Archive for December, 2007

Dec-26-2007

Is it too late to apply for student loans and grants and etc?

student grants


I’ve had a fallout with my parents, and they’ve decided to not pay my college tuition fees. I’m Asian and so I had to submit bank statements to the universities to. Before, my parents were willing to pay for my tuition so I didn’t apply for a scholarship, and my family is well-off enough so that I’m not considered for grants or loans. Is it too late for me now to apply for a student loan or grant? And also, are there any organizations that I can apply to who can help?

Posted under Student Grants
Dec-23-2007

Using Federal Government For Small Business Loans

When you are in business for yourself, you need to realize that you have to take full advantage of EVERYTHING that is available to you. I understand that locating money for your business needs is not as easy as ordering a grant book from a guy on television with question marks all over his suit, but the truth is YOU CAN INDEED use the federal government to grow your small business.

The government backed loans that you want to look into is the Small Business Administrations (SBA) GAAP loan used for business expansion. Now, you may be thinking that obtaining Federal Government small business loans through the SBA would be terribly difficult, but what if I were to tell you that 99.9% of EVERYONE that applies gets the loan immediately? Truly amazing isn’t it. For many years, the Federal Government small business loans have been granted to the general public, it’s simply a matter of locating the one that is best for you.

Getting back to the GAAP line/loan, there is not a better or easier way for you to fund your business. Here are a few of the points why it is such a good thing to go after.

1. It is an unsecured line, which means that there are no assets or collateral needed to obtain the loan. 2. It is quick. The approved funds can be in your account in 10 business days. 3. Extremely low interest rates , because they are government backed. 4. Almost everyone is approved.

The trick to obtaining these loans is to find them. We have made our business out of jus locating these sources and you would be surprised at just how many government backed programs are available. All are nationwide and you simply have to know the right person to contact and let them know what you need.

So to wrap things up….Can you locate and use the Federal Government to fund your small business in the form of a loan? Yes indeed you can.

Posted under Business Grants
Dec-23-2007

Government Grants to start or expand your business

Anyone thinking about going into business for themselves , or wanting to expand an existing business should rush for the world’s largest “one-stop-money-shop” where FREE MONEY to start or expand a business is being held for you by the Federal Government. It sounds absolutely incredible that people living right here in the United States of America wouldn’t know that each year the world’s largest source of free business help delivers: over $30 billion dollars in free grants and low-interest loans; over one-half trillion dollars in procurement contracts; and over $32 billion dollars in FREE consulting and research grants.

With an economy that remains unpredictable, and a need for even greater economic development on all fronts, the federal government is more willing than it ever has been before to give you the money you need to own your own business and become your own boss! In spite of the perception that people should not look to the government for help, the great government give-away programs have remained so incredibly huge that if each of the approximately 8 million businesses applied for an equal share, they would each receive over $70,000.

Most people never apply for a FREE GRANT because they somehow feel it isn’t for them, feel there’s too much red-tape, or simply don’t know who to contact. The fact is, however, that people from all walks of life do receive FREE GRANT MONEY and other benefits from the government, and you should also.

HOW TO FIND FUNDING SOURCES WORTH BILLIONS

As with all grant seeking, the key to obtaining grants is preparation and knowledge about funding sources. Preparation means identifying programs that are available, and then determining if you fall within their restrictions. The following sources will be invaluable to you in locating thousands of sources of FREE MONEY!

There simply is too many facilities and Government organizations around to even begin listing all that are available from the federal and state governments. It is clear however, that the general types of programs that are available and where to begin are easy enough to find if you are keen enough.

As you contact different agencies for grant money, learn not to accept “no” as a final answer. There are so many new programs being offered each year that often an agency’s own employees won’t be aware they are offering the one you ask about.

A state may raise money through industrial revenue bonds to buy your fixed-asset equipment. The public, which invests in these bonds, do not pay taxes on the earned interest.

It just means finding out where the agencies are within your own states and local governments. The contacts you want to make may only be minutes away.

Posted under Business Grants
Dec-23-2007

Finding And Applying For Government Grants

According to a U.S. government website, there are $400 billion in grants currently available in over 1000 different programs. Naturally with such a huge amount finding a program that you or your company might qualify for is a huge task.

This article will present some resources and strategies to locate and apply for grant programs that you may be qualified for.

The single best source for finding grant opportunities is the government site at www.grants.gov . There are four ways to search for grants on this website. The first way is a basic search. This enables you to search by a keyword, funding opportunity number, or CFDA number. The CFDA stands for Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. This number and the funding opportunity number are used for specific grants. Once you have found a grant program, write these numbers down so that you will be able to return to the details of that grant quickly using one of these numbers.

The second type of search is by category. There are 21 different categories that you can search by including arts, employment, environment, health, and others. The third way to search is by government agency. There are at least 40 agencies offering grants.

