants available."

There was a time when the concept of free money was a very American notion. But, as the economy has tightened and budgets decreased, there are very few avenues towards capital to start up a new business that do not involve loans and interest. This makes the path towards financial independence all but impossible for many working Americans. However, the small business grant is still available (even in these very lean times!) as a potential source of funding for you dream of self-employment.

A small business grant is part of a program funded by the federal government which provides capital for start up businesses. Sometimes a small business grant will simply give the money to a recipient with no requirement of repayment. Other business grants will require you to repay them with a minimal amount of interest over a period of years. Whether or not a small business grant requires repayment will depend on the nature of the grant itself.

Obtaining a small business grant is certainly no simple matter. In truth, over a million applications are received every year with only hundreds being awarded. However, the fact that only a few hundred are awarded does not necessarily mean that the others were turned down for lack of funding. Quite the opposite, it is very common for a small business grant to be turned down due to filing mistakes as opposed to lack of funds. In fact, it is a common occurrence for funds to be returned at the end of the year because not enough people qualified for the grants available.

But, the government is not the only potential source of a small business grant. Businesses will frequently form a "private foundation" which is responsible for disbursing funds set aside for grants and other useful community needs. The incentive for a company to use a private foundation is simple: tax savings. A company will pay less in corporate taxes when it gives away a small business grant than if it merely reported the income. Therefore, the private business community is an excellent grant source and is expected to be so in the future unless the tax code is significantly altered.

The best way to ensure that your small business grant is approved is to be organized and very thorough in filling out the application. A winning small business grant will generally include a business plan that includes a detailed explanation of what funds are needed and why. But the most important thing to remember is to fill out the application thoroughly and exactly as directed. Attention to detail is what will separate the winners of a small business grant from the losers.

To Find Gauranteed Grant Funding Sources Click Here

About the Author

Small Business Grants Hub is an information site that contains links, a directory and other Small Business Grant Information. It can be found at: http://www.smallbusinessgrantshub.com

Federal grants are given by the federal government (of course!) to many different areas of need, with one purpose and that is to stimulate productivity within the country and the world from which they are counting on reaping more profits. Instead of the government saying to themselves “it is better to give than to receive,” they are saying instead—“it is better to receive than give but the only way we are going to receive maximally is by giving first and hopefully in relatively smaller amounts.

Federal grants are given for many different things including but not limited to the following: student financial aid, research, small businesses, the arts, agriculture, health care research and provision, economic incentives, real estate investing and improvement, public housing, disaster relief, transportation, etc. There are many different ways in which they are doled out with requirements for eligibility ranging from very specific to very general to none at all.

Typically there is an application process. For grants called “project” grants the applicants are competing against one another in terms of most worthy or most qualified to receive the money. This is based on the person or group’s past performance. These types include educational scholarships, research grants, and community development grants.

There are also federal grants that are based on need. Low income families are provided for in large part by grants that will go for employment training, transportation, food/nutrition, healthcare, and the like. These grants are often based on a list of requirements that are on a scale and determine how much a particular person, based on need, will receive in subsidy.

Federal grants are also given with the more direct idea of jump starting local economies and companies that will in return provide increased revenues for the government. These include small business grants, urban development grants (which try to lure money back into the downtowns of large cities again), real estate improvement, technology and other product development, and the like.

The thing to keep in mind is that this is money that as long as you are using it within the specific guidelines set forth is money that can make large profits for you and never has to be paid off. There are billions of dollars given away each year to people like you that get rich. Donald Trump is an excellent example of a guy that made his fortune using federal grants to get his start.

When not helping people get rich with government funding Abrahem Mittell is out on the Atlantic sailing. To find out more about federal grants go to www.allfederalgrants.info.

To Find Gauranteed Grant Funding Sources Click Here

Tips for Playing the Grant Game
By: Sam Weston

Depending on what kind of business you’re planning to start, you might be able to get a home business grant. These grants are usually government-issued. They are, effectively, ‘free money’ – as long as you use the money for what you say you’re going to use it for, you don’t ever have to pay it back.

