"How Do I Get Grant Information Without Paying For It?"

The most simplest way to get grant program information is to do the research yourself.

As far as the government grant programs are concerned you have to understand that since government grants are funded by taxpayers, the government has to make information about their grant programs freely accessible to the public.

They have done that with both having a website devoted to the government grant programs that are out there and they also provide printed publications that you should be able to find at your local library. Even if you aren't able to find the information you can always ask the librarian about it.

Not all grant programs are provided by the government. There are other entities that have grant programs as well and they include non-profit organizations, clubs, associations and even some businesses.

In fact you may be able to find out about grant programs for free if you go to your local social service agency. You should know that these agencies have been established by the government to help people (and sometimes they even get grants theirselves!) and who would know better about government grant programs than them?

Many times I will get people who want me to provide them with information about grant programs and I guess they just don't realize how much work is involved when finding grant programs that one is eligible to apply for.

Everytime I get a new client (or when I get an old client looking for more information about new or other grant programs), they must first fill out a questionaire that I have set up on one of my pages. Filling this out lets me know a lot of information and helps me to pinpoint the kind of searching that I will have to do when looking for specific types of grant programs.

However finding these grant programs is really no secret at all. You just got to keep on searching until you find the information - sort of comparable to finding a needle in a haystack - the needle is there but you just have to find it.

Over 90% of the information that I have found about grant programs has been online. If you have access to a computer you should be able to find this kind of information as well.

After you have been doing this for a while (like I have) you will start to get the information about grant programs mailed to you which helps to make your research more easier.

But to put it simply - to get information about grant programs without having to pay for it the solution is to simply find the information yourself. It is available online and as far as the government grants are concerned information about them is also provide in printed form and you should be able to find them at your library.

When Is A Grant Program NOT A Grant Program?

This is only my personal opinion but I do not consider a grant program an actual grant program if you have to pay a fee to be eligible to apply for it. Here is an example:


There is so-called business grant program for women who want to start their own business. You have to be over 18 and be a US resident.

According to their literature, this organization started the grant program to help women who had a dream of starting their own business.

Like most of the grant programs for those that want to start their own business you have to submit a business plan. However in order to be eligible to apply for this grant you have to pay a $15 fee along with submitting your business plan.

Although I do not consider this a grant program, I keep its information in my files just in case my clients do want that kind of information.

Rose
More Information About Grants

And Grant Programs

"It's Really Hard To Give Away This Money....."

There is currently a grant program available for unlicensed childcare providers who want to be able to buy items for their childcare business.

A community action partnership in one area is offering grants to fulfill the need.

Here is a quote:

"It's really hard to give away this money. People think there's a catch."

Caregivers can purchase $400 worth of cribs, safety items and age appropriate toys or books. Even bikes can be purchased using this grant program. In one specific case bikes were purchased with the grant money because they provided much needed exercise for the children. If you can provide a very good reason for what it is you want to purchase and how you intend to use it for the children's benefit then you get a good chance of receiving the grant funding.

This is a state grant program and is free to legally unlicensed providers in that state. By state law, unlicensed providers are entitled to watch over one additional family's children. If the families are related, the caregiver can watch over a countless number of children.

Applicable to part-time or full-time workers, providers must attend a seven hour CPR or First Aid training session to receive the grant.

They also must request on the application for the items they want to purchase and get approval. Afterward, recipients will receive a check in the mail and a training certificate.

For any additional questions, you can contact the grant program by phone.

Grant Program For Local Artists!

By "local" I mean this is a grant program for artists in my own state of Pennsylvania.

This grant program for individual artists in the state has been around now for a few years. For the year 2008 over 70 different artists have received this grant of $5,000. The grant money can be used to "finance a creative endeavor or buy some quality writing time" and the grant money must be used in the same year that it was given.

Here is a list of current and past grant recipients:

• Poet who is going to use her grant has not decided on exactly how she is going to use her grant money but she is thinking of using it in connection with traveling which she uses as inspiration for her writings - she has also applied for and won this grant in the past
  
  
• Painter who also works at an art gallery.

These grants go directly to the individual artist!

"Grant" Program With A Fee - For Single Moms - I'll Let YOU Decide!

Like I have said before I am not too crazy about "grant" programs that charge a fee and I don't usually recommend them to my clients unless they specifically ask for more information about these kinds of programs.

