Do You Need Help With Paying Back Your Student Loans?

A national organization provides for the repayment of educational loans for health professionals who agree to serve in a health manpower shortage area.

Priority is given to primary care physicians, dentists, certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, and physicians assistants.

The money can be used to repay student loans.

The amount of money available per professional is up to $25,000 a year during the first two years of practice and $35,000 for each year after that.

You can contact the organization and find out more about this grant program by visiting their website.

Here Is Yet ANOTHER Grant Program For The Individual Artist

One artist who received the $25,000 grant said, "I've been working multiple jobs to get by, so it means a chance to take more time for my personal writing. It will be huge for my development over the next year."

The grant organization has already announced $450,000 in grants to 18 literary and performing artists.

The $25,000 no-strings grant awards were designed to give artists the financial breathing room to focus on their art.

The grant recipients are also afforded professional development services to help with their career-building.

2010 Grant Recipients include:

• novelists
  
  
• poets
  
  
• an art critic
  
  
• a flamenco choreographer
  
  
• songwriters working in hip-hop and garage-punk
  
  
• a R&B, hip-hop and spoken-word performer

The organization hopes these grant awards act as a catalyst for culture by inspiring artists to do their best work. Says another grant recipient, "the grant offers some real financial independence, and at least for the next year I'll be set." Another of the grant recipients plans on investing much of his grant money into securing a permanent artistic home. He's also planning on buying his first professional-quality bass. The organization also also bestows an annual artist grant of $50,000. This year's round of grant recipients were selected from 350 applicants by panels of national and local experts. The awards were limited to artists who create their own work as opposed to interpretive artists like dancers, actors and musicians who are not composers. However, the latter group, as well as filmmakers, may be deemed eligible for future grants as the program develops. For more information about this grant program just click here.

Are You Looking For An Investor?

There is one such organization which is a national venture capital firm currently managing $170 million of private equity investments.

Since forming its first fund this organization has played a leadership role in providing venture capital to more than 30 emerging technology companies.

This organization identifies its investments by partnering leading universities, research institutions and companies together and commercializing their technological advancements. Their portfolio of investments includes a concentration of early stage companies whose technologies address large, well recognized problems or transform existing health care and technology markets.

The fund's managers are committed to making their investments a long term success and bringing important new technologies to market.

The fund concentrates on the untapped markets of the Midwest and Southern California, but does exclude the strategic opportunities offered by the Bay Area and Boston.

For more information on the fund, click here.

You can also contact this organization by phone.

Grant Program To Help Pay Your Hospital Bill!

Do you need help with paying your hospital bill?

Last year one organization provided over $75,000 in grants for more than 100 individual applicants! The grant program was put in place to help eligible patients pay their hospital bills. So far this year, the organization has paid over $20,000 in grants that benefited 57 patients!

However the number of applicants has been far exceeding the amount of money that the organization can give.

This particular grant program is funded by a trust fund's will. The terms of the will stipulated that the interest from the trust be used "to help pay for operations and hospital attendance for poor and needy persons at the organization's namesake hospital.

There's now a formal application process and income guidelines to determine who is eligible to be considered for a grant.

To find out more about this grant program and its eligibility requirements, just click here.

Here Is An Indirect Way To Receive A Grant

One of the ways that you can indirectly get a grant is if you have some field of expertise you may be able to hire yourself out as a consultant of some kind!

Many municipalities receive government grants for financial support when they have problems that they have to take care of.

For instance one area will be receiving a $250,000 grant so that they will be able to hire a consultant to help reduce energy consumption and costs in the area.

This grant comes from leftover federal stimulus money that was distributed last year.

This grant program is to help benefit a number of towns in one area. The consultant that the grant program will pay for will either be a consulting firm or an individual who for will spend one day each week in one of the towns. The position will last for two years and will be at no cost to the taxpayer.

One of th town councilman said he would like to see some report from the town on the progress of the consultant. The town also said it would like to use the hiring of the consultant to help pursue other grants in the future.






Remember government grants really are free money that you do not have to pay back!

Here Is Yet ANOTHER State Grant Program For Individual Artists!

Here is yet ANOTHER grant program available for the individual artist!

For all of the 26 grant reipients, the grants will also facilitate the creation of their finished artwork.

So far this year, this organization has awarded more than $100,000 to artists around the state. Announced earlier this year, this year's grants consist of one distinguished artist award of $25,000, 20 project awards of up to $5,000, and eight fellowship awards of $12,000.

Past grant recipients include a musician, an interior artist and a painter. One recipient said that he will use his grant money to travel to places he's been and those he's wished to go, painting as he goes. Another grant recipient is going to use their grant money to build a studio on his property.

A lot of the grant recipients are also teachers as well!

This is just another very good example of "free money" - money which is given to the individual that does not have to be paid back!

Another Grant Program For INDIVIDUAL Artists!

Here is YET another grant program for individual artists!

A not-for-profit organization has announced an awards program for individual artists!  This organization helps the careers of individual visual artists..  Their  mission is to provide individual artists with grants, travel stipends, and subsidized artist live/workspace!

Graduate students, and emerging artists to mature artists are eligible for consideration!

Open to ALL US and international artists!

A minimum of two $3,500.00 grants will be awarded in 2010 and the grants can be used at the discretion of the artist - meaning that the artist can spend their grant money in any way that they want!

Submissions must include ten jpegs (up to 1800 dpi) of current work and a resume. Artists working in any medium may apply!  Applicants are required to apply online through the organization's website.

Looking For Investors?

Here is an excerpt:

"What you have to do is go find investors. I do know that there are still investors - and even angel investors around - but they don't advertise a lot - could you imagine the number of emails they would get if they did! I know of at least one blog that has mentioned that there was one guy looking for great ideas and he was willing to invest in them.

There are lists of online investors, angel investors and even venture capitalists - but you are going to have to go online and do some research to find them but they are out there!"

Minority Students Are Not Applying For Scholarships!

Here is an excerpt from an email that I received:

Education Scholarships

The following information is very informative - Please pass it on to schools in the county coordinator's district and to anyone who can use it. It would be great to open these sites and actively pursue Black children who qualify. It's money dedicated to the education of our youth

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE NOT APPLYING!

