How to Apply for a Free Federal Grant
The benefits of applying for a federal grant are numerous, but above all, grants are better than loans because grants are not required to be paid back. Applying for a grant from the federal government can take a lot of time because a grant proposal must be created that explains the need and planned uses of funds. The work is worth the effort when grant funds are awarded to support endeavors.
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Instructions
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Navigate to the official grants page for the federal government, Grants.gov. The first thing you'll need to do is find a grant that's an appropriate fit for your needs. Remember, it's not about quantity here, but about finding the right thing for you and spending time making sure that your application is a strong one.
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Click on "Find Grant Opportunities" and browse through the grants. There are five ways to search for grants: basic search, category, agency, advanced search and recovery act opportunities. Unless you know very specifically what kind of grant you want to apply for, or with which agency, use the basic search or category options.
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Download the grant application from Grants.gov after finding a grant that's a good match for personal goals or business plans. Click on the link that says "Application," which is upon the description page for the grant. You are then prompted to download the application. Be aware that applications require a user to have Adobe Reader or PureEdge Viewer, both of which can be downloaded for free.
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Review the application completely before responding. A proposal, or grant application, must be written to professional standards. According to FederalGrantsWire.com, "a successful grant proposal is one that is well-prepared, thoughtfully planned and concisely packaged." Learn as much as possible about the agency applying to and demonstrate why your specific goals are a good match with the grant.
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Write a cover letter to accompany the grant application. Include a brief outline of why your application is a strong fit for the grant. Keep this letter to one page and remember that the application will be reviewed in its entirety, so don't go into too much detail.
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Mail the application and give it enough time to reach its final destination. Mail the application in the most professional way possible. Keep the document flat and pay for delivery confirmation so that you can rest assured that it has reached the agency it is intended for.
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