The Secret to Winning Government Grants

While you may be eligible for a government grant, you will be competing with thousands, or even tens of thousands, of other applicants. You need to improve your chances of winning the grant you are seeking. Here are a few tips that can help increase your odds of winning a government grant:

Find the Right Government Grant

Every government grant has a list of criteria that define those who are eligible. Most applicants only qualify for one grant, but if you are lucky enough to be eligible for two (or more) grants, then decide which one is less competitive.

You should also research and see if some grants are more sympathetic to your circumstances. For instance, some grant boards are more likely to offer housing grants for single-parent households or people with disabilities. Make an effort to determine which grant will be more likely to seriously consider your application.

Most governments and institutions have their own specific procedures to handle grants, so it’s recommendable to request more information about the specific steps to be taken when applying for a specific grants. The nature of the proposal might make it so that additional information must be provided to certify that the individual or organization behind the proposal has the qualifications to carry out the project.

Be Prepared

Know everything that will be expected of you before embarking on the grant application process. This is especially important for an application process that will require some form of an oral interview. Carry copies of any important documents (such as your children’s birth certificates, or medical records) and be prepared to answer any questions that may be posed.

Most grants follow a standard template: an institution, usually a government or a non-profit organization, announces that it will offer grants to complete work that is aligned with their organization. In the case of the Federal Government, their goal is the public interest. For private companies, perhaps they want to increase goodwill in the community. For non-profit’s, they most likely want to bolster the effectiveness of their programs.

Ask for Help

If you know someone who has undergone the process before, ideally successfully, then you should consult them on what you should expect. Similarly, you can ask for help from some of the friendlier staff at the application office. Filling in a form incorrectly could immediately void your application.

4. Stand Out, Be Articulate

Communicate your needs clearly in your application form or interview. The grant application process is a competition between people who have similar needs to yours. You need to stand out from the pile by being clear and articulate about why you need the grant, and how the grant can affect your life, and your household’s quality of life.

Don’t let the review board make guesses concerning your needs. Clearly give it to them. You could seek the help of someone to draft your application, or even take some writing and elocution lessons to improve the clarity of your appeal.

5. Don’t Lie

This is the biggest mistake you can make when applying for a grant. Thanks to information sharing across government agencies (both on a federal and state level), when you lie about your income level or the number of dependents, you will be easily caught. This will not only lead to your grant being rejected, but you might be charged with attempting to defraud the government. Be honest in your application.

These aren’t the only means through which the federal government offers support to their citizens. Over one trillion dollars is spent every year in programs designed to help improve the quality of life of millions of low-income families across the country. They are designed to help them cover food and medical expenses, as well as giving them access to helpful resources such as a smartphone or vehicle at very low or no cost.