The last way is the advanced search which allows you to search by keyword plus the days since posted, agency, category, eligibility and more. You can also be emailed automatically when grants in a particular opportunity number category are posted.

Once you have the Funding Opportunity and/or CFDA number of the grant for which you want to apply, you need it to download a grant application and apply for a grant. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly and review the application several times for completeness.

You must register to create a Grants.gov account and receive approval from your organization to submit applications. This also provides you with the ability to track your application status.
When you are ready to submit the completed application, you will then need to log into Grants.gov using the username and password you entered when you registered with.

Once you have submitted an application, you can check the status of your application submission. You can identify your application by CFDA Number, Funding Opportunity Number, Competition ID, and/or Grants.gov Tracking Number.

There are many other resources for locating government grants at www.us-government-grants.info

About The Author:
Neal has an MBA in financial management. http://www.us-government-grants.info has more resources to locate grants.

Posted under Grants
Dec-23-2007

The Myths and Truths about Getting a Free Government Cash Grant

The first question I always get concerning information about the granting process is “Can I really get a free government cash grant?” I try to ask the person exactly what they want to use the money for, and then I explain the types of programs available, but I can always see the dollar signs in their eyes and they ask again, “So, can I really get a free government cash grant?” The simple truth is that there is no such thing as a “cash grant”, but there are grants available for just about any kind of need.

The number of government programs and private organizations that offer grants is staggering. The number is approaching 100,000 and the list keeps growing. Finding a grantor is not all that difficult, but the process you must follow to qualify is where most people get confused, frustrated or just plain fed up and quit.

The process you must follow is time consuming and hard work. You must work within the limitations and time table of the grantor, not your own agenda of wants and needs but what the grant is designed to benefit.

If you have a project that helps you open your own business and fulfills a need in the community, provides jobs, and stimulates your local economy, you are much more likely to qualify for a grant than just asking for funds to help yourself build a pool out back for you and your friends. You can still have your own business with no obligation to repay any funds, but all the proceeds of the business are yours to keep just as if you funded the entire project yourself.

What most people do not understand is that if they have to work at it for 6 months and they get a $50,000 grant that is better than trying to get a loan or working 40 hours a week and try to save that kind of money. Your time is a valuable investment and it is better spent working on a grant than wishing something good might someday just happen to you out of the blue.

The first thing you should find is a mentor. Somebody whose opinion you respect and is already successful in business or your community. The next step is to buy a program that shows you the steps and coaches you through the process. The process is too intimidating to go at it alone. Stay away from the ones that cost hundreds of dollars and guarantees you a grant. They are almost always a scam and they will take your money and you will never hear from them again unless it is to sell you something else. Most legitimate programs sell for under $50.

Be prepared to devote sometime every day to work on your project. You must approach this like it is a job or you will never be taken seriously by a grantor or see any funding. It is not all time consuming but there does need to be some commitment on your part to see your project through to the end.

For more information and a list of some good granting programs that I have researched myself please go to www.grantsformoney.com

Posted under Grants How-to
Dec-23-2007

Strategies For Successful Grant Writing

In the wonderful world of fundraising, there are countless opportunities for an organization to raise money for their respective charities. While some creative thinking will set your organization apart from your competitors, traditional grant writing is an area we advise our clients to focus on. Most major corporations, in America and beyond, have grants that your organization would be eligible for.

Grants are one of the most overlooked aspects of fundraising. For many organizations, the grant application process can be overwhelming. Most organizations are working within tight budgets and timelines, and it can be challenging to allocate the necessary resources to grant research. While it may seem logical to devote resources to new fundraising initiatives, traditional grants should not be overlooked in favor of the latest fundraising trends. It’s all about creating multiple income streams for your organization.

Preparation is the key to fundraising success. We cannot stress this point enough. The prospect of writing an extensive dossier on the relative merits of your charity can be a daunting task, but if you have done your research and preparation it will undoubtedly pay off. The best advice we can give you is to devote some time to researching available grants in your niche. Before attempting a first-draft, be sure that you understand the guidelines of the grant-maker. Once the research has been completed, the easy part is drafting the grant proposal and application.

A well-written grant proposal is absolutely critical for success. Be concise. Stay focused on your message. What will set your organization apart from the others? You must establish that your organization has a legitimate need of the highest priority within the first paragraph of your proposal, in order to capture the interest of your potential donor. Remember, that your proposal is but one of potentially hundreds. You have only one chance to convince them that your organization deserves their kind assistance. Get it right…the first time!

We are continually amazed at how many of our clients become intently focused on the minutiae of their projects at the expense of clarity. There are a few core issues you must address in your proposal. Who are you, and what organization do you represent? What factors determine your eligibility for the grant in question? What is the problem your organization hopes to address? Who stands to benefit from your efforts? What are your specific objectives, and how will the grant support your organizational needs? How will you monitor and track the results of your efforts? How does your grant request tie in with the overall goals of your potential donor? Answer these pertinent questions, and you will be well on your way to a successful grant proposal.

