Monthly Archives: April 2015

Obtaining Research Grants: Where and How to Find Them

research fundingGrants are often awarded to nonprofit organizations and not individuals. Individuals seeking grants must pursue other funding routes other than public charities or private foundations. If you’re a researcher in need of capital, you can scour various grant news online to see if there are any available funding opportunities for research. Usually, there are a handful. If you’re affiliated with a school you may contact your administration office since some colleges and universities offer sponsored programs dedicated to coordinating grant requests. This way, it also helps researchers like yourself find the right grant opportunity.

Also, never underestimate the power of your connections. Your peers and colleagues can help you if they know any funding sources available. There is also an array of national organizations that have local chapters managing their own funding programs. Another good approach is to seek a nonprofit or grantmaker that offers support for individual projects.

Check out the list below on how and where to find research funding:

Grants.gov

The site is your home of federal grants resources and are organized by topic. You can select the topic of your choice, which provides links to pages that provide information for the 26 federal grantmaking agencies. Some of these agencies financially backup individual research projects. The site is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and offers users “full service electronic grant administration”, along with available grant application forms and guidelines you can download and peruse.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) aims to encourage and further scientific progress at the national level by competitively providing grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in key areas of science, mathematics, and engineering.

GrantSelect

GrantSelect is a self-proclaimed practical online grants resources site that include organizational and government grantmakers. You can access this database at no charge at your nearest Foundation Center library.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH’s Office of Extramural Research provides various types of grants, basics of grant applications and support for research projects in the field of biomedicine.

Michigan State University Libraries

MSU Libraries presents a compilation of grant funding sources for individuals , such as scholarships or financial aid for students that are arranged by academic level, population group, subject and additional choices.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

The CFDA is a government-wide collection of Federal programs that offer assistance or benefits to state and local governments, private nonprofit and for-profit agencies, specialized groups, and individuals. You can search and browse information on assistance by agency, program area, and other specific areas that is associated with your research project.

Social Science Research Council

SSRC, an independent, nonprofit international organization, supports grant programs and fellowships in the social sciences. The site’s Fellowship section offers access to information on current funding opportunities and online grant applications. Plus, there’s a handy guide to writing a research grant proposal. The SSRC’s work is made possible by grants from private and public institutions, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, the United Nations, the Ford Foundation among others.

Pivot

Pivot offers a global source compendium of funding opportunities and has grown with 700 member institutions. You can register for free, however you won’t get access to the funding database. There’s a free trial access for 30 days that you can try.

National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency that is known as the leading funder of humanities programs across the United States. NEH’s grants are designed for cultural institutions such as libraries, colleges, universities, museums, and to individual scholars.  It supports humanities learning and funds research and education.

Can You Get Grants to Help Pay for Medical Bills

medical billMedical bills are personal expenses. If you’re seeking for financial assistance that can help pay for your medical costs, you should probably look into charitable institutions or government-assistance programs instead of foundation grants. Grants from foundations are typically awarded to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, and those that afford these grants to individuals generally do so to aid in paying for education or research-type of endeavors, not for debt relief or medical assistance.

You may need these medical funds as soon as possible, but it takes time to research about the few foundations that grant emergency funding to individuals. Perhaps, there are more direct medical funding resources in your area, which include government agencies, community or faith-based organizations, and loans or donations from generous individuals. You might also try connecting with your local officials to ask about government-backed or other benefit programs for which you may qualify.

Here are a few possible ways where you can search and acquire grants for medical bills:

HRSA’s Find a Health Center

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administrations (HRSA) is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that offers an access to a list of centers that deliver health and dental care to individuals of all ages. HRSA also caters to people whether or not they have health insurance or the funds to pay for healthcare.

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Fundraising Ideas for Patients

Patient Advocate Foundation offers fundraising ideas and implementation for patients who urgently need financial assistance.

NeedyMeds

NeedyMeds offers information on tools, resources and programs to help individuals find free or low-cost prescription medications.

BenefitsCheckUp

BenefitsCheckUp, created and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), is a web-based screening service that help the elderly with limited income and resources find benefits programs that they need.

Remote Area Medical Program

Established by its Founder and President Stan Brock, Remote Area Medical is a nonprofit, volunteer, airborne relief corps committed to serving people by offering free healthcare, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and educational and technical aid to people located in remote areas of the United States and abroad.

NIH’s Financial Aid for Eye Care

The National Eye Institute (NIH) provides a resource list of programs that offer financial assistance to assess or treat an eye problem.

Aunt Bertha’s Connecting People and Programs

Aunt Bertha’s extensive program database allows users to easily search for food, health, education and housing programs.

NORD’s Patient Organizations Database

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s Patient Organizations Database lets you search through thousands of organizations that offer help and support to patients that suffer from rare diseases and disorders.

MedlinePlus Go Local Financial Assistance

You can search for various resources for health-related care by city, county or state. You can also voice your concerns about paying your medical bills with your healthcare provider, business office of your hospital or clinic or social worker.

This list will guide you in the proper direction. You can also talk to a lawyer or your hospital how to get legitimate medical funding programs and services. Try not to let your medical bills blow up. Remember that medical bills result into the same situation as credit card bills.

