:( I was just wondering how to find out how to apply for grants for people who are just searching for grants for just about anything. I mean I get these emails all the time about grant searches but they all charge a fee just to apply. Now I realize that money just doesn't get thrown at you for free but I also realize that there is just a ton of grants out there that we just don't know about.

Mike, I too would like to know. You are right. If there are government grants available, then somebody should be able to tell us without charging a fee. I mean someone surely has gotten a grant and can tell us about it.

Please add me to the list of people looking for info.

My email address is [email protected]

Thanks,
Gary

As a general rule if you use internet search engines type and enter this way (without quotation marks)
"United States government grants"
Most hits you want to find will be from within those search results.

Internet Explorer 6.01 takes me directly to what I want based on previous searches. I hope this helped all of you.

Go to

http://www.firstgov.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.grants.gov/

Best of Luck :D

Chicago has a library called the Donor's Forum, they have a site on the Internet, as well as, specific libraries have books and publications regarding grants; however, the key to obtain a grant is patience and diligence... many Grantors give to larger organizations or provide seed money to an organization that will meet some type of social need, however, some Grantors allocate % to individuals especially in the fields of math, science, arts and of course by ethnicity. Some states, as well as, city government offer grants, contact your local city government to obtain a listing.

People charge a fee because that's their business. If you wanted a pizza and didn't want to bake it yourself, you would call Dominoes and pay the guy $10 when he brings it to the door. If you call a private business about grant advice, expect to pay a fee. If you prefer to get the info for free, go down to your local federal building and ask for help. Those folks are paid by the taxpayers (all of us) and will give you the appropriate assistance.

As far as non-governmental grants, these typically go to third-party originators (organizations who serve a specific social need). For example, the Ford Foundation, one of America's most prestigious grant providors may make a grant to an arts organization who then makes smaller grants to local artists. Ford does this because it know the arts organization is legitimate, but doesn't have the time to screen the individual artists. The local arts group does this for them.

Good luck!

As nutty as Anthony Lesko looks on TV commercials, his book is awesome.

Don't pay the ridiculous TV price for it, though. Check it out from your local library. It's great browsing.