How to Get Grant Money Free and Easy

1. $2
FREE MONEY SOURCES
Beware of
Grant Scams
(page 1)
Free Local
Grant Libraries
(page 1)
Public vs.
Private Grants
(page 2)
HOW TO GET Secrets of a
Grant Writer
GRANT MONEY (pages 2 & 3)
FREE AND EASY Low-Cost Grant
Seminars
(page 3)

2. FREE MONEY SOURCES
BEWARE OF GRANT SCAMS!!!
Guard your wallets because there are grant scams
everywhere you turn. If it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is. Maybe you’ve heard bits and pieces about free
grant money on TV, radio, or YouTube. You may have paid
money on a website to get a grant listing. They may have
promised you a $10,000 grant if you paid $1,000 upfront.
The economy is tight, and you might become an innocent
bystander in a free money scam, so please beware.
Here are 3signs of a grant scam.
1. PAY MONEY UPFRONT TO GET FREE MONEY
There are thousands of real grant opportunities available that don’t charge you a penny to apply. In
fact, most grant funders want you to apply! That’s because foundations are created to give away
money to people, businesses and nonprofit organizations. If they had to charge people to apply, they
would never get an applicant. So, if there is a website that is requiring payment in order for you to
apply for a grant, this is a fraud. Or they may charge you a fee to do a grant search. Why should you
pay when you can visit a grant library in your own community where you can search free -of-charge?
2. YOU’RE GUARANTEED TO GET A GRANT
If a company guarantees that you will get a grant, please read the small print. A grant committee
meets once a month or a few times a year to select grant recipients. They must review hundreds of
applicants to find the one who meets the qualifications. Sometimes there is only one recipient, other
times there may be a dozen. If you apply for a grant and do not meet the minimum qualifications, do
not expect to receive it. How can a company know that you will get a grant unless they are a psychic
mind reader? If a grant proposal is well written, it can increase your chances t o get a grant, but never
guaranteed.
3. HIGH PRESSURE INTO MEETING DEADLINES
There are many grants that have deadlines, and there are some with rolling deadlines. Some grant
funders accept applications year-round and fund your idea on an as-need basis. If there is a company
telling you that you should pay them money right away so that you can meet a certain grant deadli ne,
it is most likely a scam. When you feel that you might miss a grant opportunity deadline, you will be
more inclined to pay any amount of money just to meet that deadline. Take your time and research
the grant before you apply, and make sure it is worth your time and energy.
FREE LOCAL GRANT LIBRARIES
DONORS FORUM EVANSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
208 S. LaSalle, Ste. 1535 1703 Orrington Ave.
Chicago, IL 60604 Evanston, IL 60201
© 2012 RK Armour Consulting skyscraperseminars.com (312) 957-4717 x101 Page 1

3. FREE MONEY SOURCES
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE GRANTS
Public grants are awarded by federal government agencies, while
private grants are funded by foundations or family trusts unassociated
with the government. There are also corporate grants funded by
corporations such as Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. There are advantages
and disadvantages to both types.
ADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC GRANTS:Public grants usually offer larger sums of
money. Also, accessing information about these grants, such as
deadlines and application forms, is often easy.
DISADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC GRANTS:The application process is more
bureaucratic, and competition is tougher because of so many
applicants.
ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE GRANTS:Private grants are easier to get and more likely to be awarded to individuals.
Also, the application process is usually simpler.
DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE GRANTS:The grant amounts are generally smaller, and finding information usually
involves more research time.
No matter which route you choose, there is a large possibility that you will get a grant; it depends on how
many you apply to, and how closely you meet the qualifications. It is recommended that you search for
public grants on websites like grants.gov and private grants on foundationcenter.org.
SECRETS OF A GRANT WRITER
I’ve earned over $250,000
in grants, fellowships,
I won a fellowship to
travel abroad to Nigeria,
BY RK ARMOUR
awards, and scholarships West Africa and conducted
throughout my career, and research on Western
I am going to tell you how media and women. I won a
to do the same. business start-up grant
from Avon and impressed
At an early age, I learned judges such as Phylicia
how to write fundraising Rashad (Cosby Show),
letters out of necessity. I Sarah Ferguson (Duchess
came from an of York), and Suze Orman
impoverished household, (Financial Expert).
and my parents could not
afford to pay for any Your writing skills must be
extracurricular activities. able to convince the
selection committee that
Therefore, I learned to use you are the perfect
my talents and skills in candidate for the grant.
written and oral You must use proper
communications to gain grammar, and be able to
access to programs and tell a story about how you
opportunities mostly or your organization will
available to the privileged. use the funds.
© 2012 RK Armour Consulting skyscraperseminars.com (312) 957-4717 x101 Page 2

4. FREE MONEY SOURCES
SECRETS OF A GRANT WRITER CONTINUED…
Whether you are writing a grant So, when writing the budget, agency and using similar
for yourself, business or please keep in mind that you language in your proposal. Find
nonprofit organization, you must should list every single item you out the mission and values, and
be able to tell a story. The story will need to make your proposed align yourself with what they
should describe the people who project a success. That way you believe. That way, when they
will benefit from the money and can buy what you really, really read your application, they will
show the funding agency as the need. think you are a perfect match.
hero.
Many funders don’t like it when Also, be creative in your
Those funders want to feel that you are unrealistic about how approach and read the RFP
their money is being put to good much it will cost to run your (Request for Proposal) in great
use, so come up with a creative project, so be as honest as detail. That way you won’t make
idea that will “wow” them. Your possible. If you need a million careless mistakes on the
grant proposal must have a dollars, don’t say you need application. When you forget to
complete plan of action on how $100,000. That’s because the include additional items such as a
you will put your funds to good funders will think you haven’t resume, or references, then it
use. thought about your project in will only delay the process.
enough detail.
I’ve been able to purchase Many funders have online
transportation, computers, When you receive the grant, they applications, but some still use
books, projectors, real estate, must be confident that you can the traditional approach.
and other items from grants I handle the money and will do Sometimes they want you to
have received through the years. what you say you will do. One make several copiesof the
There’s nothing in fine print benefit for the funding agency is application and send it by USPS.
which states you have to return the free publicity they get when
these items, so after your project they award a grant to your cause. If you are looking for a grant that
is up, that property is yours to requires a 501(c)3 status with the
keep. You might reuse those One secret to being a successful IRS, you should visit irs.gov or
items in a new project and be grant writer is conducting find a fiscal sponsor by visiting
able to help more people. thorough research on the fiscalsponsordirectory.org.
LOW-COST GRANT SEMINARS
Located at the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower),
Skyscraper Seminars provides low-cost seminars,
workshops, and conferences to anyone who is looking
to start a business venture or nonprofit organization.
Even current business owners can benefit from these
high-impact and exciting workshops with a beautiful
view of Chicago’s amazing skyline.
For as little as $10, individuals can learn about topics
such as grant writing, business proposal writing, new
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strategies, and much more. One-on-one consultations
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always available.
To learn more about Skyscraper Seminars, visit
skyscraperseminars.com or call 1(877)759-8291 x101.
Group discounts are available.
Mention Offer Code: ____________________________
© 2012 RK Armour Consulting skyscraperseminars.com (312) 957-4717 x101 Page 3