How to Apply for Federal Grants
Each year the federal government announces a number of federal grants. Some are small in nature while others can be quite significant. Grants are made available for a lot of different reasons, from helping people recover from natural disasters to opening a business. Unfortunately, a lot of people tend to believe that this so called "free money" is available to virtually anyone who wants it. That is simply not the case at all. It will take a lot of research, some manipulation of ideas, good writing skills, and a willingness to conform to the grant's requirements without fail. Read on to learn how to apply for federal grants.
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Instructions
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Research grants at the local library. This can be done a number of different ways. Most public libraries maintain a group of books that list recurring grants that are available from year to year. However, these books cannot be checked out, so plan to spend some time pouring through the books and taking notes that outline the possible grants available, their limitations, all grants requirements, and specification information about how to apply.
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Accomplish an online grant search. While not every government grant is posted on the Internet, some can be located this way. The advantage to doing an online research is that all of the necessary information is available for print out in order to help speed up the application process.
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Visit local Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Administration offices, or Small Business Development Centers for specific information about business related grants. They can often provide you with the paperwork to apply for the grant as well as help you in the grant process. Because they are well versed in the requirements of business grants, their assistance might prove to be invaluable.
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Purchase one or more books from the bookstore or online. The advantage to this is that everything needed will be available without the need to take notes or make copies.
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Compile all of the grants identified for which you are eligible. Rank them in order according to the one that is the best match for to the one that is the least best match.
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Complete one grant application at a time. Keep in mind; however, that much of the research, footwork, and writing that is accomplished for one grant may also be useful for any subsequent grants that are also submitted.
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Complete the grant paperwork exactly as the grant specifies. Answer every question thoroughly without getting caught up in too much extra verbiage. Extra information should be saved for the attachments. Provide every piece of information that is asked for such as financial information, company specifications, personal qualifications, or anything else required. Failing to meet all requirements of the grant could result in the application never even making it before committee.
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Provide additional backup information that might strengthen the case for the grant as attachments. The grant application itself should be short and to the point. If the committee is interested in additional information, they will read the additional attachments.
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Hire or find someone to volunteer to review the grant application. It is important that the application be understood by anyone reading it. An outside source can help make certain that is the case. They can also help to proofread for spelling or grammatical errors as well as cross check to make certain all of the pieces of the application are in place.
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Finalize the grant application. Print the application out on good quality paper. Make certain it is legible, easy to read and follow, and complete. Number pages and mark attachments. Bind the application as required, if requirements are set out in the application. If no binding requirements are made, bind it in a professional manner. Index each section for easy access. Make a table of contents.
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Tips & Warnings
Read the grant application process carefully. It will outline all of the requirements of the grant such as quarterly reports, financial audits or anything else that will be required once the grant is accepted.
Prepare grant paperwork using professional business writing techniques.
Check, double-check and triple-check your paperwork for accuracy and thoroughness.
Provide attachments of photos, graphs, charts or anything else that can strengthen the grant application.
Don't waste time applying for grants for which you are not eligible or for which you can not or will not meet post grant requirements.
Never default on grant requirements or that may affect your ability to apply for other federal grants in the future.
