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!

Could You Use A Free CellPhone? - Government Grant Program!

Believe it or not there is actually a government grant program where you can get a free cellphone! Of course you have to be eligible to get one!

One of the eligibility requirements is that you have to be considered as low-incomed. Another important thing to know is that this free government grant program is not available in all states!

However if you do meet the eligibility requirements then you will be able to get a free cellphone mailed to you. You won't even have to pay shipping and handling charges. You will also not have to pay for the phone itself because it is free as well.

What do you get with this free cellphone? There are no contracts for you to sign and you won't be billed for your allotted usage of the phone. If you want to buy more minutes then you can do so but you will have to pay for it. Other than that the cellphone and the usage is free!

You can find out more about this free cellphone program by visiting this website!

Do You Have An Emergency Financial Need?

Are you facing a financial emergency?

There is one organization that has helped more than 80 individuals/families in need of financial assistance. In 2009 one of the organization's funding programs - which provide emergency funding assistance has given out nearly 300 percent more in assistance than it did in all of 2008.

The purpose of this grant program is to help individuals and families who have chronic financial challenges.

People who qualify for assistance from this fund include those who have lost their jobs, have been out of work for months and months and have exhausted all their savings and resources. According to a spokesperson, "If they fit the criteria, they are able to access this fund for months at a time.”

This grant program was created as a way to help people who don’t qualify for one of the organization's other grant programs.

This funding program has been around for the last 20 years!

The grant program only makes one-time, emergency disbursements. Last year, 32 individuals or families received financial assistance through this funding program. So far over 75 individuals and/or families have received $75,000 in 2009!

This funding program is good for people who tend to struggle with something every year.

Since some of these funding programs are both relatively new, not many people know about them!

What's more the organization itself receives grant money itself to help fund their own grant programs!

One of the organizations funding programs is intended to help with large, one-time emergencies. It was established in a few years ago through the generosity of an anonymous donor. Grants have helped a couple with funeral expenses. Another time it helped a man repair his home after a fire. He had let his home owner’s insurance lapse.

The first step in obtaining assistance is leaving a message on the organization's helpline. The message will usually be returned by a caseworker within 24 hours. A spokesperson for the funding program said the initial phone call between the organization and the applicant takes between five and 10 minutes. Once the exact problem has been determined, the applicant is matched with a social worker, who meets with the client to make a fuller assessment of the situation. Thereafter, the social worker presents the case to the case-management team to decide whether the applicant qualifies for funds. Each application is evaluated on an individual basis. There are clear guidelines, but no set formula to receive assistance.

“If somebody needs financial assistance then we make sure they are taking advantage of other government programs. We have a whole checklist of programs to make sure that they are taking advantage of all the things they can” says the program's spokesperson. Applicants who need emergency funds may also qualify for other programs that the organization has to offer.

It is recommended that applicants apply as early as possible because the number of people seeking assistance has increased so much over the past year and because of that it can now take several weeks to actually receive assistance.

In 2008, 40 people, on average, called the organization for assistance each month. Last year more than 200 people called for help. While not all of these phone calls are for emergency needs, this shows that there has been a marked increase in the need for all of our services, including emergency financial assistanceemergency assistance.

According to the program's spokesperson, “If somebody comes to us and says ‘I’m being evicted tomorrow it’s very hard to help. If someone comes in and says ‘I’m being evicted in three weeks,’ we can help”.

A Children's Foundation is accepting grant applications for families who have children with critical health care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans. There is NO deadline date to apply for this program. To get an application for this program, just click here. This same organization is also accepting grant applications for families who need help paying for their child’s health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.

Here is a reply to a post from someone who was asking about grant programs to help start a business.

As a person that does grant research for a living I can tell you that the sites that you are talking about are "third-party" sites where you are paying them for the work that they did to find the information. There is nothing wrong with that BUT if you have your doubts about them then just do a check of them and their business - especially with the BBB to see if there are any complaints about them.

If you are a minority then there are grant programs that are available to help you start a business of your own. One grant program in particular offers a $20,000 grant award to successful applicants who want to start a business of their own. In order to apply you are going to have to submit a business plan to show that you are serious about what it is that you want to do.

Also I have seen grant programs that quite are amazing! One rich individual is offering to fund a person who wants to start a business of their own but their business idea must be viable!

I should also tell you that 90% of the information that I have found about grant programs has been online which means that a lot of these programs have websites. If you go directly to the grant program's website then you don't have to pay a thing because you have found the information yourself and didn't have to hire a grant writer to find the information for you.