But I will let you decide for yourself......

This "grant" program is for moms with a business idea? If you have a dream of starting your own business (and you are a mom) then you are invited to apply for for this grant.

The purpose of this grant program is to help other moms achieve their business dreams. The organization that is sponsoring this grant program has always assisted moms in business with business advice but now wants to help some moms who want to start their own business, but do not have the finances to make it happen.

Since obtaining money to start a business is far from easy this grant program will give one mom a $1,000 business grant which will require absolutely no repayment! This is a fabulous opportunity for any mom who has an amazing business idea or wants to expand her existing business. And a new grant winner will be chosen every three months!

Other sponsoring partners have been included to provide the winning mom with essential business start up products. This will allow the $1,000 business grant to stretch even further since the mom won't have to purchase equipment themselves. The exciting news continues as the mom chosen will also receive a brand new computer and printer! Also a website will be created for you (or your existing website will be updated)!


If you are chosen to receive the grant you must use it to help your existing business or start a new one. And you have to let the organization know how you spent the grant within 30 days of receiving it.

In order to be eligible for this "grant" program:

• You must be a mom over the age of 21 living in the United States.
  
  
• You have to subscribe to the organization's newsletter (but subscribing is free)
  
  
• You have to pay the $25 application fee to be considered.
  
  The $25 non-refundable application fee will cover the administrative costs associated with the grant.

They also include in their literature:

"And if you are serious about starting or expanding your business, this application fee will not stand in your way.

Like I said before, I'll let you decide whether or not you consider this a real grant program. (Personally I do not!)

"Never Pay For Grant Information"

"Never pay money for grant information" - ok what does that say to the many professional grantwriters and researchers out there?

"Free money - garbage" - Did you know that there is actually a term "free money" used to describe all the "unclaimed" money that is out there! This unclaimed money (and property) comes from people who have forgotten about bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, etc and if these persons are no longer alive then there are their heirs who are out there that don't even know about this money?

You are really going to have to educate yourself more about grants, grant programs and the grant process in general

As far as "free money" being garbage then just tell that to those that already have gotten grant money - legitimate grant money that they DO NOT have to pay back!

The Best Way To Get Free Grant Information Without Having To Pay Someone Is To Look For The Information Yourself

One of the biggest arguments about paying for grant information is that one is able to find this information for free. The problem seems to be that people are not finding this information. The only ones that seem to have the information are the ones that actually do the work, take the time and effort that is required - those are the ones that find the information.

An ironic twist on this whole thing is that how do you think the "professionals" get this grant information? They look!

Many, many times I have said that the information on government grants has to be made "easily accessible to the public". To do this the government has both an offical website and information about their grant programs are available in printed form at public libraries. I have most recently heard that the government figures that once they put up their website then people would automatically know about it and would go to the site and get the information. But that is not happening. I have heard comments to the effect that while the government does have an official website about their grant programs - they don't advertise it - and there-in lies the problem.

But getting back to the subject of finding the information about grant progrms without having to pay for that information. It is just so simple - you have to find the information yourself. You have to put in both the time and effort to find the information about these government grant programs. (And hopefully it will give you a "newfound" respect for those that do that kind of work for a living.)

It's a little different with the grant programs that are offered by non-governmental agencies. They are not under the same mandate as the government is. But the basic principle applies - you have to look for these programs. They won't come to you - you have to go to them.

Are Grants Free?

Are grants free? Basically the answer is "Yes". There are some programs that call themselves grant programs but they will charge you a fee - sometimes called an application fee - to apply. I really don't consider these grant programs no matter what they say!

Now the next question becomes "Then why do I have to pay for grant information?" The truth of the matter is that you don't have to pay for the grant information if you are able to find the information yourself of if you are able to find a person or organization that will help you for free. That is why I'm always advising people to check with their local social services organization to find out about what grant programs would be available to them to apply for. As someone that does this for a living I can tell you that finding information about grant programs involves a lot of research and communication. It is not an impossible thing to do but its not for those who are discouraged easily.

There should also be a warning flag popping up if these places say that they will guarentee that you will get a/the grant. The process of getting a grant involves your application being reviewed by a board.

If you have been taken advantage of by a company or person that does this kind of work there are things that you can do such as report it to your Better Business Bureau.

You should also take a look at the questions that appear on my page about the kind of grant/grants that you are seeking.