Even if you don’t think you would qualify for anything, you might be able to modify your business plan subtly so that you do. Why Would They Do modify your business plan? Grant money is designed to encourage specific kinds of businesses – it will always be given to you for a very specific purpose. Also, grants almost never cover the full amount of whatever it is you want to do, leaving you to make up the rest yourself.

Note that not all grants come from the government

Some grants are given out by charities trying to further a cause, or by local community organisations. Areas commonly covered by grants include businesses that are exporting (every government wants exports to be more than imports), businesses that will provide training to their employees, businesses that are doing useful research and businesses that are providing services and jobs in places that are candidates for 'regeneration'.

You may also be able to find extra support for environmentally-friendly businesses, and if you're a woman or a member of an ethnic minority then that could qualify you for a grant too.

Training Grants. Grants for training are some of the best ones out there -- if you're planning to have any staff, you should really look into money grants. Basically, you get a grant towards the cost of sending some of your employees on a training course.

This is good for you, as you can train your employees more cheaply, and they'll do a better job afterwards. It's good for them, as they learn new skills or improve the ones they have and improve their career prospects for the future.

Finally, at least in theory, it's good for the economy, as there will be a greater diversity of skills available in the job market.

Research Grants. If your business is trying to solve a problem or develop an invention, you might be eligible for a research grant. This can be especially helpful for covering the costs of things like patent applications. Watch out, though -- application for research grants is some of the fiercest out there.

Location, Location, Location. Whatever kind of grant you're going for, the biggest factor in whether you get it will probably be where you're based. Grants tend to be locally-focused, and especially targeted in areas that are deemed to have a lacking economy. Since you're a home business, you might even find it worth researching what is available in each area, and moving home strategically.

It's Hard to Get a Grant. Beware of anyone who makes grants look easy. There are all sorts of ‘grant agencies’ who want to take a fee, and ‘guarantee’ that they’ll get you a grant. They won’t – as with almost all things like this, never pay up front. However tempting their offer might seem, you should be applying for the grants yourself. This will generally involve submitting your business plan plus a letter of about 1,000 words saying why you should get the grant in question -- you can't really use the same letter for each grant.

Pick what you apply for carefully, as it's a waste of time to apply when you don't meet the criteria properly. If you want to make sure you're applying correctly, the best thing to do is to phone up the organisation offering the grant -- they'll usually be eager to offer help and advice. Still, don't be upset if you don't get chosen, as it might just be that there were more qualifying candidates than there was money.

Other Benefits. Any grant you get is likely to bring you to the attention of some kind of agency or organisation who want to help you in other ways too. They might help you get onto courses if you're lacking any business skills, or even provide a mentor to guide you.

You might think it all sounds a little silly, but believe me, when you run a home business you need all the help you can get.

About the author:

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Rules for Getting Grant Funding



Welcome to the Money Grant Report.

Do you have a dream or an idea that needs funding? Are you passionate about starting a business, but you don't have the money to get your project out of the planning statges?

My parner and I were in the same position as you. We found some excellent money grant funding resources and we've decided to share them those resources with you. Thousands of people recieve millions of dollars to fund all sorts of things you may consider off the wall. The difference between the ones who get grant money and those who don't, is that the ones who get the money grants follow some simple rules.

1. Take Action:

A great person once said "you can't spend a should, you can only spend a did". I've often met people who want grants to magically appear in their email inbox. Money Grant Funding doesn't work that way. No one is going to know about your awsome idea or passion and decide that it's worthy of funding unless you 'sell them' on the idea. Learning the steps, investing your time and resources are the most effetive ways to take action.

2. Find a Mentor:

The best mentors are people who've been where you are now. They can help you discover the secrets and shortcuts that will save you time, money and frustration.

3. Be Persistent

You may be denied grant funding for a number of reasons. In some cases the budget may have been allocated to other candidates. In other cases you may not qualify for the sources of funding offered. The key is to make sure that you keep learning, searching and applying.

To Find Gauranteed Grant Funding Sources Click Here