Even if you do not have a college-aged child at home, please share this with someone who does. Though there are a number of companies and organizations that have donated monies for scholarships to be used by African Americans, a great deal of the money is being returned because of a lack of interest!

No one is going to knock on our doors and ask if we can use a scholarship. Take the initiative to get your children involved. There is no need for money to be returned to donating companies because we fail to apply for it.

Please pass this information on to family members, nieces, nephews, friends with children etc. We must get the word out that money is available!

If you are a college student or getting ready to become one, you probably already know how useful additional money can be. Our youth really could use these scholarships.

To see and receive a listing of the organizations that are providing the scholarships just click here.

Football Grants For High School!

There is one organization that offers a variety of opportunities for community groups and schools to receive help with both football and non-football related projects.

This financial aid can come in the form of direct grants or through a more centralized support for programs championed by individual players or teams.

Throughout the off-season and on days off, players and teams are encouraged to give their time and practical assistance to programs designed to improve their community.


A number of formal grants exist!

• Grants are available to former NFL players currently serving as coaches in high school football programs, and range from $2,500-$10,000.
  
  
• another grant program allows current and former NFL players to apply for up to $4,000 to support free football camps and clinics.
  
  
• Yet another program aims to provide financial and technical assistance to schools and non-profit community groups seeking to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields. The first part of the funding is designed to help with general field support, which includes irrigation, bleacher construction and light installation. The second part of funding is reserved for improvements to field surfaces. (In 2007, this program awarded over $2 million dollars worth of grants for upgrades to field surfaces
  
  
• Individual grants of up to $200,000 are also available!

Individual teams may also offer grants or assistance to schools on a one-time or regular basis. For example, one grant program offers a grant of $3,000 to school players who've organized their own community programs.

To find out more about these programs you can visit this website.

Grant Programs For Musicians!

Here are a few examples of some grant programs that are currently being offered for musicians:

• $3,000 grant program to provide professional mentorship to three emerging operatic composers who are writing new works for full professional production.
  
  
• $5,000 to support a Fellowship that will provide a residency of up to 2 months for an emerging composer.
  
  
• $2,000 to support an outreach program in rural communities that brings music education and songwriting to K-12 students.
  
  
• $2,500 to support the mentoring of promising young songwriters by professional members. The project will result in a CD compilation of 5 original songs and a showcase of the works at a local theatre.
  
  
• A scholarship program is currently being offered. This scholarship is presented annually to an African-American college or university student majoring in music who demonstrates musical talent and proficiency in certain areas:
  
  
  • composing
    
  • arranging
    
  • producing
    
  • conducting
    
  • performing

What Kind Of Non-Profit Organizations Receive Grants?

Over 50 local groups are being offered grants in a specific grant program that is aimed at more rural areas!

This "free grant money" was funded by taxpayers in the local rural areas!.

The grants are going to a wide range of community, environmental, cultural and recreational groups. Also being supported are a handful of organizations based in the local municipalities that offer facilities or services used by the rural taxpayers as well. Examples include a theater company and an art gallery.

The grants were all recently approved at one of the monthly meetings of the regional district board, based on the joint recommendations of the local rural directors.

Here is a partial listing of some of the organizations that will be receiving their grants:

• A local garden society will use their $1,5000 grant money to assist with the installation of an automatic underground irrigation system
  
  
• Another organization will use their $2,000 grant award to help pay insurance costs
  
  
• a local are project received a $200 grant that will go towards cultivating vegetables locally
  
  
• a local church received a $200 that they will use towards operating expenses
  
  
• a local art gallery will use their $4,000 grant towards operating expenses
  
  
• another organization received a $6,000 grant to help assist with educating and promoting their agricultural community
  
  
• a local farmer's market will use their $3,000 grant towards operating expenses
  
  
• a rugby club will use their $900 grant to assist with the formation of a mini's program and continuation of a juniors program
  
  
• a historical museum society organization received a $5,000 grant that they will use towards their operating expense.
  
  
• another historical organization will receive a $1,500 grant that they will use to help and to assist with the development and publishing of promotional and educational content ($1,500)
  
  
• a community library will receive a $500 grant that they will use to assist with book purchases
  
  
• a $2,000 daycare grant was awared to a daycare-related organization that they will use to help pay for exterior building improvements
  
  
• a local festival organization will use their $2,000 grant to help with their annual festival
  
  
• a local animal organization will use their $300 grant towards spaying and neutering feral cats ($300)

These are examples of the kinds of non-profit organizations that have (and are) received grant money. If you have a similar kind of organization then you can see from the list above the kinds of non-profit organizations that can receive grants.

But please be aware that there are also grant programs available for for-profit businesses as well!

Free or Low-Cost Dental Care?

It seems that so many people are searching for free or low-cost dental care. Here is a link to my blog posts relating to grant programs that provide free or low-cost dental services!

Here Is A Grant Program For Your Small Business!

So many times you will read that there are no grants for for-profit businesses but here is yet another example of a "free money grant program for for-profit businesses!

Here is a new grant program that will be starting later next year!

Over $200 Million Dollars has been allocated for this new grant program!

What is this new grant program? Well I have said many times before that grant programs are created to bring awareness to a particular subject and this is a very good example of exactly that!

In order to bring awareness to living a more healthier lifestyle this particular grant program will provide cash grants to small businesses that provide some sort of wellness and / or prevention programs for their employees! These kinds of programs can include:

• nutrition
  
  
• smoking cessation
  
• physical fitness
  
• stress management

Companies with fewer than 100 employees qualify for the grants, which will be administered by the government, but only new wellness initiatives -- those launched after March 23, 2010, the date the heath reform bill was enacted -- are eligible.

Do You Need A Used Car For Transportation?

If you are in need of a car to help you get to and from work then you should know that there is an organization that has a program for this!

This organization is highly known for its work in helping people become self reliance and productive. Their program gives, excellent condition used cars to people without transportation in order for them get to work and keep their jobs!

In order to apply for this program you will need:

• Proof off a job
  
  
• Provide proof of Employment - in order to qualify for the program you must be working and are in danger of losing employment, because of difficulty or inability to get to work. You must provide proof of your situation. Your job must employ you for at least thirty to forty hours each week.
  
  
• Prove Need - In order to qualify your job must also be in a location where there is no bus or train service, to and from your place of employment.
  