About the Author:

Michelle Pearson is a fundraising professional with over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She is also a regular contributor to the internet’s preeminent fundraising magazine, http://www.fundraisingknowhow.com/

Posted under Writing
Dec-23-2007

Finding A Scholarship Or College Grant

The cost of a college education has risen to unthinkable levels over the last two decades. Few parents have the extra cash on hand to cover these costs, so student loans and mounting debt have become a reality for many students. Image graduating with an outstanding debt of 50 to 100 thousand dollars. It almost defeats the purpose of getting that degree in the first place. With no end to tuition increases in sight, financial aid packages are essential for most students.

Fortunately, aid opportunities have also multiplied in recent years. Scholarships and grants were once thought of as only available for the poor or the brightest students. That is no longer true. These days, almost everyone is eligible for some type of award.

Free money for college can be divided into two basic categories: scholarships (usually merit based) and grants (usually need based). Of course, many other conditions apply to various awards. Minority status, gender, career plans, and field of study are the most common qualifiers for today’s financial aid awards. Almost everyone can use one of these categories to focus their search for aid.

One of the best sources for college grants is the federal government. Be sure to submit The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. This will tell you if you are eligible for a Pell grant, and colleges will use this information to determine if you qualify for a school-sponsored grant. Private grant foundations may also require the FAFSA be completed before considering you for an award.

Ideally, a student would start looking for scholarships during the junior year of high school. This may seem early, but some awards require an application be submitted the year before you begin your first semester in college. Furthermore, collecting the names and contact information of prospective awards can take months. You must also factor in time for completing lengthy application forms, writing essays, and scheduling interviews.

In your search for scholarships, focus on three main sources. First, search your local community. Start with the high school councilor’s office, your local library, churches, community organizations, and any corporation that is based nearby. Next, contact the financial aid office of each college you are considering. They can tell you about all school-based awards that may not appear in the standard listings. Finally, use the Internet. The standard search engine is of some use, but dedicated scholarship search sites are a tremendous resource. Some of these data banks have up to 800,000 awards indexed. Best of all, you can search based on a personal profile that will match scholarships to your unique situation.

Of course, this article can only get you started in the right direction. College funding is a complicated process and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Remember that almost half of all college students receive some type of aid, so the chances of success are good. With a dedicated and organized search plan, you can get your share too.

About the Author:

By Chris Davis. Get more information on college financial aid and conduct your own scholarship search at http://www.scholarshipoffers.com, home of the Internet Guide to Funding your Education, as well as other useful services and products for students and teachers.

Posted under Student Grants
Dec-23-2007

Getting Grant Funding For Your Nonprofit Organization

Do you need grant funding for your nonprofit organization? If you do you are most certainly not alone in your needs. This combined with the fact that because of regular government budget cuts there’s not as many federal dollars available as there once was. And because of our current economic recession foundation dollars are down as well. What you now have are some serious concerns facing your nonprofit organization.

On the other hand there is still a vast source of funding out there for your organization. But, even more so today than ever, in order for you to get your share of the treasure that’s out for you. You must approach the matter of grant getting in an organized and systematic manner.

And you must make the process of obtaining grants a regular and ongoing activity for your organization. Here are some guidelines to help you get the grant funds you seek:

* Carefully assess your funding needs by asking yourself a number of very important questions, such as: How much funding do you need? How will this funding be used? Who will benefit from this funding? And, how will this funding be used? Having clear answers to these kinds of questions are a key part of any request for funding, and will help you determine the kinds of grantors you should be approaching.

* Make a list of your target grantors specific to your needs. You can do this by going to the main branch of your public library. Where you should find some kind of grant research center with a wealth of grant funding directories you can use.

* If you live in a very small community and your library doesn’t have a grant research center. You should contact The Foundation Center, 79 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10003, (212)620-4230 where you’ll find a wealth of grant directories too, that you can purchase directly from them. Be sure to request a copy of their current catalog when you contact them.

* Contact each grantor on your list for a copy of their current funding guidelines, and proposal requirements. While all grant directories do list grantors basic funding requirements and rules. You should still always contact them before you apply. Since what’s listed could be actually much different from what they currently do, and your time is too valuable to waste it.

* Prepare a clear concise attractive development proposal of between 8 to 12 pages. While many large nonprofit organization tailor make a proposal for each program or project they’re marketing to get specific grantor, this can be a very time consuming process if your organization is small or mid-sized, without the staff and support that many large agencies have. Thus it’s better to prepare a standard proposal covering your capital, program, and operating needs. Then target it with a well-prepared submission cover letter.

