Frequently Asked Questions
Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists receives questions about Grants and related topics every week such as: "Can you help me get Free Money?" "Where can we get a grant to expand our social services?" or "How do we apply for grant funding with the government for our community-based program?" and "How do we go about getting or finding funding for our youth initiative program?"
We even receive questions about other types of grants; for example, here are some questions that people have sent us, verbatim: "Can you help me find a grant to buy a house?" or "Can you get me a grant to pay off my debt?" or "Where can I get a grant for 'personal use'" and "Where is that Free Grant Money they advertise on the television?" - those answers are listed below, and we'd like you to take a moment to scroll down and read them. First, however, we have a few questions of our own for you!
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Are you a funding researcher?
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Do you write grant proposals every day?
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Are you an EXPERT at this type of work?
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If you are, do you need help to get your work done, faster, quicker, better?
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If not, why would you try to do the work yourself?
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Would you try to repair your engine, fix a busted water pipe in your home, work on your own root canal or operate on yourself?
Think about it...we at Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists are online, at the research library, dialing BBS' and even more, every day...RESEARCHING GRANT MONEY, because it's what we do all day long for our existing clients!
Now...you'll hire the best to handle those important needs like your engine, the busted water pipe, your root canal or an operation, right?
Well...grant funding, proposal writing and funding research all work the same way!
If you want the very best to handle your grant funding needs, then Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists is here for you and your project!
Now here are some of our most frequently asked questions, with some straightforward answers:
Q: Who Can Apply for a Grant?
Anyone can apply for Grant Money.
It depends on what your needs are - Many of the late night shows out there talk about "free cash grants for individual use," but we have never seen these types of grants. If that is what you are looking for - we suggest you stop your search now and don't waste your time or money, buying grant "lists" that are useless - no matter what they tell you, money for "personal use" or to pay off your debt just doesn't exist. HOWEVER, there certainly are grants out there, depending on your need or the need of your community or organization:
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Nonprofit and Community Groups
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Educational Institutions
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State and Local Governments
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Health Care Organizations
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Small Businesses
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Minorities
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Women
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Entrepreneurs
Individuals
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and others!
Just Call GPRS and ask if your situation could apply!
Q: What Kinds of Programs Can Qualify?
There is just NO END to the possibilities available for you!
Q. For What Uses are Grants Given?
Personal Needs such as mortgage payments, buying a house for individuals, groceries, rent, utility payments, child care expenses, car payments, insurance, debt consolidation, free grant money for "individual use" and more?
NO! NO! NO!
Many companies will tell you this to try and get your money...but don't let them fool you! Except for welfare or State-type "aid to families" programs, we've never been able to find this sort of funding for anybody. Just about the closest thing to buying a house for someone we've seen are a couple of programs that may help with the down payment and will guarantee your loan, depending on your circumstances and a whole lot of different criteria. Other foundations will "partner" with a local community organization to try and promote economic development and revitalize neighborhoods by increasing the amount of affordable housing...in other words, they aren't going to buy you a house, but they will try to make sure you have affordable homes to buy in your area! Also available are the "Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities Programs," but you don't need a grant proposal writer to help you with the process, just contact the organizations yourself and they'll tell you what you need to do, okay? See the link below.
Here are some websites you can review to see if they can help you:
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities Programs
ICF New York
Wells Fargo (only for those west of the Mississippi)
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Health Care such as hospital costs, doctors and dental bills, loss of income, long term treatment and specialized therapy for heart disease, cancer care, mental and emotional illness, diseases of aging such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, stroke and more? YES and NO! It depends on if you're on welfare, a ward of the state, disabled, a veteran, etc. But if you ran up a bunch of bills and don't want to pay them, guess what? You won't qualify!
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Education for men and women to further their education. Money for children for pre-school and nursery school education, private, primary and secondary schools. There are athletic scholarships and grants for undergraduate, graduate, professional and foreign studies and more? Absolutely...the possibilities are ENDLESS! We want America E-D-U-C-A-T-E-D!!!
Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists does not handle college scholarships, though, so if that is what you are looking for, we suggest you go to the Fastweb website for help. Fastweb.com is a free service that will ask you questions about your situation, then recommend potential scholarships for you; additionally, it will email upcoming potential scholarships to you, as soon as they become available - a must have for any student seeking a scholarships! Here you go: Fast Web
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Business There are Grants for a variety of business situations, believe it or not! Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise...if they say there isn't anything, they just don't know WHERE to look! As with any grant, it depends on your needs and the needs of the community, the type of grant you're seeking and more. No one is just going to hand you money to go out and buy a business, to startup a business, or to pay for your company's personnel salary because you ask for it - so if this is what you're looking for we suggest you get a loan! However, if your company serves a need, offers job training, produces a viable product, and is owned by a woman and/or a minority, etc. then there just might be some funding out there for you!
