Hiring A GrantWriter - Here is an excerpt

It is common for grant writers to charge a thousand dollars or more for a grant proposal. This is often due in part to the time and research needed to create a winning document. Some grant writers charge varying fees depending on the type of individual or organization seeking the grant, as well as the type of grant. Although this seems like a large cost, it does improve ones chances of receiving funding. When gauging fees, be sure to take the number of grants available, as well as the funding allotted. It may be in your best interest to research grant writing and do it yourself if the grant is for $5,000 or less or if a limited number of grants are available.

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!

Local University Has A Grant Program For Students!

Are you a student feeling the financial crunch of the current economy? For those who may feel they have "reached the end of their rope," there is a place to turn. There is now a support program which is a free, confidential resource for graduate and undergraduate students experiencing financial emergencies.

Says a spokesperson for the program, "One of our goals is to help keep students in school." Students in financial emergencies fill out an application, which is stripped of any identifying information and sent to the board consisting of other students.

While grants do offer support for the short term financial emergencies, the program also offers long-term direction to external resources and financial tips for students.

The website states that another goal of the foundation is to "help students who apply for grants to become more self-reliant through advice and suggestions of reliable resources on campus and in the community.

Grants may be awarded to those who need help with textbooks, food, medical emergencies, emergency travel or daycare to name a few. There are some things the grants will not cover including fines and fees, tuition, counseling services or cell phone bills.

For a complete list, students are encouraged to visit the website.

It is important to remember that everything to do with the program, from students applying for grants to members of the board, is completely confidential and anonymous. Applications are stripped of all identifying information including names, addresses, and even majors, before they are passed to the board. Students on the board are anonymous to ensure that those applying for emergency financial assistance feel safe and comfortable doing so.

If you are in a financial emergency and need assistance “there are many options available to you. You can visit their website to learn more about the program or to fill out an application for a grant“. There are also 2 email addresses that you can mail your grant applications to - these email addresses are also provided on the website as well!



Also, the Student Support Foundation is looking for both graduate and undergraduate students to be on the board. Check out the website for a description of board membership, fill out an application and email it to either Fuller or Tardif. If you're in serious financial need, don't forget that your friends at the SSF can help!

Four Business Plans Win Cash In Contest!

The first prize cash amount for this contest is $50,000! The recipient's business plan that won first place will use its technology to use vibrations to power small electronic devices, including sensors and medical devices.

A student group proposing to make tiny device that scavenges energy out of small vibrations won the second annual prize.

Other finalists included:

• a business which developed a method to produce silane gas on-site for customers in a novel manner that is flexible, low-cost and environmentally benign
  
  
• a business plan which seeks to place small food digesters outside restaurants and cafeterias to produce natural gas from decomposing food
  
  
• a business which will offer a proprietary smart battery management system, enhancing battery utilization in electric vehicles.

Says a spokesperson for the competition, "this prize is part of the effort to meet the challenges I've described. It's also part of the effort to develop an entrepreneurial culture and a culture of innovation."

Officials from the company said they used their prize money to move their technology forward and as evidence of the strength of their concept -- eventually winning a stipend and work space from another organization and more funding from another funding program that provides seed capital for businesses.

Grant Program For Local Public Schools!

Foundation Announces Availability of $150,000 in Education Grants

One foundation is helping area public schools better prepare students to compete in the 21st century. Amid the increased focus on student achievement, public schools across the state are invited to apply for $150,000 in grants for programs to improve students' skills in science, technology, engineering and math.

For its second year, the foundation will award grants of $10,000 each to 15 public schools across the state!

More information on the grant process is available at the foundation's website.

For more information on last year's winners, just click here.

Last year this foundation awarded more than $50 Million Dollars in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad!

For more information on the foundation just click here.

Grant Program For Fire Fighters!

It has been announced that 33 state organizations have been awarded a total of over $3 Million Dollars! This grant funding will be used to support operations and firefighter safety and to purchase firefighting vehicles for various fire departments in that state.

