1The Five Classifications of Federal Government Grants

There are five main groupings under which these grants fall as follows:

• Projects grants – Are the most common and are issued on a competitive basis. These are meant for social services, research work, educational goals, technological development, the arts, healthcare, etc.
• Formula grants – Are given to people who require employment training programs and for families raising kids.
• Categorical grants – These are issued for very specified purposes, e.g., hazard mitigation.
• Block grants – Here, various categories of grants are grouped under one specified program, e.g., psychiatric health services.
• Earmark grants – These government grants are very specialized and are not competitively issued. Political lobbyists are involved in these grants.

2Applying for Federal Government Grants

In applying for these grants it’s important to know that those funds meant for social services are ordinarily awarded on a one year basis. Upon a satisfactory performance you can have the grant renewed for up to three years. One way of ensuring that you qualify for a government grant renewal is by making sure that you meet the required reporting deadlines. It is also worth noting that political influence is sometimes required for the award of grants and as such the support of an elected official may come in handy. Otherwise, to stand a good chance of being a successful applicant you need to be in the know about the respective issuance guidelines and criteria for the grant you require. For this purpose it is well advised for you to attend workshops organized by federal agencies.

A brief description of the most common government grants available:

3Government Housing Grants

Government housing grants are provided to persons who require financial help for housing. These grants are issued by local or regional governments and are not meant to be repaid. In terms of individual requirements, such grants suffice for single or multi-family housing for homeowners and homebuyers, clearing off rental bills, catering for home repair expenses, and even help with mortgage payments. To be eligible for government housing grants you need to give proof of your residency in your region. You need to make an application for the funds you need and the necessary forms are available on the internet.

4Homebuyer Government Grants

These grants are of much help to people who need to acquire housing loans but are ineligible to get the same from financial institutions on account of their bad credit. Persons to whom these monies are issued are required to be first-time home or residential property buyers and the amount given is determined on the basis of the property market value as well as the grant program selected by the applicant. Applicants should not have possessed any residential property in the three preceding years. Homebuyer government grants only cover a certain percentage of the total purchase amount required and applicants are expected to settle the remaining balance. For this reason, applicants need to show that they hold work positions with a regular income and that they have a minimum credit amount.

5Federal Government Business Grants

Federal government business grants are issued to individuals intent on starting their own businesses. The funding provided can be used to purchase the required equipment, to lease or rent premises, to recruit manpower, to pay salaries, and even to expand an existing business. Business government grants usually range between $500 and $50,000 and are not to be paid back. The financial status of the applicant is not considered and therefore people with bad credit, bankrupt persons, and even employed persons can obtain these funds provided that they put them to the said use, i.e., setting up a business venture. Application forms for the same are available online from a number of websites.

6Small Business Grant Money

This are currently not available from the federal government but can be sought from various state development agencies. This funding is quite easily obtained and can be used to either start or expand a business. Apart from these uses, the funding agencies also extend various financial incentives including tax breaks, business ‘incubator’ program participation, and subsidized SBA loans rates.

7Federal Education Grants

In 2008 the government put in measures to up the Loan Program kitty from $1 billion to $6 billion so as to help more people to access and pay for their education. The Department of Education was also committed to start catering for approximately 60% of the total student aid as from 2009. The funding is subject to the applicant achieving an authorized program out of a possible 2000 options. To determine the best program for you it’s well advised to narrow down your search to a degree. If you are having a hard time trying to select a school, it’s worth exploring information that a network of schools offers in terms of education programs and different schools; the network is freely accessible.

The approximately 140 different types of student government grants suffice for various situations applicable to people with different educational requirements. Funding is available for online degree courses and even for people who don’t want to join a campus college. The internet is awash with information about these grants as well as related information including advice on locating the right school, military services, career development, online studies, etc. Application and access to personal loan records can be done online.

8Medical Grants To Help Pay Medical Bills

These government grants are proffered to people who can’t settle their medical bills on their own, especially those with inadequate health insurance. Such bills include costs incurred for doctors’ appointments, medical procedures, pharmaceutical requirements, and/or hospital stays. Access to these funds is mostly done through the HHS, i.e., the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The department has in excess of 300 grant programs and approximately 75,000 applications are awarded annually. The funding mostly includes:

• Short-term help for needy families with respect to assorted medical costs.
• Support for elderly persons for expenses including at-home services, transportation, and meals-on-wheels costs, etc.
• Funding for the elderly, low-income families, and indigenous populations who need help to settle Medicaid and Medicare costs.

In addition to government sources there are also private charities that provide medical grants. Such include the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the Addison H. Gibson Foundation.

9Personal Government Grants

These government grants can be used to settle an assortment of individual financing requirements including debt relief, your children’s expenses, and even to cover your general costs of living. Personal government grants are freely issued and are not to be paid back once awarded; as such, a successful application does not involve the assessment of one’s credit history. There is also no limit to the sum that one can apply for and therefore, depending on your needs, you can apply for as much as $50,000. The funds can be used to take care of childcare costs, transportation costs, and even mortgage and bills payments.

Personal government grants are not only available to senior citizens and low-income earners but also to people holding good jobs but coping with mounting debt thanks to poor investments. Successful applications just need to illustrate one’s financial struggles and once funds are awarded the applicant must show proof that the monies have been appropriately put to use.