Have you ever done a google or other search on "government grants" or "free money?" If so, you've probably noticed that all the search results seem to say the same thing. Does it ever occur to anyone to wonder why the same text appears on each site? And why so many of the sites are pretty much exact duplicates of one another? Maybe it's because many of these sites are operated by the same people under different names. Or maybe it's because the people who operate these sites are only interested in making money from suckers who buy their worthless books, CDs and other products. Believe me, these people have no real knowledge of government grants. They are not interested in helping you succeed, and they are definitely not performing a public service.
Here is what you commonly read at these sites:
The government is giving away billions of dollars in unclaimed grant money
. This is absolute nonsense. All government agencies have annual budgets which include funds for grants. While it is true that some of this grant money may not be awarded for various reasons, agencies are not just sitting around waiting for you to ask them for it. They either re-program the money, use it for specialized purposes, or give it back to the feds at the end of the year.
We guarantee that you will get a grant
. More nonsense. No one can guarantee that you will get a grant (unless perhaps you are an Enron and have influential government officials in your pocket). Grants are awarded through a highly competitive process. Do you really think that any of these scam artists have any clout with government agencies or can influence the process?
You haven't heard about these government grants because the government keeps them a secret or does not advertise them to the public
. Oh really? There is information available on nearly all grant programs and there are lots of places to get this info -- on the internet, on agency websites or at http://www.grants.gov; at any public library; or on websites maintained by reputable organizations and individuals.
Banks require a lot of paperwork for loans, but government agencies don't operate under the same requirements
. That's right, they don't. In fact the amount of paperwork required to apply for a government grant is probably 10 times more than the amount of paperwork needed to apply for a loan.
Just tell the government how much money you need
. Well, yes, but if you are legitimate organization applying for a government grant, you will need to provide a detailed budget showing exactly how the money will be spent.
Anyone can apply for a grant
. Very true -- anyone can apply. But with the exception of grants for educational assistance, the vast majority (perhaps 99%) of all government grants are given to non-profit organizations.
You can get a government grant to start your business or pay your bills
. The federal government doesn't give any grants for these purposes. Some state and local agencies do have special programs to provide people with financial assistance, but they often have stringent income or other requirements. It certainly doesn't hurt to find out what these agencies have to offer.
Money-back guarantee
. Maybe, but probably not.
Moral of the story? Do your research. Don't waste your money.
Posted by Deborah at July 28, 2004 06:46 AM
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