According to a spokesperson, “This grant program provides our local firefighters and first responders with the equipment and support to help keep our communities safe. These brave men and women are on the front lines when disaster strikes and these dollars will make sure they are better protected in the line of duty. The firefighters and first responders of our state play a critical role in keeping us safe and secure. These federal dollars will help provide them with the resources they need to protect communities across the state.”

This program awards grants grants directly to fire departments and EMS organizations to improve the effectiveness of operations and health and safety programs and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States.

Grants are awarded competitively through an application process. More information can be found at the program's website.

Another source of money is unclaimed money“. Unclaimed money is money that has gone unclaimed such as those in long forgotten bank accounts and other type of accounts. To find out more information about unclaimed money you can visit my blog, The Unclaimed Money Blog.

Local Grant Program For Area Teachers!

This year, this grant program hopes to award about $125,000 in grants to classroom teachers. In addition, individual educators or groups of teachers may also submit grant requests for consideration.

Out of 67 grant requests last year, a total of 51 were funded!

A spokesperson for this grant program has said, "We’re always trying to get more teachers to apply, because the chances are pretty good for being funded. At this point, I think all of the teachers know about us, but they don’t all apply. My hope is that they’d be sitting in their classroom thinking, ‘Gosh, if I only had the funding, I could do this and this and this. Well, we’ve got the funding.”

This grant program is always encouraging teachers to think outside the box and in expansive terms when making grant requests!

"In the very first grant round, there were teachers writing for things like a trip around the world so that they could document it. They were told to dream big — and so they did.”

One grant was for the hiring of a guidance counselor. Another project that was funded was for a program that now provides post-high school planning, complete with a research library, financial aid seminars and workshops on how to write an effective college or employment application.

So far the organization that funds this program has pumped almost $1.2 million directly into local classroom projects over a 7-year period. In terms of grants, fully 20 percent of the dollars awarded have gone to fund projects that fall under the category heading of “Creative/Arts.” Music and art grant requests have been favorably received. Along with the arts, annual grant awards go to support programs in math, science, language arts, reading, technology and vocational skills.

These grants are made possible through individual and business donations to the local, non-profit organization. To learn more about the group and its programs, or to make a donation you can visit their website or contact them by phone.

Grant Program For Caregivers!

Grant Program For Family Caregivers

Program For Family Caregivers - BENEFITS: When you are not feeling well, home is where you want to be, no matter what your age. The major focus of this support program is to reinforce the care being given to frail family members at home. The major benefit, therefore, is that it allows caregivers to choose from available services.

The package of benefits begins with an assessment to determine what benefits best meet the needs of the caregiver and the older person receiving care. Benefits could also include counseling, education and financial information. This program takes a cost-sharing approach: income-eligible families may receive up to $200 per month to help with out-of-pocket expenses ranging from respite care to adult briefs. In addition, one-time grants of up to $2,000 may be given to qualified families to modify the home or purchase assistive devices to accommodate the frail relative. Such adaptations might include installing a stair climb or modifying a bathroom. Eligibility for this caregiver program is determined on a sliding scale and is based on income.

Still Need Help Paying Your Bills?

"I'm making payment arrangements with my utility company but I am still having problems paying my bill(s)......."

If you are making payment arrangements but are still having problems with paying your bill(s) then I suggest that you go online, do a little research and find the sites that let you request money. Some of them will require documentation on your part but I know of at least one site where you can request money but don't have to submit anything besides your request, how much you are requesting and what you need the money for. As far as this one site goes you can request up to $1000 but requests of higher amounts will be considered if your reason for needing the money is compelling enough.

Another source of money is unclaimed money. You (or a family member or spouse) may be on the list for unclaimed money and not even know it! To find out more information about what "unclaimed" money is just visit my blog, The Unclaimed Money Blog.