Q. Do I Need Good Credit to Get a Grant?
NO!
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Poor credit, no credit or even those who have gone through bankruptcy have nothing to do with grants, because Private Foundations and Government Agencies are not interested in credit ratings. Neither collateral nor cosigners are required. The main requirement is that you have a legitimate need for the money, your project is real, and the potential funder is interested in funding your type of project or idea.
Q. What is a Private Foundation?
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A Foundation can be described as a nonprofit, non-governmental organization with a principle fund or endowment of its own. Foundations are dedicated to providing a common good for society and that good usually is in the form of providing funds for individuals, businesses and organizations. This year Private Foundations will give away billions of dollars in grants.
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A Foundation is organized for many reasons. The main reason is that Foundations are exempt from taxes. However, in order to retain this tax exempt status A FOUNDATION MUST BY LAW GIVE AWAY AT LEAST 5% OF IT’S TOTAL ASSETS EVERY YEAR. This serves as an excellent tax shelter for companies and individuals. How these funds are distributed is left up to the individuals. There are Foundations that specialize in giving aid to women who are widowed or divorced while others may give money for everyday living expenses, depending, of course, on your needs! Most private foundations are found right in your local phone book and all you have to do is call them to find out what they fund and what their requirements are to submit a request for funding.
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If you are an individual, business, entrepreneur, inventor, non-profit organization, city government, city department, etc. that needs and wants to obtain a GRANT, you usually must first submit an Application and then a Grant Proposal to the Foundation or Government Agency, depending on their guidelines...BUT YOU MUST KNOW WHICH ONE TO APPLY TO BEFORE YOU START! You also need to know WHERE TO GET THE APPLICATIONS and you need to have a proposal to submit to these organizations or agencies, describing your program! There are over 35,000 private Foundations in the United States, and they all give money away.
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Make sure the Foundation to which you apply GRANTS money for your kind of need. For example: If you need money for schooling, apply to a Foundation that gives Educational Grants...not one that grants money to starving artists! This is how GPRS can help you! We find the GRANT MONEY that applies to YOUR needs...not the needs of the general public! Remember you can apply for as many Grants as you want, because if you DON'T ask, the answer's always "NO". This money is FREE AND NEVER HAS TO BE REPAID!
Q: What Type of Funding can I Expect?
Funding comes in a variety of formats, including but not limited to the following:
The possiblities are ENDLESS!
Q. Government Grants, Federal & State Grants:
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There are thousands of Government and Private Programs available. Federal and State Governments give FREE MONEY to business people, students, men, women, children, minorities and the list goes on. Whether it’s to develop an idea, continue or change your career path through education, work at your artistic vocation or simply to obtain help with other expenses, there are numerous Programs out there for you to utilize.
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The questions is, how do you identify them? That is the biggest stumbling block for those who think and hope they might qualify for Grant funds in some way. The key to obtaining Grant money is easier than you realize. If you are an organized person who can follow instructions, THE CHANCES OF RECEIVING GRANT MONEY is that much closer!
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Grant money can provide you with the independence you need to start your own business, get your non-profit organization, community center, youth facility or idea launched, create and market your invention or launch you on a new career destination. These dollars can also help you acquire the schooling you lack or help you with your other expenses. All it takes is organizational skills, the ability to write a proper Grant Proposal or find someone who can do it for you, and knowing how to find the Grant Applications...or knowing someone who can find them for you!! A properly written Grant Proposal and the knowledge of where to apply for your Grant can improve your chances of securing your GRANT MONEY dramatically!
Q. Is Getting a Grant Difficult?
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Getting a grant is probably a lot easier than you think. There are over 35,000 Private Foundations who are required by law to give away 5% of their assets every year, in order to retain their tax exempt status. These Foundations are anxious to grant money to people or organizations who have genuine reasons for needing the money. Federal and State Government Programs also provide thousands of sources of Grant funds and/or other assistance. BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE GIVEN AWAY EVERY YEAR. Thousands of people apply for and receive grants daily. Why shouldn't YOU get your share?
Q. How do I Apply?
The Application, Letter of Appeal or a Grant Proposal?
You need one and (in most cases) two to three completed documents when requesting a Grant: an Application, a Letter of Appeal and/or a Grant Proposal.
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An Application - The Application is usually a form you may request and receive from a potential funder, which will need to be filled out by you. If you are requesting a small amount of money (up to $2,500.00) just send an application. The Application will usually come with a set of guidelines to walk you through the process, and it is simply a matter of "filling in the blanks," as the funder's guidelines suggest!