  
• Proof of Income - This program is for families who are underemployed and earn a wage that is considered below the US standard of living.

Grant Program To Help Fund School Field Trips!

Did you know that there is a free grant program that provides funding for school field trips?

There is an organization that has provided more than 400,000 students the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences at thousands of unique destinations. This year over $1 million dollars will be awarded to educators nationwide to fund 5,000 field trips.

So far over $9 Million Dollars in grants has been awarded providing over a million students with the opportunity to experience learning outside the classroom!

Grant applications for 2010 will be available August 2010! You can find out more information about these grants by going to their website.

Individual Artists Are Being Asked To Apply For This Grant Program!

During the year artists are being asked to apply for this grant program.

There is a restriction on the location but if you are a resident or are a resident in a nearby county then you may be eligible to apply for this grant program.

The organization that sponsors this grant program provides financial support to committed, gifted individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists.

The grant is awarded to projects that promise to advance the career of the artist or groups of artists in the following disciplines:

• Music Composition
  
• Film/Video
  
• Literature/Playwriting
  
• Choreography/Dance
  
• Visual Art/Craft

Guidelines and applications are available online.

According to a spokesperson for this grant program, "There are not many opportunities for artists to obtain assistance for something that relates directly to their career advancement. We urge artists in the region to look at the guidelines to see if there is an opportunity here for them."

Here is a smaller grant program for individual artists!

Here is yet another grant program for individual artists!

Please be advised that this is an announcement of a NEW grant program!


This local grant program for artists will distribute $7,500 through 10 grants to individual artists for various projects!

According to the grants director, "I’m seeing a trend in better prepared proposals from artists. The imaginative projects being submitted for grants reflect an increasingly sophisticated arts community here whose offerings stimulate both economic and cultural growth.”

These grants are an investment in human capital, providing direct support to individual artists and arts professionals for projects and activities that have the potential to advance their careers and build their capacity for future work. The grants are awarded three times each year!

Here is a listing of a few of the previous grant recipients:

• One jewelery artist received $1,000 that will help her to acquire special plating equipment required to create new work that explores a fusion of fine jewelry and fashion. The artist is a jewelry designer interested in challenging traditional concepts of wearable fashion and body adornment. Her inspiration stems mainly from nature and aquatic life.
  
  
• A painter has received a $500 grant will help partially fund printing a catalog of an exhibition that will be used to promote the work of participating artists
  
  
• A playright has received a $500 grant to help create a new multi-media performance work. The grant money received will help the playright acquire video equipment to be used for this and future productions
  
  
• a professional dancer and actress Marisa has received a $750 grant to produce a show featuring her troupe of local performance artists.

Applications for this grant program are reviewed and approved three times over the course of each year, so there are opportunities to apply every four months!

Applications should be for projects and activities occurring between the dates of July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.

This artist funding program raises new money to support a wide range of arts organizations and programs. Its purpose is to provide stable sources of new financial support for the arts, broaden access to high-quality arts experiences, and sustain excellence in the arts and arts administration.

For more information about this grant program please be sure to visit their website.

You can also contact them via phone and / or by email.

State Grant Program For Starting Or Expanding A Farm!

$100,000 Grant Program Announced For Farmers

Although this is not a new government grant program, they have added additional funding!




In an effort to assist with the challenges associated with starting or expanding a farming or ranching operation one state Commissioner has announced the addition of an additional $100,000 in grants through one of the state's grant programs. This grant program program, which has already awarded $100,000 to 13 eligible farmers is designed to help young farmers enter or enhance a production agriculture career!

Says the Commissioner, "As our population increases, we must do what we can to recruit new agriculture producers and assist current ones with expanding operations to meet the growing demand on our food and fiber supplies. Starting a career in production agriculture is a huge financial investment, and through this grant program we can help give young farmers the capital they need to start or expand much-needed operations.”

These grants are available to individuals who are at least 18, but younger than 46.

Applicants must make dollar-for-dollar matching expenditures to sustain, create or expand the proposed projects.

The individual grant limit per application is $10,000!

The rising age of state farmers, combined with the small number of young people choosing farming as an occupation, raises concerns about whom will fill the gaps of providing food and fiber in the future and that is why this grant program is so important.

In addition to this grant program the state includes 3 programs designed for eligible applicants who wish to establish or enhance their farm or ranch operation, or establish agriculture-related businesses:

• This loan program provides guarantees based on a tiered structure not to exceed $750,000 or 70 percent of the loan amount, whichever is less. The program also provides an interest rebate of up to $5,000 per year to eligible borrowers as part of the guarantee process.
  
  
• Another program can facilitate commercial lending that may result in below-market interest rates. Eligible applicants must intend to use the proceeds under this program in a manner that will help foster the creation and expansion of an agricultural business in the state.
  
  
• This program offers young farmers greater rate reductions. The program is open to any person at least 18, but younger than 46, who proposes to use the proceeds to help foster the creation and expansion of an agricultural business in the state.

For more information about this and other grant programs, visit the website and click on Grants/Funding.

$50,000 Grant Program For Writers!

There is a foundation for writers that has a grant program that helps to support individual writers whose work addresses contemporary visual art.

The grant awards range from $3,000 to $50,000!

Writers who meet the program’s eligibility requirements are invited to apply in the following categories:

• Articles
  
• Blogs
  
• Books
  
• New and Alternative Media
  
• Short-Form Writing

For guidelines and additional eligibility requirements, please visit their website.

Another source of money is unclaimed money. You can find out more information at the The Unclaimed Money Blog.

Grant Program(s) For Rescue Animals?

I tried sending this person a private reply but for some reason it wouldn't go through so I decided to post it here:

my friend has an animal rescue program. She has rescued some horses and donkeys whose owners either didnt have the time to trim the hooves( have you ever seen a horse with hooves so long they look like a pair of skis?) or they didnt know how to train the horses( and donkeys) how to stand still for a farrier.



She has looked at the animal rescue grant sites, and has reported to me that these sites want money . Money she just doesnt have. Besides needing money for her rescue operation, she also needs money to pay a mortgage off on her home. A relative of hers took out the mortgage without her knowledge. I guess the pay off is quite high.

I want to help my friend as much as I can. I realize she needs to fill out the forms herself, but if I can find these No Fee for application grants, then I will have done my part.

