What ya'll know about grants?

[chaska]

Someone was telling me that you could get a grant for most anything. I'm not sure I trust her knowledge of the subject. It sure would be nice if I could get a grant to start a small business.

[illflem]

1. She's right

there's tons of grants to be had from private industry as well as the government. Just google "getting grants" for days worth of reading.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Tomb?? n/t

[chaska]

4. tee hee

[HeeBGBz]

3. Know anyone who received one?

I wonder if it's worth checking into.

[chaska]

5. Yes, that's the question, right there.

[Historic NY]

6. there are lots of business grants check with your state or the following

start here, lots of different grants

http://www.fedmoney.com/grants/b0013.htm

[JVS]

7. Some guy in a bad suit sells a guide on TV late at night about grants

and how to get them

[Sufi Marmot]

18. This guy?

Matt Lesko. Disclaimer: I have no idea whether this guy's information is helpful or worth whatever $$$ he's asking for it - I've just seen him on TV hawking his products.

-SM, who probably watches too much bad late-night television...

[JVS]

23. yeah, that's him

[JanMichael]

20. I saw him in DC protesting before the Invasion.

Even wore the suit to the march...

[Longgrain]

8. I'd like to chime in

what about art grants...does anyone know how to, at the very least, apply for one? I'd be interested...

[MichaelHarris]

10. Longgrain

seriously look at some of the colleges near you, they have grant money outside the federal money that may suit your needs. federal money is fine but very competitive to get.

[Longgrain]

11. Thanks...

That's more of what I meant, I wasn't thinking so much of "federal money"...I know that's hard to get already, I was just curious as to what else might be out there...

[MichaelHarris]

12. y/w

defiantly look into colleges then, most of the private grant money is filtered through there.

[MichaelHarris]

9. chaska

there are some excellent books on grant writing in the libraries and for sale in bookstores. If I had any of my old ones I would give them to you. I left all that in Texas.

It can be a time consuming process because the grant proposals have guidelines that have to met, kind of like rules in the way they are written and submitted. My experience has been with scientific grants but I'm pretty sure other types follow similar guidelines.

As far as small business ones go at many large universities, such as U of I near me they have what is called a "think tank" program where counselors are available to help you prepare grants for things like small businesses. We've had 2 open in the last 3 months that came directly from that "think tank"

Hope some of this helped. :)

Michael

[chaska]

14. Hey Michael,

But how long do these things typically take?

I have a real aversion to even talking about this kind of stuff. I'm an artist type - with a very low BSTL (bullshit tolerance level). I can't deal with that sort of stuff. It makes me crazy.

[MichaelHarris]

15. LOL

I hate wading through the crap also. Typically for a scientific type grant it would 2 or 3 days to prepare it then it would be submitted and sent back if changes were needed.

A business grant could take less prep time unless you had to dig out a bunch of financial stuff to qualify. The 2 groups that opened their buisiness using the think tanks I mentioned actually worked for about 2 months but the business they opened is pretty big, computer consulting firm. Don't let that 2 month thing scare you, these guys opened a pretty big business with a staff and all. Also during the "think tank session" they actually started getting contracts.

[MichaelHarris]

16. I thought of some more info

the first step is to define your goal, what will your business be. Then set up a marketing strategy.

Some businesses can be started over night with just a simple business license. There are different ones, like a corporate license, single owner, things like that. What's important to remember about that is liability. I don't remember which one but one of those types of licenses protects your personnel assets from being involved in any litigation against the business. It may be called a Limited Liability license.

[theboss]

13. Does your "friend" wear really loud suits covered in punctuation marks?

I like her infomercials.

[NuttyFluffers]

17. often schools offer grant writing courses, take them!

there's an entire section of lawyers who do nothing but write grants all day long for employers. most lawyers are taught to write grants, and can do it for a fee, but some specialize in it and become grant writer lawyers for big corporations.

grant writing isn't easy -- the catch is if there is one error on the application then the application is ignored and thrown away, but you can't ask the bureaucratic clerks and officials whether or not you filled out the form correctly. it's a deliberate catch 22, but it can be worked around. the gov't throws serious money all over the place (where do you think all that pork goes? :D ) so might as well ask for your share (before america goes bankrupt).

there's a lot of books in the library about grant writing, there's also marketers selling tip books on it, but the best course, i believe, is see if you can take it as a class at an accredited college. that's wnat i'm hoping to do this upcoming semester.

best of luck!

[JanMichael]

19. A lot.

I review applications, manage grants, and write them myself.

It depends where you are but there are even grants/loans through certain branches of government that are for start-ups.

[chaska]

21. I'll be PMing you, JanMichael.

[oldlady]

22. I write and manage several grants

each year. As to the artist above...college grants are not always open to non-college-related artists-- or are geared toward honorarium-type guest lecturers, etc.

Almost every city has some sort of City Arts Commission that funds independent artists. Also, larger cities are likely to have a City Foundation -- where several philanthropic souls pool their resources (from family foundations and the like) to have a larger/more organized impact. -- often with names like Your Home Town Community Foundation.

While lawyers may train/charge to write grants, they really aren't that difficult-- it's the reporting processes after receiving the award that knock me out -- watch for what strings might be attached.