Free Application for Federal Grant Money
From LoveToKnow Charity
Unlike general grant making organizations that will often take one standard form, no one free application for federal grant money exists. With that said, all applications for federal grant money are free, and many governmental agencies will take the same or similar information on your grant application. It's always a good idea to prepare a grant writing portfolio for your project before you begin seeking funding. You will find that doing this step first will save you time in the long run. While there might not be one specific form, most grant applications and proposals are going to offer the same information.
Grant Application Portfolio
Before applying for a federal grant, gathering information about your project will be very helpful. Consider gathering the following information:
- A mission and vision statement for your project.
- A line item budget of your project.
- If this is an ongoing project, last year's audit or line by line budget.
- A description of the project.
- Brief bios of all key personnel involved in the project.
Federal Grant Money
Federal grant money is made available through Congress each year when they vote on a federal budget. When Congress decides that they are going to spend money on a particular project, they publish the opportunity in a guide called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. It is through this guide that you can find all the information you want to know about applying for that particular grant. However, remember that most federal money goes towards local agencies rather than to specific individuals. Chances are that if you as an individual are applying for a federal grant, you are doing it through a local agency such as social services, local conservation society or something similar. However, there are exceptions
Student Loans
Student loans are one very common type of federal grant made to individuals. For all type of government money for school, which includes not only grants but subsidized loans as well, students and their families can use the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid). This is one of the few examples of one free application for federal grant money that applies to any government subsidized student aid program you apply for.
Small Business Grants
The truth is, there are not applications for small business grants from the federal government because the federal government doesn't award small business grants. Any grant that the federal government does award to a small business, generally comes through the state or local government. However, you can still search the CFDA or your state grant making agencies to find a free application to apply. Generally, when a small business does receive a grant, the small business is required to match funds through other grant making organizations.
Grants.gov
One of the best resources available for applying for federal grant money is Grants.gov. Not only can you down load a complete free application package, but you can also submit it there and track it as your application weaves its way through the process. The site also includes numerous tutorials on how to apply for a grant in addition to a multi-faceted search engine.
Remember the best way to present a successful free application for federal grant money, is to make sure that your goals and the goals of the grant maker align!
Learn More
Comments
I would like to finish my house. I ran out of money and I am in a mess.
-- Contributed by: JOYCE HOUSTON
This page has been accessed 1,956 times. This page was last modified 23:50, 21 March 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Visit us on facebook