The sites that you are talking about are third-party sites - meaning they are asking a fee because they are asking you to pay for the work that they have done to find the information. All you have to do is to just find the information yourself. This is how grantwriters and other companies find the information and you can do the same thing.

There are legitimate equine-related grant programs out there. Here is an excerpt from this blog:

State-Wide Equine Grant Program


equine - of or relating to the horse

By law, the funding for this particular grant program must go to support "equine research, education and promotion". Any group, individual, company or institution may apply for funding. Preference will be given to projects benefiting the largest number of people/horses. Grants to institutions and individuals will be related to equine research, education and industry enhancements and promotion.”

Over $70,000 has been already awarded from funding from this grant program. The awards went to projects in nine communities and were presented at the state's Horse Fair.

A detailed research application is available (as well as a shorter project application) via the website or you can contact the program directly by phone.

Grant recipients included:

• Over $8,000 was received for equipment to help with volunteers for trail construction, reconstruction and maintenance at a national forest and nearby private property trails. "Hardening of the trails to withstand traffic without trail tread failure, muddiness or erosion is an increasingly important consideration,” according to one of the grant recipients. Equipment being funded includes packsaddles with gravel bags for use in wilderness areas, and a hydraulic gravel-hauling wagon for use in non-wilderness areas.
  
  
• A therapeutic horseback riding center received $8,000 toward its barn and paddock restoration project.
  
  
• One of the fairgrounds was given $7,800 to improve arena fencing and footing, re-establishing safety at the site for the many groups that use the public facility. During the severe flooding in the area during the summer of 2008, the grounds were used as a staging area for sand-bagging and other flood-fighting activities. Fencing around the area is used metal pipe, donated 20 years ago, and now rusted to ruin. Like many other projects supported, volunteers will remove old and install new fencing at the grounds.
  
  
• First steps for a new Riding Center are being funded with a $14,000 grant. The project is part of a 10-year master plan by the Advisory Committee, which requested help in creating a 7-acre turn out pasture to serve boarders and show participants, along with refurbishing access roads and ultimately a new indoor and outdoor arena and boarding facilities for 52 horses at the facility. The area has more than five miles of wooded and natural prairie trails.
  
  
• Another grant recipient received $7,200 to enhance and expand its 12-year-old ongoing training program for first response personnel who may serve at equestrian accident scenes. The objective is to develop basic familiarity in how to safely handle horses under crises conditions.
  
  
• One University staff member received $3,000 for the promotion of Natural Horsemanship Training Methods. “Natural Horsemanship" is the term coined to describe a method of two-way communication between horse and human that is cooperative in nature. It differs from the more traditional, coercive-type horse training methods in that it offers options to the horse and encourages the horse to choose the desirable option rather than forcing the horse into a single, dictated action.
  
  
• A saddle club received $9,000 for their club’s arena and grounds project. Included in the grant is funding for road repair and a public address system and upgrades to arena and driveways at the site, which hosts 10 to 15 fun, pleasure and speed shows annually, as well as being used by many clubs. The PA system is a valuable aid in safely controlling equestrian and spectator traffic.
  
  
• Investigators from a university of Veterinary Medicine received $11,300 to study the effects of hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone alone and in combination on synovitis of equine stifle (which treatment option is best for painful, often debilitating osteoarthritis in a horse’s knee joint). In horses, osteoarthritis is more common and has greater economic impact than acute traumatic injuries or respiratory disease. It is a major source of debilitating pain, economic loss and decreased athleticism in the performance horse noting that 70% of the state's horses are used for recreation or showing.

As you can see this is a legitimate grant program, it's not asking you for any fees and they have a website where you can find out more information about their organization and their grant program.

The information is out there you just have to do the work to find it.

State Charities Are Being Invited To Apply For A $100,000 Grant!

As I have stated many times before there are lots of grant programs that are looking for eligible applicants! Here is an example of another one!

This free grant program is open to 501(c)(3) organizations located within the state. Your non-profit organization must be focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of:

• Childhood health and education -- Projects or initiatives that seek to improve health and academic achievement of children through the educational landscape
  
  
• Family wellness and active lifestyles -- Projects or initiatives that strengthen the health of families through physical, social, mental, emotional, or environmental support
  
  
• Health literacy for diverse populations and seniors -- Projects or initiatives dedicated to improving people's ability to access, understand, and use health information, especially low income populations, and seniors

Said one spokesperson for the grant program, "The economy has left many of the nation's nonprofit organizations struggling for financial support to keep up with the increased demand of those in need.

The organization that is sponsoring this grant program to inspire others to lend a hand to the organizations that make a difference in promoting healthy lives and a healthy community.

A panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, will work with the grant program to select the $100,000 grant winner. Finalists will make a formal presentation before the panel of community-leader judges. The winner will be announced at a celebratory dinner Friday, October 8.

Past grant recipients include:

• a nonprofit organization committed to fostering the physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth of young children with special needs
  
  
• a nationwide nonprofit (with a chapter in the state), which had started a program for new parents.

If your non-profit organization is located in the state (or has a local chapter in the state) then you are encouraged to visit the grant program's website to download a copy of this year's application and review program guidelines. Questions can also be directed to the grant program by phone or by e-mail.

Grants Program For Individual Artists Is Getting It's Funding Back!

You may find it hard to believe but there are still some grant programs around for individual artists! Some of them are for local artists in local areas but there are other grant programs for artists that are on a more national level!



After receiving protests from hundreds of people, a senate appropriations chairman has announced that a grant program for individual artists will be getting its grant fundingback.

Even though there will be a cut in the amount received the grant program will still continue to operate.

Initially the money would have been transferred to another department who would have them given grants to local communities and the rest of the money would be used for other government services.

However after being "bombarded by e-mails from people complaining about the proposed demise of the program a different decision was made!

More information about this grant program:

This grant program administers grants for local communities and individual artists, devoting much of its focus on smaller communities that provide little in local funds. These smaller grants often form the match required for the programs to receive much larger federal grants.

In some ways this is a very good example of people being able to voice their opinions and have them heard and actually get results!

Another Available Grant Program For Farmers!

I mentioned on a previous post about there being a grant program for farmers and here is yet another example of a government grant program that is also being made available for farmers!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture already has a free government grant program for farmers. This program offers farmers small grants
to carry out on-farm, practical research, and then to make the results available to their peers.

