How to Apply for Free Government Grants Online

By Doug Hewitt

Overview

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the managing partner for grants.gov, which is the name of the main federal source for finding and applying for government grants. There is no fee associated with finding grants or applying for them at the grants.gov website. Grants are monetary awards, and federal grants are awards that are designed to meet a specific purpose or address a specific need as legislated by federal law.

How to Apply for Free Government Grants Online

Step 1

Become familiar with the grant process. Visit the grants.gov website and read through the site information and users' guides (see Resources below).
Step 2

Decide on what the grant money will be used for. Grants will not be awarded unless the applications are completely filled out with specific ways in which the money will be spent and how those expenditures will meet the requirements of the requested grant.

Step 3

Search the grant database at the grants.gov website. Expand your search if necessary to find more available grants by using general search terms, such as "community based health care" instead of a more specific term "inner-city immunizations." You can also search the database by categories, such as health or education. Search all of the categories that apply to how you plan to spend the grant money (see Resources below).
Step 4

Complete the grant applications online. Make sure the grant applications are filled out completely and accurately.
Step 5

Follow up if necessary to ensure your online grant application has been received. A grant application online will result in a confirmation email. If the email is not received, the contact information on the grant application should be used to query the grant organization about the application. Read the information at the grants.gov website about tracking your application (see Resources below).

Skill: Moderate
Tip: Read through the grant application and print it out before filling it out. Complete your answers and have them checked for grammar and spelling.
Tip: Talk to other people who have filled out grant applications successfully by finding online grant forums.
Warning:
Grant money must be used for the purpose specified in the grant request.
The grants.gov website does not provide personal financial assistance. Government benefits can be checked at the govbenefits.gov website (see Resources below).

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