How to Get Grants for Your Personal Project

personal project

Have you ever needed additional capital to fund a personal or independent project? There are many grants available that could financially back your projects. However, if your project involves attending conferences or summer camp, raising funds for a certain person in need or travelling abroad for a mission, these things are not eligible to receive federal or foundation grants.

But if your project requires a research-related, business or artistic venture, and that it serves a purpose for social good, then you might qualify for a fiscal sponsorship as a way to be eligible for grants. Fiscal sponsorship means that a 501(c)(3) public charity formally arranges a project sponsorship that lack exempt status. This option of starting your own nonprofit enables grantseekers like yourself to solicit tax-deductible donations and grants under your sponsor’s exempt status.

So, it’s most likely that your grant funds will come from individual donors. Compared to foundation and government grants, individual donations aren’t limited to nonprofits and charitable institutions. People can and will contribute cash to others if so inclined. Still, this type of direct gifts are not tax-deductible for the donor. Also, they’re not exactly tax-exempt for you as the recipient, which means that any donations you take will be considered as personal income.

Don’t worry, though. There are tons of creative ways to raise money for your independent, personal project. It’s crucial to have adequate time to plan and execute your fundraising agenda. A few links and tips are listed below to help you get started in raising cash for your project.

  • Fundraising Ideas: The Fundable website helps its users search for the best fundraiser ideas easily and quickly. According to the website, “When the economy is weak, many people slow down on their contributions to non-profits and civic organizations that need those donations continue their community service.”
  • Simply smart savings: SmartyPig is an online piggy bank that charges at no cost. It’s designed for people saving for specific financial goals like having a vacation, wedding or even a flat-screen TV! SmartyPig lets you save for a rainy day, plus helps you reach your goals faster and provides you the most bang for your buck when you get there.
  • Funding volunteer trips overseas: There are various organizations that cater to international volunteers who want to make a difference in the world. If you want to volunteer and seeking funds to cover your expenses, you might try out credible programs such as the International Fellows Program (IFP) or the Peace Corps Fellows/USA program. The IFP is an internship for current U.S. college graduates and graduate students to deliver on-the-spot job development experiences in Africa for nine months. IFP applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents, and be a recent university graduate. Peace Corps Fellows provides returning Peace Corps volunteers financial benefits such as reduced tuition fees, scholarships and university credit in advanced degree programs at participating higher education institutions. Returned volunteers have lifetime eligibility for Fellows/USA if they have adequately accomplished their Peace Corps service.
  • Fundraise online for medical expenses, living expenses related to illness or injury, funeral expenses, pet medical expenses: GiveForward house personal coaches that can help you raise funds for your needs. Its website features pages that inspire and encourage family and friends to send love and financial support to patients suffering from a medical crisis. You can create a page and contribute to raise funds for a loved one.

Finding Grants to Pay for Elementary, Middle or High School Tuition

ElementaryStudentsAs a college student, you probably have heard that you may be eligible to apply for college grants and scholarships, and student loans. But if you or your parent is seeking pre-college financial support, funding opportunities can be hard to come by.

Federal financial aid is often for those attending college or university, trade or career school, or those earning their postgraduate degrees. However, some foundations offer grants to students who wish to attend elementary, middle or high school.

You can contact your school’s financial aid office or inquire if your state’s Department of Education gives financial assistance or vouchers to attend elementary, middle or high school.

You can also check out this list of resources to help find the grants you’re looking for:

A Better Chance

A Better Chance refers academically outstanding students of color entering grades 6 to 11 to some of the country’s finest schools to be considered and prepared for financial aid, placement and positions of leadership.

Children’s Scholarship Fund

The Children’s Scholarship Fund offers partial tuition aid for low-income families to send their children entering kindergarten through 8th grade to private schools. Students must be 5 years or older to accept scholarships.

Learn About Financial Aid | SSS by NAIS

This National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) site aims to make private education more affordable by providing private school financial aid resources for young students, parents and families including a financial aid guide and an overview of types of assistance.

Black Student Fund

In conjunction with its member schools, the Black Student Fund grants tuition assistance to low- and moderate-income black families with children who are attending educational institutions. Children should be entering grades pre-kindergarten through 12.

Financial Aid for Private Elementary and Secondary Schools

PrivateSchools.com offers financing options for students pursuing private elementary and secondary education. These options include scholarships, tuition payment plans, loans, and need assessment companies.

FinAid

FinAid is an all-inclusive financial aid website that provides some information, resources and tools on loans and other types of financial aid to fund students attending private elementary schools.

Scholarship Finder

Alliance for School Choice has a scholarship finder that lists scholarships by state for private K-12 education. The site finder includes nationwide scholarships, tips and resources on where else to look for additional funding opportunities.

Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae is a financial services company that oversees more than 500 college savings plans. It offers a K-12 Family Education Loan which is the ideal solution for students and their families who need extra flexibility in paying for private education beyond financial aid, traditional payment plans or personal income and savings.

Young Scholars Program

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholars Program aims to foster excellent students who have proved that they have the potential to excel. Students can apply for the program in 7th grade, enter the program in 8th grade, and continue through high school.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The National Association of Independent Schools renders a comprehensive overview about financing elementary or secondary private school tuition, information on scholarship opportunities, student merit-based awards.