Who Can Get a Grant?
By Jillian Coleman Wheeler
There are many different kinds of grants available, and they are aimed at several different kinds of recipients.
Some grants are designed to benefit individuals. This is the smallest category of grants, but for those who are qualified to benefit, the rewards can be substantial.
Grants to individuals include scholarships and fellowships to students. Government education aid ranges from the standard Pell Grant available to undergraduates, to underwriting professional education to fill shortages, to training for blue-collar jobs in economically depressed areas of the country. In addition, thousands of privately funded scholarships are available for young students, mature students returning to college, and professionals at the height of their careers.
Some foundations provide assistance with healthcare needs for individuals, and some corporate funding is available for treatment and drug therapies. Certain foundations offer highly targeted grants, such as grants to widows of men in certain occupations, or persons with specific needs in designated communities. Artists and writers may find grants to support their work. Individuals who work for social justice or make contributions in their professions may be eligible for personal financial support.
One of the questions I’m most often asked concerns grants to support businesses. If you are looking for money to help underwrite a new or existing business, there are a variety of resources to explore.
The U.S. government offers assistance through the Small Business Administration. SBA offers few direct grants, but the agency underwrites a broad range of loan programs and provides extensive consulting support. SBA also funds a national network of non-profit organizations which offer microloans to startup and growing businesses. These microloans are a promising alternative source of funding for businesses which might not qualify for loans from standard lending institutions.
Both SBA and Department of Commerce offer support to women and minority-owned businesses. Economic Development programs at the national, state and local levels sometimes offer grants to businesses.
In general, however, the best offers from the government are available when a government agency has identified a need and designed a program to fulfill the need. Many such programs exist in the areas of training and housing, among others.
The greatest numbers of grants, whether from foundations, corporations, or government, are available to non-profit corporations. Tax laws make it possible for wealthy individuals, families, or businesses to redirect money they would otherwise have to pay in taxes, to underwrite charitable causes.
This money must be granted, however, to organizations which have qualified for non-profit tax status. In the United States, that means organizations which have obtained 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. In Canada, and most other countries, the government taxing authority offers similar designations to qualified organizations.
Non-profit corporations may be established to receive money that will be used for a charitable purpose, for the benefit of the community. If you have a community project, you can use the non-profit structure to find grants to fund your work, and to provide a salary to you while you do the work you enjoy.
It is often possible, also, to create a parallel structure of a business and a non-profit corporation, and thus provide indirect support to a business. An example might be a dance studio that offers classes to both private pay and low-income students. A parallel non-profit might be established to receive grant funds to provide scholarships to low-income dance students.
If you would like to learn how to write grants for a community project, or to start a new career as a Certified Grant Writer, check out our Grants Training Classes below.
Jillian Coleman Wheeler is a consultant to businesses and non-profit corporations. Through her website, www.GrantMeRich.com she provides professional training in finding and writing grants. Students may also become Certified Grant Writers. Information on real estate grants is available at www.NewAmericanLandRush.com.
Free Grant Tips are available at http://GrantMeRich.com/nl.htm.
