You see, as a single mother striving to maintain a day job while pursuing a career in free lance creative writing, spending time with my 11 year old son, and working on my novel, I take a lot of  “writing gigs” to help make ends meet, give me experience, and bulk up my writing resume. At the moment, and I mean specifically this moment, I am working, from home, as a content writer. Not exactly the category of writing I plan to make a lifetime career out of. Of I course I strive for more, as we all do. But it keeps me home with my boy and being paid to do something that I enjoy. And the rewarding part is, my published materials can actually help people. People like you. And people like me.

Currently, my assignment, which you are all, as readers, are now a part of, is to research and inform you about grant writing. It is my job to research facts and write informational material about any given topic, to be published online as a service to you, the public. Yes, I am required to write this article, about this topic, but I can promise you this…

This is an honest and spontaneous out pouring of thoughts from the mind of this author. Not your usual statistical facts. And with what I’ve found researching the topic, I’m sincerely anxious to share this valuable information. Maybe in some small way, I’m taking a nice break away from working by “blogging”.  Ha, who the heck takes a break from work, by doing the same thing they do at work? Writers!

As I learn, with you, about the grant writing process, I can see a potential possibility for myself that I hadn’t ever considered before taking this assignment. Or even ten minutes ago before I began this article about Grant writing.  Again, I am typing spontaneous thoughts that come to mind.

Over the past two weeks of researching and composing articles about grant writing, obviously, I learned a considerable amount of valuable information about the process. In efforts to, as my job, inform the public of various grant writing programs that are available to help American citizens achieve their goals., I’ve written various short informational blurbs about home grants, business grants, single mother’s grants, minority grants and many more. It just occurred to me that I could be eligible for a numerous amount of these grants.

I can acquire a single mom’s grants to start a home based business, since I work from a home office, a grant to purchase a much needed new computer and other office supplies, even minority grants (being a woman) to do anything I want. I’m going to start today. I think I’m going to start applying for these grants and perhaps start some type of home based grant writing business. Writing grant proposals for ambitious entrepreneurs could really be my niche’. And worth a try being that you don’t pay back grant money and have nothing to lose.

Besides, it could be good writing for me to take you along through a real life, step by step, “documentary” so to speak, to really put this system to the test. Now that’s as legitimately informational as it gets. (and good reporting too)

I would love to start my own home based grant writing business doing the three things I love best. Writing, helping people, and being home for my son. Let’s see if my research really goes the distance.

Stay tuned folks, I’ll be back with updates as things progress and we’ll all explore the benefits of grant writing together!

In recent times though, it’s becoming more and more popular for public school administrators to compete with those private institutions for that much needed government money. This is achieved by diligently applying the very same fundraising strategies that have proven to benefit these other organizations, grant writing!

All over the country secondary school principals and other public school authorities are looking beyond their traditional funding raising sources and executing this more effective and sophisticated technique of grant writing to raise virtually millions of dollars to benefit their schools.

Public education foundations across America have taken a more austere approach to writing grants and have become quite serious about the importance of fund raising. They have to! The measly excuse for a budget that is given to our public school systems is simply NOT ENOUGH. Now, in many cases, executive directors are hired full time to create and provide fundraising programs and leadership. In other instances, free lance professional grant writers and funding consultants are employed or contracted to seek out supplemental funding opportunities for local school districts.

With modern technology always on the rise, it can be quite difficult for under funded educational institutions to keep their students up to date with the technology they’ll need to be familiar with in today’s world. Our public school systems are writing grants everyday in efforts to receive free government money to finance the much needed equipment for their students such as, computers, software, and training classes for the educators who use this equipment with their students. Grant writing is also an excellent way for public schools to receive government grants to finance field trips, additional books and school supplies, upgrade the nutritional quality of their school lunch dietary plan, and virtually hundreds of other causes.

I’ll have to agree with the administration that the concept that our public education system is in dire need of an overhaul. Our children are indeed the forefront of our future. Not only do they DESERVE an excellent education; we NEED them to receive one. All of our futures depend on it.

This writer can only hope that more and more public school administrators practice the procedure of grant writing. With the funds made available by the US government through grants, our public education systems can be greatly improved and the future of our children may just be a little brighter.

One of the biggest problem the government grant program has is their lack of educating American consumers. The government spends $0 on advertising and marketing of these programs, which leaves many people in the dark about the truth.

There is over $30 billion that is given away every year, and many unqualified people are obtaining this free money simply because they are the only ones to apply for some of these grants. For example, there are programs that will help pay to start and run  a daycare center. These offers typically do not look at your income, as they are more interested in what you can do to help create jobs and propel the economy.

Sadly, many people who are aware of government grant programs simply think it is too good to be true and don’t bother to take a serious look at it. But if they simply searched for grants that they would qualify for and submit the applications, there’s a chance they would receive a check in the mail.

When they do, as long as the money is used for its intended purpose (i.e. funding a daycare), the money does not have to be repaid. It’s free money that is yours to keep.

The process to apply for government grants is fairly straight forward. While each grant program has slightly different application guidelines, they mostly follow the same process:

1. Search the government database for the federal program that you qualify for (there are over 3,000 to choose from)
2. Print the application and guidelines
3. Follow the instructions, which generally involves documenting your goals, what you plan to accomplish, what this money can help you achieve 5 years from now and what other funding resources you have.
4. Submit the application
5. Receive and cash check

The application process can be tedious, but when you consider the thousands of dollars you can receive in return, it is well worth the investment of your time.

To start, request a copy of the free grant application CD, which will allow you to access the government grant database and walk you through the application process. Just enter your information, and you’ll receive your free grant kit in the mail in a few days.