This specific government grant program, while small in scale, can have a big impact, since they enhance the knowledge and resources that farmers already have, while providing incentive for sharing these with the wider farm community.

One farm that has participated in this grant program has said that they have not only benefited from the free money grant themselves but they have also benefited from the results of other farmers’ projects. As an example the farm converted one of their tractors to run on electric power thanks to the do-it-yourself guide produced by a fellow vegetable-grower who also participated in the grant program.

Another source of "free money" is unclaimed money. Unclaimed money is money that has not been claimed. It may be available as a forgotten bank account or it can be from a number of sources! You may even have money coming to you if you are a relative of a deceased person and there is money from that person's estate that has not been claimed yet! For more information about unclaimed money just visit my blog The Unclaimed Money Blog.

State Grant Program For Those Who Plan On Attending College In That State!

This grant awards grant money to state residents who are attending or planning to attend colleges in that state. The amount of the grant(s)go up to a maximum of almost $3,000! And this grant program is available annually!

Students must be full-time undergraduates enrolled in an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program.

You can find out more about this grant program by visiting their here.

Grants help residents become homeowners!

Residents are benefiting from a federal program to help save neighborhoods -- and make home ownership a reality for many for the first time!

Though time is running out for these areas to spend millions of federal stimulus dollars buying and renovating abandoned and foreclosed homes in neighborhoods hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis.

Some cities are buying foreclosed properties and fixing them up to sell or rent.

Others are providing grants to low- and moderate-income home buyers to use for down payments and repairs on foreclosed homes they purchase.

Either way, the ultimate goal is the same: to save neighborhoods from a glut of neglected, foreclosed homes, condos and town houses; put more property tax dollars in government coffers; and make home ownership a reality for people who may be buying for the first time.

About five months remain for the county and cities to dole out their shares of federal aid from a program which is an offshoot of a previous government grant program.

The federal government gave U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money to help communities deal with the rising number of foreclosed vacant properties.
The money trickled down to states, counties and cities. Any money not committed by the end of August goes back into federal coffers unless Congress extends the program! That spend it or lose it aspect has local housing officials scrambling to wrap up everything on time.

"We're on a short time frame but our goal is still to help as many people as we can and spend all of the money we were given," said a spokesperson for the program. So far the agency has assisted in the purchase of at least 61 properties with another 26 under contract waiting to close.

With foreclosure rates among the nation's highest, the need to turn around blighted neighborhoods is crucial, officials have said. Nationally, the federal government set aside about $4 billion for this free government grant program, but only a third of the 300 local governments that received grants have made a dent in them, according to HUD.

Part of the problem has been that investors with fistfuls of cash scoop up foreclosed properties before buyers in the program have a chance to get them.
Earlier this month, HUD eased the program's rules to allow homes in mortgage default and uninhabitable homes with lingering code violations to be purchased instead of having to wait for the foreclosure to go through, which can take months.

To qualify for this financial assistance program, the home, condo, town house or villa must be in the target area designated by that city; it must be a foreclosed property or one in the process of foreclosure; and a buyer must attend a home-buyer counseling course paid for by the program before purchasing a home.

In addition, buyers can earn no more than 120 % of the specific areas' annual median income to be considered for a financial grant.

Some properties will be reserved for families earning as little as $38,250 and individuals making $26,800.

The down payment and repair assistance comes in the form of a forgivable no-interest loan that doesn't have to be paid back as long as the buyer lives in the house for a certain number of years, which varies by city. The range is typically between five and 15 years. Cities vary in the amount of money they offer for down payments and repairs. Some cities set a maximum purchase price for a home to be eligible for a grant, say at $250,000, but other cities don't have that limit.

For one lucky recipient buying a town house would have been impossible without a big boost from the city. The 45-year-old mother and her teenage daughter moved into a town house in September. The city gave her $25,000 for a down payment to buy the foreclosed property, which sold for its listing price of $94,900. The single mother
figures she is saving $400 a month by owning instead of renting. She said the program is a lifesaver! "There's no way I could have put the traditional 10 percent down and qualified to own this place on my own," she said.

She is also hoping to receive grant money for renovations. Before she moved in, she had to buy appliances, light fixtures, an air-conditioning compressor and paint.

Recently, one area increased the amount of their purchase assistance and expanded its target area to cover almost the entire city. Low-income households can now qualify for a maximum of $50,000 for a down payment and repairs, double the previous amount of $25,000, which is available to moderate and middle-income households.

Among the biggest challenges for low- to moderate-income buyers in the government program is increasing competition from private investors.

Says another prospective buyer, "We could never afford to buy a house now without this help. The married couple now rents a small apartment and considers now a great time to buy because prices are down, the market is still flooded with homes for sale and interest rates are still low but nudging higher.

Getting a federal tax credit is another incentive for buyers in the program. First-time buyers can get a tax credit of up to $8,000, and existing homeowners up to $6,500.

There is also another program that has $2.3 million to spend on purchase assistance and repairs!

Grant Program To Grow Speciality Crops!

One state will be receiving a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture and they will be using this grant to provide a grant program of their own! They are extending an open invitation for proposals!

The USDA encourages projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:

• Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops
  

• Improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems
  

• Investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes
  

• Enhancing food safety
  

• Developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops
  

• Pest and disease control
  

• Development of organic and sustainable production practices of specialty crops
  

• Increasing the competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American and disadvantaged farmers. This may include developing local and regional food systems, and improving food access in underserved communities

Grant funds must be used for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops or that benefit a specialty crop industry as a whole.

Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encourged to participate as project partners.

A very detailed manual of general program information, application instructions, scoring criteria for applications received and an application template has been prepared. It can be found on their website. While the website provides all of the information listed below, here is a highlight of some of the provisions:

• Eligible crops that are classified as ‘specialty crops’ are listed in the manual. If there are any questions, please contact their office.
  

• All applications will be received and reviewed by our department and only those selected will move forward for USDA approval.
  

• Grant applications are capped at $100,000.
  

• Multi-state projects are eligible.

