Feed: Debunking The Free Grant Money Myth - AggScore: 14.0

Debunking The Free Grant Money Myth

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Free grant money seems to be a key phrase around everything these days from business start ups to education grants, or even for people who just need money.  You have more than likely seen the advertisements in newspapers, on television, and on the internet that promise you the insider information you will need to get free money.  In these tough economic times, it is easy to fall for the trap and many people end up paying a lot of money for useless information. So, is free grant money just a myth? The good news is that the government actually does give away billions of dollars in grants every year.  The not so good news is that the bulk of these grants are already allocated to go to companies and organizations, and not directly to the “little people”.  While it is true that the government does give out free grant money, these funds are not available for just the average Joe to dip his hands in. Grants are created to help solve a specific problem or fix a particular need.  For instance, the government offers free grant money to help women and small businesses start and grow their business.  The government gives students grant money to help alleviate the high costs of higher education.  Grant money is also available in most states to help lower income individuals and families with their heating and electric bills.  There is money available to help low to moderate income families rent or even buy their homes.  If you fall into the right category, you can even get grants to help fix up your home or replace outdated appliances. These grants are made available by many different branches of the government and most have strict guidelines for who is eligible and who is not.  A person must first apply for the free grant money they think that they might be eligible for.  To apply, you will have to find out what agency is overseeing that particular grant.  Once you have received your grant application, it is very important to take your time and fill out the application to the very best of your ability.  If you miss even the smallest thing on your application or do not give an in depth enough answer, you may be denied for that reason alone.  For that reason, it is advised to spend several days filling out your application and double checking that you have given all information that was requested on the application form. Once you have double and even triple checked your application to be sure that it is complete and error free, you will need to send your application into the correct agency and be prepared to wait for weeks, and in some cases, months before receiving an answer as to whether or not you have been chosen to receive free grant money. Yes, there is a such thing as free grant money, but they are not a fix all for every problem.  The best way to find if you are eligible for any types grants is to visit the official website for government grants at grants.gov and search their database for grants available in your area.