Where and how does grants work?

Question

i want to know how do you use and where do you find grants. plus what are some websites?

Answer 1

There are grants, and then there are grants!

You didn't indicate whether you are a US citizen (or permanent resident) attending an accredited US post-secondary institution. If you are, then the largest source of grant money, by far, is the federal government, through the Department of Education.

The Federal government makes grants through several programs - the largest is the Pell grant program, but there are other, less familiar programs, too. Depending on your major, you may qualify for a program like the "Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant" (TEACH), the Academic Competitiveness Grant, or the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (the "SMART" Grant).

The Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) are awarded purely on the basis of demonstrated financial need. You must complete the Department's FAFSA application (see link below), and the Department must determine that your family's ability to contribute to the cost of your higher education is quite minimal. The maximum annual Pell grant is currently $4731, and the maximum FSEOG grant (awarded on top of the Pell) is $4000 per year.

The other federal grant programs have specific qualifications -for example, if you will commit to teaching in certain low-income areas of the country, the TEACH grant offers up to $4000 a year to education majors. Accepting the grant creates a contractual obligation to work in these low income areas - if you accept a job elsewhere, you'll be required to pay your TEACH grant funds back (with interest).

To read more about the federal grants, visit the second link I've provided below.

Finally, there are certain non-governmental organizations that support higher education as a philanthropic mission. These organizations make private grant funds available to students who apply for funds - of course these programs are selective and each has its own rules and application process. Various websites have information about these private programs, but your single best resource will be the counseling office and/or college advisor at your high school, or the financial aid office at your college or university.

There are a large number of scams out there - companies that charge "fees" to help you find scholarships and grants. Proceed with caution if you decide to research grants and scholarships on your own.