How to Successfully Apply for Free Grants
Applying for free government grant money takes a lot of skill. The art and science of applying for grant programs is called grantsmanship.
Grantsmanship is no walk in the park and no stroll at the beach. The application process alone requires a lot from you, namely, money and time. As a matter of fact, organizations seeking free grants from government employ their own full-time staff of employees whose responsibility is to overlook the application process and later on, administer the grant.
Those lucky few to whom government awards grant money are not exactly occupying a desirable position since they have to account for every penny they spend on the. In addition, there are specific obligations and conditions that you need to perform and comply with in order to accomplish the project.
Plus, it is also important to note that free government grant is not entirely free. The project proposal you need in order to apply for a grant requires effort on your part, knowledge about the project and certain specific skills. To get considered for a grant, your proposal must describe in detail the specifics of the project you have in mind. And when you do make a knock-out proposal, this will not even guarantee that your grant application will be approved.
Tip! Applying for free government grant money takes a lot of skill. The art and science of applying for grant programs is called grantsmanship. Grantsmanship is no walk in the park and no stroll at the beach. The application process alone requires a lot from you, namely, money and time.
Worse still, free grants that are legitimate and legal can be very difficult to locate. Unless you are extremely familiar with government grants and loan programs, finding a grant (let alone, applying for one) that meets your specific needs may be nearly impossible to accomplish.
Tips to Writing a Winning Grant
Almost as important as your business plan is your grant application. After all, the grant is essentially your source of capital. If you have no capital, then you have no business starting your business in the first place. Below are some tips to help you write that winning grant application:
Make a difference in the world.
That is the point of grants after all. Keep this in mind even before you approach that agency and apply for a grant. Make sure that your project is something that is going to help them do that.
Tip! If you are put on a waiting list or denied outright, don’t wait. Revamp and polish your proposal and hand it in somewhere else. Each time your work gets better.
Know the specific goals of your funding source.
Alright so the general goal is to make a difference, but you also need to know the particulars. Ask them. They will be all too happy to tell you.
Also, you can ask them if they give funding to your local area. It is possible that some of these agencies provide free grants to entrepreneurs operating in a particular area. If you are one of these entrepreneurs, you stand a better chance at getting a local grant than a national one.
Plus, the agencies may also tell you what institutions they fund for.
Know the person who will be looking over your proposal. Is he a person who knows nothing of your field? Or is he someone who knows a lot about your field and what is going on? If they know nothing about your field, you need to stay away from technical information that they may not understand. Write to their level of understanding. If they know your field, then it is acceptable to use more technical definitions. But the rule should always be to write simply. Use jargons only when absolutely necessary.
Always follow their instructions. They will give you clear guidelines to go by. Treat these guidelines as instructions that you must follow. If you want funding, do not deviate at all.
Know your fund source. It will help you to know how to sound and feel in your proposal. Always back things up with facts and a clear understanding of the need for the funding.
Tip! Student grants are a type of student aid that is awarded to deserving individuals by the government. Contrary to what some people think, a student grant is actually different from a student loan. One difference is that when you have qualified for a grant, it means you no longer have to pay back the money you receive.
Prepare a budget that is easy to read and clear on what it is you want to do. Be as detailed as possible in your proposed budget. Always fully explain everything that is going to cost and include other match funding from other organizations. This is to allow your funding agency a clear picture of what your proposal entails. At all cost, never ever slop together a proposal and hope for the best. It never works and they see this right away. In fact, the proposal is already half of grant, and it is the one half of which you have control over. Don't mess it up.
Do not spend a lot of money going all out on the presentation. It almost never impresses the funding agency. Never sacrifice the content of your proposal for style of the presentation. If you must spend money, spend it on the amount of planning you need for the project, not on mere presentation.
Tip! Don’t provide your financial account numbers, Social Security Numbers, or other personal information in response to free grant offers. Crooks “phish” for that information to steal your money and impersonate them for other illegal purposes.
If you do not receive a federal grant, ask in writing why. Just because you failed to get that grant doesn't mean your project is worthless. Sometimes, it all comes down to planning. By asking the federal agency why you did not receive the grant, you will have some idea as to why your proposal got rejected. Maybe your budget was too high, or too low, or the manpower required seemed unrealistic. Whatever it is, the information you receive from their feedback will be indispensable to further applications you may have. It will help you do a better job redoing your proposal.
Never give up! If you are put on a waiting list or denied outright, don't wait. Revamp and polish your proposal and hand it in somewhere else. Each time your work gets better. | 