Payments to recipients will be on a quarterly basis and will require an itemized invoice, a brief interim progress report, and documentation of the work or expenses for which payment is requested. University entities that are applying for grant funds must now have a letter(s) of support from the specialty crop industry representatives. Proposals may not exceed 6 pages in length.
Applicants will need to follow the instructions and format in the manual when submitting proposals.

If you have any questions concerning this grant, please feel free to contact the represenative either by phone or via email.

$25,000 Grant Program For Individual Artists!

This grant program provides financial support
to individual visual artists and craftspeople in one specific region to help promote their artistic growth.

Visual artists and craftspeople who intend to apply for grant must indicate their intent to apply via e-mail following a specified format outlined in the guidelines.

The grant amount is between $15,000 and $25,000 and can support activities that will contribute to the artistic development of the recipient.

Visual artists and craftspeople whose resume and body of work demonstrate a strong commitment to an artistic discipline are eligible to apply. Collaborating visual artists and craftspeople are also eligible to apply.

Previous Grant Recipients include:

• sculptor
  
  
• painter
  
  
• pottery maker
  
  
• an eco-artist
  
  
• new media artist

Applicants must have been a permanent residence within the region for at least two years before application and plan to maintain permanent residence in the region during the grant period.

The grant application and guidelines, along with complete details and instructions for applying, are now available at the website.

To learn more about this grant program you can contact the program consultant either by email or by phone.

The organization that founded this grant program has been working to improve the quality of life in their communities since 1962. It manages a collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families, and corporations. Each year, the organization awards about $30 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarship funds to students.

For information about this organization you can visit their website or you can contact them by phone.

Ever Wonder What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Student Loan(s)?

Have you ever wondered what happens if you don't pay off your student loans? Well there is an article online about a doctor who has been arrested for operating without a license. Their license was suspended because the doctor didn't pay off her student loans!

According to the online article the doctor defaulted on four federal loans she used to pay for her tuition at college and medical school. The doctor owes over $200,000 in student loans!

Even though she was under court order to pay off a portion of her student loans she didn't do so. So now she has been arrested and being held on bail.

You can read this article by clicking here.

Foreigners Are Able To Take Advantage Of Government Grant Programs Too!

Did you know......

A Taiwanese immigrant who came to America seven years ago is now living in a townhouse that she shares with her husband and their two children. The townhouse has two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a living room, a dining room and a kitchen courtesy of a federal grant program for first-time homebuyers which aims to maintain and support economic diversity, improve housing environments, prevent homelessness and provide access to public and private facilities for people with disabilities!

$10,000 Annual Grant Award For Graphic Designers!

An annual graphic design competition that honors great designs printed or published during a 12 month period.

The judges will select a First Place Winner who will receive a $10,000 cash award, and five $1,000 winners will also be selected.

Applicants must send the actual printed piece. Send slides or high-resolution digital files (TIFF or JPEG file formats) on CD for oversized work. (Signage, large posters, etc.) For three dimensional pieces send the actual piece and a slide or digital files. An entry coupon must be taped to the back of each item submitted. For logos, symbols or trademarks state the nature of the clients business. Work is not returned. You can visit the website for more information.

If You Are Looking For Scholarships.............

If you are looking for free scholarships why don't you start your search online? The internet would be the very best place to start looking for scholarships. The only place that is more better for looking for scholarships is the financial aid offices of the schools that you want to apply for.

Got to a bookstore or your local library to find free books that list scholarship and grant information programs.

The very best warning signal as to whether it is a scam or not is if you are promised the scholarship (or grant). The normal process involves you having to apply for the scholarship or grant and your application has to be reviewed and hopefully approved!

Grant Program For Local Area Businesses

Owners of commercial properties may be able to get the exterior of their buildings revamped using a combination of government and private funding.

This grant program is being funded by the Department of Community and Economic Development and they will be contributing $30,000 in conjunction with another matching grant amount of $30,000.



In order to be eligible for the grants, property owners must contribute at least $5000 towards the revamping of their buildings.

Yet ANOTHER Grant Program For Individual Artists!

Although this grant program is being provided to only certain localities it is still a very good example of a grant program that is still around that is providing financial help to individual artists!

This funding program has been made possible through funding by the area's arts fund which made funding available by the area's state legislature with money from the vote of the people!

This program is designed to enable artists to set aside time to work to achieve specific career goals, to purchase supplies and materials, to participate in advanced study not related to a degree program, or to pursue other activities that will allow them to meet their artistic goals.

Artists working in the visual, literary, or performing arts are eligible to apply to this program which has one deadline per year. The award consists of $5,000 each to established artists and emerging artist will receive an award of $2,500 each!

The guidelines are available at the organization's website where you can also get their mailing address. You can also contact them by email or phone - via their toll-free number.

Are You Looking For Forgiveable Loans?

Some free grants are in the form of loans and are what is called forgiveable loans. Which means if you do not sell your business then the loan is forgiven and over time period and you do not pay anything back!

The whole goal with free grants is to strengthen America and it workforce.

More Help For Students!

Here is more information about the recently-passed student loan reform program:

The student loan reform does not eliminate private lending it only requires that students receiving federal loans acquire them directly from the government.

It seems that so far 20,000 people have signed up for this kind of program.

Full time students are eligible who work at least 20 hours a week.

College students can now apply for food stamps and still get grants and government loans. However students will now only be able to get their student loans through the government.

Thinking About Starting A Group Home? Here's An Excerpt.....

Are you thinking about starting a group home? Here is a copy of a reply that I gave to someone who wanted to know more about how to start a group home.

Do you have anything specific in mind as to what kind of children will be in your group home? Are they going to live there? Will you be taking handicapped / disabled children, etc., what? The general definition of a group home is:

Group homes are small, residential facilities located within a community and designed to serve children or adults with chronic disabilities. These homes usually have six or fewer occupants and are staffed 24 hours a day by trained caregivers.

Since the passage of an Act in 1963, grants have been available to group homes. State and federal funds such as the Medicaid Home continue to support the majority of group homes. However, some homes operate on donations from private citizens or civic and religious organizations. Most group homes are owned by private rather than governmental organizations, and can be either non-profit or for-profit organizations.


One thing that you should be well aware of is that where ever you want your group home to be you will have to get the permission of the neighborhood locality! You will have to present your plans to them and hopefully they will approve it. You just can't "set up" a group home without getting prior approval.

If you do a little bit of research online you will definitely find a wealth of information about starting a group how!