Artists Are Using Their Grant Money To Pay For Various Things! I mentioned before about the interest in finding grant programs to help pay off credit card bills and I have mentioned that while I haven't specifically found any grant programs that help pay credit card debt, I have found grant programs where you can use the grant money to pay for whatever you want and here is such an example of that kind of grant program: Recipients of one particular artists grants have gotten creative with how they are spending their grant money! The nonprofit organization will be giving its annual unrestrictive grants to artists in many different disciplines. Usually the winners of these artist grants use their grant money for their work. But since there are no strings are attached to these $50,000 grant awards some artists use part of their newfound wealth to travel, pay off their mortgage, buy life insurance, get new glasses or have their teeth fixed. Others become philanthropists, pitching in on colleagues' projects. Here is what one past grant recipient has said regarding this grant program for artists. "That's the beauty of the grants", says the artist, a maker of massive, abstract collages who was tapped in the first round, in 2006, and has become actively engaged as a board member. "When you get the call, you think, 'Wow, somebody is going to give me money to continue to do what I do. They are not going to ask me to do anything. They are just going to invest in it.' That level of trust, he says, is a validation of past accomplishments and a vote of confidence in the artist's future." The nonprofit organization chooses over 25 annually from the fields of architecture and design, crafts and traditional arts, dance, literature, media, music, theater and visual arts. Grant awards presented this year will total $10 million and will have been given to 213 individuals, partnerships and collectives who live and work all across the country! Applicants must be at least 21 years old and citizens or legal residents of the U.S. About 400 nominees are invited to apply for the grants. Past grant recipients include: architect novelist singer/songwriter filmmaker ceramist dancer puppeteer photographer However this grant program for artists is far from the only organization to put large amounts of money in artists' hands! There is a museum that has its own $50,000 program and a foundation just announced its $100,000 grant program for artists! But many programs offering large cash awards fund specific projects or honor one artist every year or two. With a mission of "supporting America's finest artists working across diverse disciplines" and a practice of doling out 50 unrestricted grants annually, this grant program has created an unusually broad niche for itself. This grant program was started as a response to the demise of a nationally known grant program for artists. Concerned that artists would be forced to leave the field, leaders of several institutions approached large foundations with a message about the need to help artists. Despite the commercial success of many artists a study determined that significant numbers of their peers needed employment, health insurance, places to live and work, materials and equipment and access to professional development and support systems. For more information about this grant program, just click here.

Do You Need Help To Provide Christmas Presents For Your Children?

Did you know that there is an organization that helps to provide Christmas presents for children?

Every December volunteers look through Christmas letters from children and send them one or more gifts so that they will be able to enjoy their Christmas a little bit more.

For instance one volunteer took home thirty letters and spent a little over $30 on presents for each child -- about $1,000. The volunteer has said that she wished that she could have chosen more. “I feel so terrible,” she said. “All these kids who aren’t going to get anything for Christmas. It’s so tragic.” One child simply asked for one Christmas present that he could share with his brothers and sisters.

According to records this organization was started over 50 years ago. As the number of letters grew, the public was asked to help. This year the total number of letters will almost certainly be more than 150,000, and could approach 200,000.

Most of the letters have been from the United States but many come from other parts of the country and from other nations. Some teachers have even started class projects in the hopes that a few of their students will get gifts they would not otherwise receive.

It doesn’t matter where the letters come from, or why. Workers volunteering before or after their own shifts put out the letters, and keep track of which children will be getting gifts so that there are no repeats. The volunteers also take the time to send letters to people in other parts of the country, from Florida to California who want to participate but can’t get in to choose the letters.

“Most of the letters are from very needy children,” said one spokesperson. But not all. I found several from wealthy suburbs, including one that was typed and printed on what appeared to be a better computer system than the one I used. This kid had a list of 28 gifts, including all sorts of electronic games, that I guessed would add up to more than $4,000. “See you in the mall!” his letter concluded.

A spokesperson cautioned against assuming that a child wasn’t deserving just because he or she asked for something beyond the bare necessities. “Even if a girl wants a Barbie doll and a boy wants a computer game, they may still need a coat and shoes,” he said. “These are kids, and even poor kids want stuff like that.” Many of the letters are cute. Many are heartbreaking. “There was one a couple of years ago,” the spokesperson. “It was from a seven-year-old boy. He and his infant sister and his mom were homeless. But he said he didn’t need anything, he could take care of himself. He just wondered if Santa could send some Pampers and maybe a blanket for his baby sister.” One kid included a picture of a Rolex watch he had cut out of a magazine advertisement. Another asked for a computer, and helpfully provided the brand name and specifications for speed, memory, etc. Another asked for a Boston Whaler fishing boat, and said he was writing early so that Santa could stock up on fiberglass in his workshop. Many kids included suggested retail prices. Some gave tips on where their gifts could be purchased on sale. One boy wrote a mini-biography, and then, “I’d like something for Christmas.” Anything was fine, he said, because he “didn’t get nothing” last year. One girl asked for “pencils for school,” and said it was important because she wanted to be a secretary when she grows up. One child asked for a new bed, another for snow boots. Many children requested gifts for their brothers and sisters. One girl wanted something for an aunt whose house had burned down. Another boy asked for something for his two-year-old sister. One girl said her mom couldn't pay the electric bill and asked for winter clothes.

