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.

In The UK - Tax Rebate Program Goes Begging!

Owners of small businesses are being urged to claim millions of pounds of tax relief on their office buildings.

This relief program was introduced in 2005 to help businesses in properties with a low rateable value to reduce their business outgoings.

The rateable value of a building is based on the cost and value of the property itself, which is reviewed every five years by local councils.

Companies based in a property with a rateable value of £5,000 or less are eligible for rate relief of 50%. This falls by one percentage point for every £100 of rateable value between £5,000 and £10,000.

About £200m in rebates is unclaimed every year and fewer than half of the 87,000 UK businesses that qualify for relief have applied for it. Previously, business owners had to apply for relief every year, but since April 2007 they need to apply once every five years.

It is believed that many companies may not realize they are eligible for a rate rebate.

The director of this program has said "The Government needs to do much more to promote the scheme to help small firms, which need more help now than ever."

Another business owner has said:

"I think the relief is a good thing. The problem is that the Government doesn't do enough to ensure that small businesses know about this. There should be a one-stop shop where firms can find out what business benefits, reliefs and grants they are entitled to."

In My Own State Of Pennsylvania: A one-time scholarship grant has been designed to double the number of high school graduates as well as the number of children attending college. Over the past year the program has provided more than 4000 students with assistance in furthering their education. This scholarship program, which awards up to $3,000 in scholarships to eligible seniors attending Pennsylvania state institutions, has contributed more than $7 million toward advancing the education of Philadelphia's youth.

Are You Seeking Emergency Financial Assistance?

Many charities provide services and items that you would otherwise spend money on, freeing up some dollars to apply to your most pressing needs. Among
the most common of these are food banks and open-dining opportunities, help or waiver of utility costs, and clothing and other household essentials.

Piano Competition!

While I do a LOT of grant research concerning grant programs there are other ways of being able to get money besides (or I should say in additon to) grants.

One of those ways is with contests and competitions and the like!

Now comes word of a piano competition being held in one state.

The grand prize of this piano competion is a BRAND NEW PIANO! And other prizes will be given away as well!

One of the best things about this particular competion is that there is NO entry fee!

The Deadline to enter is March 17th, 2008!

There will be different competition levels for students (both high school and college level) and for those of "all ages".

To download their competition form which includes the rules and regulations of the competion, you can go to the competition's website and download their form in .pdf format.

This is just one (good) example of the different and varied kinds of competitions and contests that are out there that people can enter - especially when there is no entrance fee!

I even read recently about one man who was trying to sell his house and he couldn't get any buyers for it. So what he decided to do was hold an essay contest with the property being put up for sale as the grand prize. Unfortunately there is a $200 entry fee to enter this essay contest. But for people looking for a house that free - sort of speak - then this should be something that they should look into.

Here Is Yet Another Grant Program For Those That Have A Dream Of Starting Their Own Business

The top grant award is over $35,000.00!

In addition to getting the cash award you also get additional help resources and tools!

To apply you just have to tell what kind of business that you want to start (or what kind of business that you have always dreamed of starting). You will also have to tell why and how the grant will help you in starting your own business.

In order to be eligible:

• ELIGIBILITY:
  
  This is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, who are 21 years of age or older as of date of entry. Participants agree that these Official Rules are governed by the laws of the state of California. Void in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. military bases outside the U.S., and wherever else or otherwise restricted by law.

In order to apply you have to complete their online registration form with your name, complete mailing address, email address, phone number, age, title of your entry, and confirm that by submitting an entry, you agree that Sponsor may post your entry on their website for viewing by visitors to their website. There are two ways to enter:

• Entrants may submit a video that must not be longer than 2 minutes and must be submitted in QuickTime (.mov) OR .avi format. Only the first two minutes of the video will be judged.
  
  
• Entrants may submit a story which will have a limit of 250 words and a photograph that must not be larger than 1MB and must be submitted in JPG format (can be Black & White or color photograph). Limit one photograph per entry. All entries must be in English. There is no limit to the number of entries per person, as long as each entry is different and meets all requirements. For privacy reasons, you may include just your first name, but not your last name, in your entry. Entries may be submitted by individual or group entrants with a representative of the group submitting the required information who will also be responsible for receiving any prize on behalf of the group. Sponsor will only give the award(s) to the group representative and will not be responsible for presenting prize to any of the other group members.

Your entry must convey the following ideas:

• What’s your idea for starting your own company?
  
  
• What you will resign from?
  
  
• What you would do with the award to pursue starting a business?
  
  
• OR if you have already started your own company, please describe your experiences getting started in your application and also answer the question, What did you resign from?

