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Step 1
Check your city for grants, if you are a small business. Some cities offer grants to persuade small businesses to start or further develop their business in their local area, especially in urban districts. You should call or go to your city's Chamber of Commerce for information on available grants.
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Step 2
Apply for a Pell Grant, if you are a college undergrad in dire financial need who is working on a professional or bachelors degree. If you are enrolled in an accredited college, university, nursing school or vocational school, you can apply for this type of grant. A Pell Grant can pay up to $2,700 annually towards your educational costs. Your grades have to be deemed as satisfactory to be considered and you will need to show proof of your financial situation. For more information, you should write the Division of Policy Development, Student Financial Assistance Programs, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
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Step 3
Apply for a grant from the Department of Energy, if you need funding to develop inventions that relate to non-nuclear energy. Those considered eligible include institutions of higher learning, inventors and small businesses. For additional requirements and information on how to apply for a grant, you should write to Inventions and Innovation Division, Energy-Related Inventions Programs, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,SW, Washington, D.C. 20585.
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Step 4
Consider applying for a housing grant from the Veterans Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, if you are a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. military. Vets with service-related disabilities can apply for grants, like the Special Home Adaptations Grant and the Specially Adapted Housing Grant. If you wish to apply for one of these grants, contact veterans' organizations, such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars to assist you.
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Step 5
Search pertinent grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, if you want funding for a group, organization, school or special program geared towards the arts. This includes areas such as music, opera, dance, theater, literature, arts education and other artistic fields. Competition is very stiff for these grants, so writing an effective grant proposal is imperative.
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Step 6
Make an effort to apply for special grants geared towards minorities, if you are African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian-American. Some examples of federally funded grants for minorities are The United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Nurses Association Grant, the Tribal Wildlife Grant and the Asian-American Arts Foundation.