* Even in those cases where a grantor does have specific proposal requirements. You’ll find still that most of what you’ve already prepared can be incorporate into your custom proposal quite easily. Allowing you to prepare custom proposals in those situations where it’s needed. This is especially true when seeking federal funding, where your proposal must be targeted to the requirements of the federal grantor.

* Keep in mind the fact that the easiest kinds of grant to obtain are grants for capital needs items. And grants for unique, exciting, and innovative programs and projects. Whereas the hardest items to get grant for are operating cost items. So you should use grantors primarily for capital and program funding objectives. And secure private gifts from individuals to raise most of your operating cost funds.

* Set aside a block of time each week, even if it’s only three or four hours. During which time you or a designated staff member will devote to the three key areas of effective grant solicitation. Namely, researching funding sources, preparing, and submitting proposals. Doing this will keep you up to date on who’s doing what, improve proposal preparation skills, and keep those grants coming in regularly.

Yes, you can get the grant funds you need to effectively operate your nonprofit organization. And help all those people who need the help that you provide them. But you must go about getting the grants you need in an organized systematic fashion. And refuse to take “no” for an answer, because the cost of doing otherwise is much too great for so very many.

About the Author:

Berwyn J. Kemp is a development consultant who helps nonprofit organizations obtain funding. For a free subscription to his offline newsletter Nonprofit Funding Solutions you can call (419)243-8373 or email bkemp100@yahoo.com.

Posted under Grants
Dec-23-2007

How To Find A Us Gov Grant?

Finding a Grant

There are a lot of ways through which you can find grants for your educational needs. The best thing to do, first of all, would be log on to http://www.trustedreviews.info/money/usm/unclesamsmoney.html to find a comprehensive and complete listing of these grants. Look specifically for grants that pertain to your profile. And take note of other similar grants.

Aside from government grants there are tens of thousands of other educational grants offered by each state, by private foundations, and other non-profit organizations. A good way to find these grants would be to consult with some local education officials or to log on to the internet, which should help you find a matching organization for your need.

Next you will have to make sure you qualify for the grant you have chosen. The basic qualifications for a person to avail of these grants is that he or she must be a legal citizen of the United States and should also belong to a household that pays taxes. There may be slight alterations to this basic requirement, but that should be the general rule. Up to $25,000 to upgrade your skills as an Employee. US Government Grants for USA Citizens

You should then apply for a FAFSA, or the Free Application for Student Financial Aid. This application will make your eligible for a Pell Grant. The amount this grant offers depends on your current financial situation, your dependents, and other considerations. No matter what amount this grant offers, it should not be taken in stride since every single dollar going towards your education should be worth it.

Getting the grant. Grants are easy to file, yet hard to win. You will need to learn how to produce a convincing, honest, and thorough grant document. The race here is very competitive since there are many that file for these grants and only a few do get their applications approved. Make sure you study the grant specification properly and make sure you are truly qualified for the grant.

About the Author:

Up to $25,000 to upgrade your skills as an Employee. US Government Grants for USA Citizens

Posted under Grants How-to
Dec-23-2007

How To Get A Us Gov Grant For Education?

A crash course on Education grants

What are Education Grants?

Education grants are monetary help from the government to people who are more or else in need of support regarding education. There are various types of education grants all of which has its’ own set of targets. A complete list of this as well as the details may be found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Up to $25,000 to upgrade your skills as an Employee. US Government Grants for USA Citizens

How to apply

Application details are usually included in the description of each grant at the CFDA website, however, in general, an applicant needs first to be eligible for the grant, in order to do that, she must have proof of her eligibility.

In addition, almost all grants require an application process that includes writing a grant proposal to the respective to the grant giver, in this case the U.S. government

What are the Grants?

The CFDA offers list f several grants that are outlined into different subcategories, these are:

* Dental Education And Training
* Education Equipment And Resources
* Educational Facilities
* Elementary And Secondary
* General Research And Evaluation
* Handicapped Education
* Health Education And Training
* Higher Education General
* Indian Education
* Libraries And Technical Information Services
* Medical Education And Training
* Nuclear Education And Training
* Nursing Education
* Resource Development And Support Elementary, Secondary Education
* Resource Development And Support General And Special Interest Organizations
* Resource Development And Support Higher Education
* Resource Development And Support Land And Equipment
* Resource Development And Support School Aid
* Resource Development And Support Sciences
* Resource Development And Support Student Financial Aid
* Resource Development And Support Vocational Education And Handicapped Education
* Teacher Training

If you’ll look at the website, you’ll see that there are a lot of grants to choose from, however, for the general purpose of furthering your education the four sub categories, Elementary and Secondary, Higher Education General, Resource Development and Support Higher Education and Resource Development and Support Student Financial Aid, would probably be the most common sub-categories to choose.

About the Author:

Up to $25,000 to upgrade your skills as an Employee. US Government Grants for USA Citizens

Posted under Student Grants