Grant Writing For Dummies, 5th Edition

Chapter 4

Investigating the Government Options

In This Chapter

Looking in and around your zip code for government money

Checking out federal grant-making programs and Grants.gov

Using politicians to do your scouting work

Let me set the record straight when it comes to government money: There is no such thing as a “free” grant. Every grant award comes with strings attached. Either you have to spend your own money first (reimbursement grant) and submit receipts to actually get grant funds, or you have to file reams of electronic paperwork to generate an electronic funds transfer into your organization’s bank account.

In this chapter, I take you on a journey down the government’s grant-making highway, which starts in Congress and ends in your state, county, town, village, or city. I also reveal how to get your legislators to support your grant-seeking efforts.

Looking for Money at Home First via State and Local Agencies

Washington, DC, is a funding epicenter for U.S.-based government grant seekers. All the country’s money seems to flow toward the capital, and then Congress votes to activate the trickle-down process to your state capital. (Note that there are plentiful opportunities ...