Are There Still Investors Around?

As hard as it may seem to believe the answer is yes - there are still investors and angel investors that are still around (although they don't seem to advertise much!).

To find out more information about investors you can visit my Investor's Bulletin Board site.

Grant(s) To Help Start A Business?

"I am trying to find a type of grant for a vehicle so I can start a delivery business. If anyone has any ideas please let me know."

Most of the grant programs that I have seen to help one start a business basically start out with you having to submit a business plan (and hopefully you have one!)

If you are a minority then there is a grant program that you can apply for that awards up to $35,000 so that you can start your own business - but pleased be advised that you will have to submit a business plan in order to apply!

Many states (and more local areas) are starting (or already have) grant programs to help locals / residents start a business but again be advised that you will have to submit a business plan (in most of them). So you can also start checking your state (and more local) website(s) to see what kind of grant programs that they have available.

Any Grant Programs To Help The Elderly / Disabled With Home Repair?

"Are There Any Grant Programs To Help The Elderly / Disabled With Home Repair?"

Here is an excerpt from one of my previous blog posts:

There is a national program for the elderly, blind and/or disabled to help assist eligible, payment-troubled customers who are at least 62 years of age, blind or disabled. Program features include a lower monthly gas rate, debt forgiveness, emergency heating equipment repair or replacement, and conservation measures depending upon individual circumstances.

For more information about this program you can visit their website

You have to understand that there are grant programs available for the elderly to help with home repairs - you just have to know where to look for the information!

Is Your Woman-Owned Business Already Established But You Are Still Looking For Grant Money To Help Your Business Grow?

A program has been established to help women entrepreneurs grow and build sustainable enterprises, create jobs and develop innovative products and services. This program provides a combination of coaching, financing and marketing tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses. The program was started with a goal to inspire women entrepreneurs

In order to be eligible for this program:

• the company must be at least 50% owned by at least one woman who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
  
  
• The business should be at least two years old and have annual revenues of at least $200,000.

Applications are solicited and processed throughout the year.

Applications are screened by the program's staff and a team of banking and financial professionals selected by the program.

To find out more about this program you can visit their website to find out more information.

Another Grant Program Providing Free Homes To Veterans!

Previously I blogged about a program that provides free homes to veterans. I have now found yet another program that is doing the same thing!

Some injured vets are getting help from what may seem an unlikely source!

One recipient and his wife were rewarded with an unexpected gift: a home built especially for them, mortgage-free.

This program was started to help give wounded veterans a place to call home and is a way of saying thanks.

Since 2005, this organization has built four houses. Five more are under construction, and the idea is being expanded into a national campaign.

The program started when the founder of this organization met a U.S. Marine that had been gravely injured in Iraq. The injured vet desperately needed to remodel his house to accommodate his son's wheelchair. "I had no idea how I was going to pay for it," he said. "I just knew that I had to get it done."

The founder of the organization mobilized an army of carpenters, plumbers and suppliers who took on the remodeling job for free. They widened doorways, built a ramp to the back door and made the bathroom handicapped-accessible. Anything that needed to be done was taken care of.

With donations from suppliers and contractors the group can build a $300,000 house for $25,000 to $50,000. Each house is fully furnished and customized to meet the needs of each family and is mortgage-free. The group also covers the taxes and insurance for two years!

Another recipient of this program who received a free home in November 2008 turned his fortune around. He is now studying for his doctorate in public safety; his wife earned her master's degree and is now a special education teacher.

The organization is determined to help as many families as they can. They are trying to enlist builders' associations across the country to join the crusade, with the goal of building 100 homes.

You can find out more about this program by visiting the website

A $200K Grant Prize Award For Non-Profit Groups!

It seems that in the last decade, more of the wealthy have been creating prizes in hopes of drawing attention to a particular cause. It doesn’t hurt that their names are on the prizes.

According to a report released last year the dollar amount for prizes over $100,000 has tripled in the last decade to $375 million a year. There has also been a shift from prizes that recognized past accomplishments to “inducement"-style prizes that focus on achieving a specific, future goal.

One particular grant program fits into this category. It was established five years ago and awards a $250,000 prize to recognize leadership among nonprofit groups worldwide and share their best practices.

Past recipients have ranged from a project on rural land development to this year’s recipient non-profit group which educates children in rural India. The group will receive its award later on this week.

Did you know that there was a study that said that 10 years ago a third of all prizes went to the arts, but today only a 10th do that. The focus now is on the environment, science, engineering and aviation, where the dollar amounts of prizes have increased sevenfold, according to the study.

Entrepreneurs who made their money in fast-growing industries of the last decade, like technology and biotechnology, particularly like prizes because of their ability to spur people to do work in a particular area. For example there is a prize award competition which gives out a prize of at least $10 million for the first group to achieve a specific goal.

Are You In Need Of A Car?

Did you know that there is an organization that provides a needy people with a vehicle to assure their safe journey as they seek work or travel to and from work!

The cars that are donated are carefully inspected before being made available to a qualified individual. To qualify to receive a vehicle, the individual must demonstrate that they will be able to maintain the car and purchase the required insurance.

For information about about this program you can visit the organization's website or you can contact them by mail or phone.

Grant Program For Individual Artists!

Two artists have received individual grant awards. One artist grant was for writing and the other grant was awarded for poetry.

The local organization that sponsors this grant program supports the professional development of individual artists in a local five-county region of one state.

Review criteria include merit and artistic quality, ability of the applicant to successfully carry out the project, and the need for the project.

Individual grants of up to $2,000 are available to artists at least 18 years of age working in the visual, literary or performing arts.

Information about the individual artist grant program and application forms can be found at the organization's website or by calling them by phone.

The deadline for the next grant round is May 15, 2010!

Grant Program For Minorities That Want To Start Their Own Business!

Over $100,000 has been donated in business grants to minority businesses!

One business received $100,000 alone!

Other start-up businesses received a grant of $25,000 each! (One of these businesses is a start-up tutoring business).

So far over $1 Million Dollars has been awarded to emerging minority businesses. Businesses across the country competed for an opportunity to win a total of $200,000 in business grants!

This grant program was launched to stimulate economic growth and development in urban communities. In addition to the grant money, the program provides web-based educational resources including webinars, blogs and business advice from national judges and past winners.

