Free Government Grants
I'm sure you've seen the ads, especially on the internet, for "Free government grants! Thousands of dollars just waiting for you!" Can this possibly be true? When it comes to free government grants, the answer is yes, and no.
There are many free government grants available. However, the process for getting these grants is much more complicated than these ads would have you believe. Most of the ads are for books that promise you thousands of dollars in free government grants with little or no work for it. Take a minute to read the fine print and disclaimers on these ads. Most of them will say that there is no guarantee that you will get any money or be awarded any free government grants.
The truth is free government grants require a lot of time, hard work, and research. The first place you should look for information on government grants is the U.S. government's site, www.grants.gov. This site lists all the government grants that are available and provides you with the application and requirement information. You can also sign up to receive further grant information and updates on new government grants that have been made available.
Once you have found any free government grants that interest you, make sure you read the eligibility requirements very carefully. Some grants are only available to individuals that meet very specific requirements. Also read carefully any requirements on how the grants can be spent. Some free government grants have limitations and rules on what items or services the money can be spent on.
Another consideration when looking for free government grants is that most grants are available for a limited amount of time only. You have to apply for government grants during a specific time frame. When agencies make grants available, they are announced in the Federal Register, which is published every week day.
Advertisements that claim you can get "free money" by simply writing a letter or making a phone call are usually scams. Don't be fooled by them. There is a lot of competition for free government grants and they require a very well-written proposal. The only aspect of free government grants that is "free" is that you do not have to pay the money back. But be prepared to submit reports to the government on how the money is spent or the progress of your project.
The links provided below can give you a starting point for researching free government grants.