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A Letter Of Appeal - This is a summarized version of the Grant Proposal. Your Letter of Appeal should include a brief but concise outline, summarizing your needs. For example: If you are requesting money for a school project which will reduce violence, here is a sample request: "We would like to request a Grant in the sum of $25,000 to assist in the costs associated with the after-school program we have just developed to reduce crime within our community." You will need to include a brief summary of your program, as well. Remember to carefully look at the average monies usually granted by the Foundation to whom you are applying. If the Foundation only Grants funds ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 and you need $25,000, you should only request that which the Foundation will grant. You can, however, apply to another Foundation for the remaining $5,000.
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A Proposal - If you are requesting $5,000.00 to $50,000 or more, here are the steps you must follow: You must first send a Letter of Appeal. Once you've received the guidelines and Application, follow the directions, submit the Application, and then submit your Proposal. A proposal is a comprehensive document that goes into much more detail and depth, regarding your project and need for funding.
A successful Application or Grant Proposal is one that is well prepared, delineates a project that is thoughtfully planned and concisely packaged!
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Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists will conduct a comprehensive search, utilizing our specially designed ORLiS© database system, and prepare a comprehensive proposal just for you!
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We will match your financial needs and requirements with the most suitable private foundations and government agencies that can be found in our database.
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Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists will use our up to date ORLiS© system, which now consists of over 20,000 grant funding resources, including Government agencies, Corporate AND Philanthropic Foundations.
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We will do our best to find resources that apply to YOU and your project, not everyone else's!
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Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists will then prepare a comprehensive grant proposal on your behalf.
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Finally, Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists will supply you with our EXCLUSIVE "Grant Funding and Administrative Package" for your PERSONAL use!!
Q: What are GPRS' Fees?
GPRS offers a wide range of services...from Grant Writing to Grant Funding Research, Grant Money source searches and more.
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Due to the wide range of services and the level of effort involved, our fees range anywhere from $750 on up...depending, of course, on the services you request from us!
- We would be happy to discuss your special project or idea, and let you know what our fees would be for you...just give us a call or send an e-mail (don't forget your telephone number!), and we'll call you!
- We will tell you EXACTLY what your total fees will be for our grant writing and/or grant money funding research...and we never have any "hidden charges" or suprises at the end! The fee we quote you is the only amount you will pay...We promise!!!
- I'd love to tell you we work for free...but we just can't! We aren't a non-profit company ourselves; we provide a service and have employees that like to get paid for the work they do for you...and we all have bills to pay, mouths to feed, mortgages to cover, etc., so we just can't do the work for you without getting paid for that effort! I'm sure you understand!
Q. Do you work on contingency or for a percentage of the grant?
No!
In keeping with the ethical principles of professional fundraisers, Grant Writing and Nonprofit Specialists does not accept compensation based on a percentage of grant funds raised -- it's unethical!
Philanthropic and government organizations that grant money consider it highly unethical to work on a contingency basis or for a percentage of the grant...after all, the money they are granting you or your agency is, well for you or your agency and the program you've developed...not us!
According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in their Position Paper entitled: PERCENTAGE-BASED COMPENSATION, one can see why working on a contingency basis is not an idea entertained by GPRS. Note: The following information is from a 1992 position paper adopted by the NSFRE, now AFP.
Summary
"The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) believes that individuals serving a charity for compensation must accept the principle that charitable purpose, not self-gain, is paramount. If this principle is violated and percentage compensation is accepted:
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Charitable mission can become secondary to self-gain.
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Donor trust can be unalterably damaged.
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There is incentive for self-dealing to prevail over donors’ best interests.
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In addition, percentage-based compensation, however administered, can produce reward without merit.
AFP holds that percentage-based compensation encourages abuses, imperils the integrity of the voluntary sector, and undermines the very philanthropic values on which it is based. AFP is restoring to its Code of Ethical Principles a statement that prohibits members from working for percentage compensation or accepting finder’s fees."
Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists will provide you and/or your organization with a well written proposal or letter of intent which can be submitted to a variety of funding sources. It can be adapted to meet the funding guidelines of various philanthropic organizations, but we do require a payment of some kind.
Feel free to call Travis Belcher and find out what type of payment arrangements can be made. He will make every effort to work with you...
To help you get started, we do accept Money Orders, Cashier/other checks, PalPal and Credit Cards!
So if you are ready, please give Travis Belcher a call at 865.694.3900 and see what Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists can do for you today!
Copyright: 1988-2008. www.grantproposalservices.com. All rights reserved.
Grant Proposal & Research Services @ 865.694.3900
Grant Writers and Nonprofit Specialists @ 865.694.9482
806 Glensprings Drive, Suite A
Knoxville, TN 37922
Last Updated on May 14, 2008.
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