There are thousands of government grants available worth billions of dollars.  At any given time, you may be eligible for a number of grants so, the most difficult part in the process can be deciding for which grant to apply.

One way to apply for grant money is to visit www.grants.gov, the only government run grant web site.  Once registered, you can access information about thousands of grants.  The site has information about eligibility and application requirements.  You can apply to multiple grants, so record the Opportunity Numbers of all the grants you are eligible for that fit your needs.  You can use this site to not only find and apply for grants but to also track their progress.

Another option is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which can either be mailed to you or downloaded from www.cfda.gov. The catalog has information about all the Federal programs that are available to everyone from individuals to state and local governments.  When using the catalog, once you have found the grants for which you want to apply, it is up to you to contact the administrating office for the application and further instructions.

Before starting the application process, it is important to make sure that your plan for the grant money is well thought out.  You will be asked for all the details about your venture, having a clear plan will facilitate completing the application.  Keep copies of all the elements of the application since the administrating office for the grant may contact you regarding your application.  It is better to be able to refer to a copy of the application than to rely on your memory.

Some feel that the process of applying for grants seems daunting.  There are professional grant writers available for hire.  If you are applying for a grant for a business or large organization, the amount is $10,000 or more, or both, it may be a good idea to hire a grant writer since they are familiar with the process and can help make sure you are as prepared as possible.  

There are many resources available online that can help with the application process.  Complete the entire application, including the detailed outline of the project for which the grant money will be used.  Make sure to send the completed application in by the deadline, you cannot be considered for the grant if your application is not received.