Are Government Grants real?

Question

I been looking around for information on Government Grants, but I'm not sure if this federal grants real or just a scam. Anyone that has any experience on this subject care to elaborate?

Answer 1

Yes, there really are government grants: money that they give you and you do not have to pay back. The government knows if you get better educated, and make more money, you will be a better citizen, and they will get more from taxes in the long run.

One web page to look at is: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/what010.htm#pell

To get the grant, you will fill out the FAFSA (at the web page above), and tell them which accredited school you are going to, and you may get a grant. I don't think they ever are very large (maybe topping out at $1000?) but it's free money.

You are right to be cautious: there are lots of scam web sites out there. In general, if you are getting information from the government about federal grants, there will the the .GOV in the address. Don't believe everything you read on .COM sites that say they will help you get grants/loans/scholarships.  

Answer 2

Yes grants are real

For education, check out Federal Student Aid Web Site or FAFSA http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/  I suggest you explore all federal funding and grant options at the Federal Student Aid website http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/  

You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two FREE sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support your purposes.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.

Note though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants.

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs