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Grants are funds dispersed by one party (Grant Makers), often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often (but not always) a non profit entity, educational institution or business. Such application processes, generally require some form of Grant Writing often referred to as either proposals or submissions. For more information regarding successful grant submissions see Grant Writing
Many Grant Makers require Grant Seekers to have some form of tax-exempt status, be a registered nonprofit organization or a local government. Most grants are made to fund a specific project and require some level of reporting. The Grant Writing process involves an applicant submitting a proposal (or submission) to a potential funder, either on the applicant's own initiative or in response to a Request for Proposal from the funder. Other grants can be given to individuals, such as victims of natural disasters or individuals such as people who seek to open a small business.
Intergovernmental grants facilitate:
- Tiered funding to other levels of government (state, local government) from various taxes collected at federal and state levels. These grants provide the main source of general revenue for lower levels of government. Examples of this are found in the US, Australia and Kenya.
- Program related funding (e.g. federal education funding for activities administered by state governments) are often recurring grants, providing the main source of revenue for programs.
- Project related funding (e.g. combined federal and state funding for a freeway) are very large grants negotiated at Government policy level. However smaller grants may be provided by a government agency (e.g. municipal government).
Project related funding to governments, business, communities and individuals is often arranged by application either in writing or on-line.
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North America
USA
- See also: Federal assistance in the United States
In the US, grants most often come from a wide range of Government departments or an even wider range of public and private trusts and foundations. According to the Foundation Center1 these trusts and foundations number in excess of 88 000 and disperse in excess of $40 billion every year. Government grants can be searched on [www.grants.gov]. Trusts and Foundations are a little more complex to research and can be found through subscription based directories, such as the Foundation Center Directory Online [1] subscription fees vary - the most basic Foundation Center Directory will cost you c $240 for one year, however the search capabilities of this entry level subscription are somewhat limited. More functional versions begin at $480 for one year.
Due to the complex and evermore competitive nature of grant seeking, many grant seekers engage the services of professional grant research and Grant Writing services.
Most often, grants are issued by the government to students through attending post-secondary education institutions. In certain cases, a part of a government loan is issued as a grant, particularly pertaining to promising students seeking financial support for continuing their educations.
There are grants related sources 2
Europe (EU)
Ireland
There are quite a few grant giving organisations in Ireland, but IRCSET and SFI are the best for Research Grants.
Denmark
SU
SU is the States Educationsupport (Statens Uddannelsesstøtte) and is available to all students, including students as young as 16 years of age. This is available to all age groups currently under courses. There are two systems of SU.
- Youth Education (UngdomsUddannelse)
Available to all students in pre-college educations.
- Post-Secondary Education (Videre Gående)
Available to all students in post-secondary or higher educations. This system is a clip card grant good for 5 years and 10 months.
UK
Grants are made available in the UK for a variety of business, charitable and research purposes. The biggest grant distributors are government departments and agencies which offer grants to third party organisations (often a charitable organisation) to carry out statutory work on their behalf. Other major grant distributors in the UK are the National Lottery, charitable trusts and corporate foundations (through Corporate Social Responsibility policies).
Grants are time limited (usually between one and three years) and are offered to implement existing government policies, to pilot new ways of doing things or to secure agreed outcomes.
Over the years the discipline of writing grant bids has developed into a specialised activity. Many organisations employ fundraising professionals to carry out this work. The work of a fundraiser will include the search and preparation of grant bids. In the UK the fundraising profession is governed by The Institute of Fundraising.
Google contributes to the grants process in the UK through its Google Grants programme. Any charitable organization can benefit financially from free AdWords advertising if they can help to achieve outcomes shared with Google3.
References
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- This page was last modified on 28 December 2008, at 03:43.
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