Some of the letters were from parents who know about the organization and hoped that someone will pluck out their letters. One mother wrote that she was “blessed” to have her son, but could not afford to buy him anything this year. Another woman who lost her job because she couldn’t find anyone to babysit, asked for clothing, “even used” clothing, for her three daughters “so the other kids could stop making fun of the way they dress.”

One volunteer had gathered a stack of the letters because he was going to send gifts to some of the kids himself. Some letters he would fax to his mother and sisters, and they could send gifts to those kids. One woman found a letter from a teacher who had a special-education class of 24 kids in one of the poorest sections of a city. Another volunteer ended up taking home four letters -- two written by mothers, and two written by kids. All four of them asked for winter clothing or something for their brothers and sisters.

For more information about this organization and it's program, you can visit their website by clicking here

Did You Know That There Is A Beer Competition?

Did you know that there is a beer competition that takes place on a regular basis?


This is an international competition for beer lovers and for those that love to create beer!

This competition is held on a regular basis in celebration of the art and science of brewing by recognizing outstanding brewing achievement around the world. The top three winners in the competition's 70 beer-style categories are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals.

This beer competition has been going on for more than 10 years!. The organization that sponsors this competition was founded in 1978, is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to the promotion of quality beers and brewing throughout the world.

The competition is intended to create greater consumer awareness about different beer styles and flavor profiles while promoting international brewing excellence.

You can visit their website for more information on the competition.

Are You Interested In Getting A FREE Car? There is a non-profit organization that is giving away free cars! In order to be eligible you first have to go to the organization's website and fill out their application and create a profile. You then have to get 100 people to vote for you! Since these cars that are given away for free are donated by the public you have to wait until one of the vehicles becomes available for being donated. However once you complete all the application requirements the applicant qualifies to have their application reviewed. Once a vehicle becomes available in a particular geographic location, the organization begins reviewing the applications with the most votes / highest page rank who live in that general vicinity. Even if your page rank is lower than someone else's, you may receive a vehicle if your story is inspirational enough, but we must strongly emphasize that your application is more likely to be reviewed if you have a high page rank. Besides providing free cars this charitable organization can also provide financial assistance for tag/title/registration fees, automobile repairs, preventative maintenance items like oil changes, hoses, belts, batteries, brakes, tires, automotive warranty coverage, roadside assistance memberships, and the down-payment for auto insurance or even the down-payment for a new or used vehicle! The organization can assist with just about anything automotive related as long as the applicant has completed the application, qualifies, and has made the effort. For additional questions you can email them for additional information.

$100,000 Poetry Award!

This poetry award is given annually to honor a book of poetry by a mid-career U.S. poet. The winner will spend one week in residence at a university in the United States.

Poets, publishers, agents, or friends may submit five copies of a book of poetry published.

This award is given annually to honor a book of poetry by "a poet of genuine promise."

Poets may submit five copies of a book of poetry that has been published within a certain time period.

To apply for this poetry award you can send a SASE, call, or visit the web site for an entry form and complete guidelines.

Minority Business Competition! So far a total of $85,000 in grant awards were disbursed to six entrepreneuers in a competition for those who are minorities and want to start their own business. The winners were chosen from 29 finalists, determined in a two-round process. In round one, 160 contestants submitted executive summaries of business plans and in round two, 70 of the finalists were invited to submit full business plans. Contestants in the final round were then required to present their business plans to a panel of business professionals from across the region. The awards are as follows: $25,000 Growth Innovation Award awarded to a bakery business that is providing a healthy food alternative for baked goods/whole foods/produce. $25,000 Business Innovation Award - went to a mortgage broker that originates residential and commercial loans. $10,000 Food Retailer Award - went to a marketer of gourmet food products. $10,000 Neighborhood Retailer Award went to a jewelery business that specializes in special and customized jewelry. $10,000 Technology Trailblazer Award went to a company that provides cashless technologies to government agencies and private operators in the transportation market. $5,000 Emerging Fashion Business Award went to a fashion designer who has an urban clothing line that focuses on positive messages to uplift the African-American community.