By submitting a video or story with photograph each applicant represents that the application submitted (including the music, beats and lyrics in the video or essay and photograph) is the original work of entrant and has never been published and has not previously won any contest award. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for disputes between persons claiming authorship of the Entry. Each entrant further represents that use thereof does not infringe third party rights (including, but not limited to those of any videographer or any individual featured in the video), is suitable for publication and the right to submit it is not restricted by copyright. You may not sample any music that is not in the public domain in your Entry. Entry cannot defame, disparage or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person's personal or proprietary rights. Entrant represents that any individuals in the Entry who are identifiable have consented to the use of their image and performance in the video, the submission of the video and the use of the Entry by Sponsor in any way Sponsor deems appropriate, including any and all media, and that such individuals will sign all necessary documents granting Sponsor these rights if required by Sponsor.

Applications must be suitable for publication in a public forum (as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion), may not contain nudity, profanity, or threats of physical violence, and may not reflect negatively on the Sponsor or its products. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification at Sponsor's sole discretion. No correspondence regarding Entries will be entered into with entrants. Entries submitted become the exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be returned. With respect to the Entry entered, entrant unconditionally assigns and transfers to Sponsor all rights, title, interest and claims in the Entry, including, without limitation, the copyright therein, and waives any moral rights in the Entry. Sponsor shall have right to post, use, broadcast, display, publicly perform, alter, edit, assign, or dispose of such Entries in whole or in part (including clips or still frames from Entries) however it sees fit in any and all media without limitation as to time or territory without approval of entrant. Winners will be required, as a condition of being awarded a prize, to grant the Sponsor the right to use his/her name, image, likeness and biographical materials and any other individuals appearing in the Entry, as well as the winning video and/ or essay and photograph submitted, for advertising, publicity and promotion purposes including, without limitation, online announcements without additional compensation.

Entries received that are illegible, incomplete, or are not submitted online will be disqualified. Entries that do not comply with these Official Rules will not be eligible.

Entries must comply with the following content guidelines to be eligible:

• Content may not be sexually explicit or suggestive, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, profane or pornographic, or contain nudity;
  
  
• Content may not promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message;
  
  
• Content may not be obscene or offensive, endorse any form of hate or hate group;
  
  
• Content may not defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor, or other people, products or companies;
  
  
• Content may not contain trademarks, logos or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) owned by others, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, without permission, or contain any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
  
  
• Content may not contain copyrighted materials owned by others (including music, photographs, sculptures, paintings and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media) without permission;
  
  
• Content may not contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other indicia identifying any person, living or dead, without permission;
  
  
• Content may not communicate messages or images inconsistent with the images to which Sponsor wishes to associate.

Win $200,000 In Energy Competition

To help address the important issue of conserving energy or finding new sources of energy there is a competition going on. This is not a grant program but a competiton / contest sort of thing. There is a $200,000 grand prize plus a few other cash prizes as well.

One of the eligibility requirements is that all entrants’ businesses must support a technology, product, or service in the clean energy sector. Another requirement is that you have to enter this competition as part of a team - you can't enter as an individual.

Your entry can include but is not limited to:

• Renewable sources of energy (solar, wind, fuel cells, bio-fuels, geothermal, hydro-technologies, etc.)
  
  
• Conservation and demand response (building use, grid management, delivery & transportation, resource mining, extraction and refining)
  
  
• Enabling technologies (power electronics, storage systems and batteries, cables & wires, sensors & instrumentation, control systems, materials & manufacturing technology)
  
  
  
• More efficient & effective use of hydrocarbons (hybrid cars, cleaner use of coal, more environmentally friendly oil recovery methods, CO2 sequestration)
  
  
  
• Integrated Systems (sustainable design & integrated clean energy applications)

The deadline to apply is in February of 2008.

You can apply via their website.

Other Sources Of Money?

Unclaimed Money!

Grants are not the only source of "free money" when it comes to our government. There is also such a thing as "unclaimed money". I have started an Unclaimed Money blog that talks about this issue as well.

My last blog entry was about how the state of Louisianna has over $300 million dollars in unclaimed money! As a matter of fact the office is making an effort to process the claims faster so that more people will have more money to shop with during the holiday season. (* - It's interesting to note that with all the devastation that has gone on in New Orleans I didn't see one article about the amount of unclaimed money that was available in the state until now!). You have to remember that the more money that people spend the more in sales tax that will be gotten by the state and that money will be used for the state!

Of course this "unclaimed" money is not just limited to one state. My own state of Pennsylvania publishes a listing of people that have unclaimed money waiting for them. As a person that does research I have started to keep a copy of this information when I get it. I also believe that now since I am posting about this I am going to contact the office to find out more about how people can claim their unclaimed money.