How do you get free money from the government? There are two ways to do it. You could go to a federal government agency, get an application form, fill it out, and send it in, or you could go online to a government website and fill out the form there. Applying for a grant isn't that hard. Getting it is the problem. Every day, there are a lot of grant applications that end up in the trash. This is especially true if you are trying to get a grant for a big project in your community.
Care should be taken with big projects. They need detailed plans for projects. It does not end here. After putting in a lot of work to get a grant and getting it, the real work starts. You have to explain why that money was given to you instead of someone else. You need to deliver, which means setting time frames and costs. If you don't, it will be seen as noncompliance, and if you are suspected and found guilty of fraud or theft, you could go to jail. In the end, this is a clear case of wasting public money.
There have to be strict accounting and auditing checks in place for every project. The government will also have to check it every year. Everything that isn't spent has to be given back to the government, right down to the last penny. Just keep in mind that with money comes a lot of responsibilities and obligations. When you get a free grant, you don't get a lot of money to spend on a pipe dream without having to pay it back in some way. You have to be careful once you get the money. This isn't a ride for free.
Getting grants is both an art and a science. This is called "grantsmanship." It's not a joke to try to get a grant. In fact, many organisations have specially trained employees on the payroll to make sure the application process runs smoothly. To even apply for a grant takes time, work, and, of course, money. If you do get the grant, you'll need trained people to handle the money. Every penny must be tracked, and each step must be carefully planned and carried out. A lot of stress and strain can come from grants.
Are you ready to do it? Then you should think about how to improve your chances of getting a loan. Try to find places that need money. Visit the CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) website at http://www.cfda.gov/ for information about free grants. It tells you what kinds of help the government offers and where you can apply.
Students should go to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, website. This is where they can apply for federal grants, campus-aid programmes, and loans. It also tells you how to apply in an easy, step-by-step way.
Free grants are great, but you should remember your obligations and responsibilities and be careful with the money you get. Remember that you are handling public money and not a free gift for which you don't have to answer to anyone. Free grants can do a lot of good for the community as a whole if they are used well.
