Free Online Grant Applications

When it comes to philanthropy, one of the biggest trends has been towards using free online grant applications. The are being used by private foundations, colleges and universities, and even the U.S. government. Anyone planning to apply for a grant, either for personal or business use, may want to jump on the bandwagon. However, there are a few things to know about these applications.

Grant Funding

You should first recognize that any free online grant application is created for the ease of use of for the granting agency. The convenience is for their processing, sharing, and distribution of applications internally. This does not mean that they are not easy to use. It means that you need to approach the application process carefully, and perhaps more cautiously than you originally thought.

The sacred rule of applying for a free online grant is to remember you are a keystroke away from submitting for good any information you are not 110% positive about. In other words, any online application needs to be submitted only after you have checked it, rechecked it, and had another person check it for you.

Granting organizations are even more intolerant of incomplete or poorly put together applications online than on paper. The online system makes it easier to weed out poorly put together applications faster.

The rules of applying for a grant really haven't changed all that much. You need to know about your funding agency before you start the process. Call and ask questions you may have before you begin. There is still no substitute for personal contact. Moreover, make sure the application really is free; while most government and private foundations are, some college and university ones may tack on a processing fee at the end.

It will be disappointing to learn, but many granting agencies recommend you prepare a hard copy of your free online grant application first rather than compose it all online. Very few people are expert enough writers and editors to write a polished final copy off the top of their heads.

If you really intend to compose online, then keep your fingers off the Send button and on the Save button instead!

Make sure you have the following items in place before you register at any site to start its application process:

1. All pertinent information regarding contact person, contact numbers, addresses, and e-mail information
2. All information regarding Board of Directors, the current roster, committees, and term limits.
3. All financial information regarding the project budget, the annual budget of your agency, and any additional financial information related to donations and support from other sources.

If you are an individual using an online grant application, you should have the following prepared before you register:

1. All current personal information including contact address, contact phone numbers, and contact e-mail.
2. Have your current tax information and be prepared to submit it.
3. Have a complete list of people and their contact information,and the best times to contact them if they are supplying character recommendations.

• When you decide to apply, you may be asked a series of questions first to see if you qualify or if your organization qualifies before you are able to actually register and begin the application process. Do not take it personally and do be honest. If you fail to qualify it actually saves you time in the long run.

• Next you will be asked to register, usually setting up a username and password. In some cases, a password will be generated for you. Write it down, commit it to memory, and share it with at least one other person in your department or agency.

• When you see the application on screen for the first time, do not start writing immediately. See how many screens of the application you can peruse. Read all the information on each screen.

There is no test to see how fast you can complete the application, and the price is failure if you do not follow the directions to the letter.

• Some online applications will let you print a copy of each screen after you finish it and save it. If it is possible, print a copy every time you go in and make a change.

• Make sure you locate the Save, Save As Draft, and Edit buttons prior to any transfer of information or composition of the main part of the grant.

For valuable tips and information regarding available grant money, please check out Grants.gov and FAFSA.

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