So if you are a minority and are looking for free money to help start a business of your own then this is one program that you should be looking into further! You can find out more information about this program by going to the program's website!

In The News Headlines!

"The US government has awarded billions to companies doing business with Iran, often in violation of US sanctions, over the past decade...."

source
Fox News.com

Scholarship Program For High School Seniors!

In one local area graduating seniors are urged to apply for a number of scholarships now available through a state program. Full information and applications for most of these scholarships are available at the website. Applications for the following are due April 2010

One of the scholarship programs provides up to four $28,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who will major in engineering, mathematics or science.

Another scholarship program will provide several scholarships of at least $1,000 annually for tuition assistance to students pursuing an LPN, RN or BSN Nursing Degree.

Yet another scholarship program will provide a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship for tuition assistance to students of Portuguese descent.

Another scholarship program will provide at least $500 worth of tuition assistance to the area's graduating seniors whose parent or grandparent were also a graduate of the same high school!

Another scholarship fund has been established to annually provide at least $3,000 to a graduating senior who intends to study business!

Another scholarship program will award one scholarship of at least $2,000 to a senior in the hopes that he or she will return to the area after college and establish a business.

If You REALLY Need Financial Help.......

If you really need financial help then there are avenues available to you. Although one may get skeptical by seeing the term "free money" - did you know that such a thing really does exist!

I have been doing grant research for quite some time now and I have found a number of interesting (to say the least) programs out there that are providing financial assistance for those that need it! For example lets take a look at some of the more unusual financial help that is available.

Did you know that there is actually a website on the Internet where you can request money! That's right! You post your request for how much money you need and what you need the money for and your post is submitted. You don't have to worry about others seeing your request because your request is submitted privately! Individual people have received as much as $500 from this website and all they had to do was request the money!

Did you know that there are programs outside the government grant programs that offer financial help to those that need it? For instance there is a religious organization that provides over $5,000 of financial help to those that need it? The funding is provided for emergency financial need! However you will not find this program on the government grant website because it is not a government grant program. This program is being provided by a religious organization that simply wants to help people that need money for a financial emergency! They don't even have a website! In order to apply for the money you will have to reach them by phone or by regular snail mail. Unfortunately their phone number is not a toll-free number so long distance charges will apply when you contact them by phone.


Have you ever heard of "unclaimed money"? Quite simply that is money that goes unclaimed. Each state should have a listing of unclaimed money and who it belongs to. So you should check the lists to see if you or someone you know is on this list! I have seen unclaimed amounts as high as $32,000!

If you really financial assistance then there are programs out there that may be able to help you! Remember what they say - "where there is a will there is a way"!

And I am quite sure that this is just the "tip" of the iceberg! I'm sure that there are many, many more programs out there that will help to provide financial assistance! I just haven't found them all yet - LOL! There are probably so many of them out there that no one person could ever be able to find them all!

NEW $100,000 Business Plan Competition Announced!

A new business plan competition! has been announced which will feature $100,000 in cash prizes! The money is being provided by a financial services firm.

The winners will be announced in June 2010!

So far, the competition has received applications from more than two dozen hopefuls, including would-be microbrewers and laid-off scientists!

Is Your Business Having Problems Getting A Loan?

In one state there were so many complaints from owners who could not get bank loans, that someone decided to start a new small-business loan program. The program is administered by the local council and uses county funds and a $5 million line of credit.

The program is aimed at owners who want to purchase land, machinery, equipment or buildings but do not have adequate income or net worth to qualify for conventional bank loans. The maximum loan is $500,000, and in the few weeks since the program was announced more than 100 owners have already applied for the funding!

ANOTHER Grant Program For Small Businesses!

Here is another example of "free money that our government is giving away!

Did you know that one area in California is using federal stimulus funds to give immediate aid to small-business owners. The $25 million program reimburses owners for 100 percent of the wages for certain new hires. So far, restaurants, cafes, delivery services and even law firms have hired nearly 1,800 people through this program! More than 800 businesses have signed up for the program, and the area is pushing to extend it beyond its expiration date in September!



*Also please be sure to visit my blog about unclaimed money called The Unclaimed Money Blog.

More Financial Aid For Students Now Available!

One state has now approved a bill that will provide over $9 Million Dollars in additional financial aid that will help make a college education more affordable in the current academic year. These grants will be money paid directly to students to help offset the cost of a college education.

These college-related grants are considered free money because the money does not have to be paid back!

State Grant Program For Individual Artists

Here is another grant program for individual artists

A new $3 Million Dollar annual grant program has been announced for artists in one particular state! This grant program will hope to answer the question "Who will create opportunities for artists who have been poor in money and opportunity?"

• Three $25,000 individual grants will be awarded for experienced artists in the state.
  
  
• Three $20,000 grants to state institutions with artist-in-residence programs. Half of the grants will be given to resident artists to offset work and living expenses during residencies.
  
  
• Grants to institutions for the historical documentation of major exhibitions on artists of the state.
  
  
• Grants to art institutions for the improvement of exhibition space
  
  
• Grants to underwrite visits to the state by nationally recognized curators and critics who can expose local artists to the national art world
  
  
• Grants to institutions for the acquisition of artworks
  
  
• Grants for a special program that would provide assistance to artists for unforeseen special projects, such as expenses to finish artwork for a major exhibition sponsored by a national art museum.

The organization that is funding this grant program will begin accepting applications for the different fellowships and grants at different times later this year.

While no other organization in the state offers a more financially lucrative grant program for artists there is another organization that offers one $20,000 individual fellowship to similarly experienced artists. But this fellowship program is awarded annually to artists of different disciplines, including the performing arts, visual arts, media arts and literature.

The impact of this funding program will be felt by the art community at large. Documenting major exhibitions is crucial, for instance, both for the sake of stewardship and historical documentation. One of the most impressive shows in recent memory arrived to critical fanfare but with no catalog to document the show for future generations. The financially strapped Art Museum didn't have the money to produce one.

After five years, the foundation will evaluate the impact of the programs on the community and the foundation's overall financial situation. Then, a decision will be made whether to continue.

Rarely do foundations give directly to individuals because they are required to disperse money to public charities. So it asked the Internal Revenue Service for special dispensation, promising that all individual grants would be used for charitable purposes.