Review of Government Grant Guides

We've heard it all before: "There are billions of dollars in government grants just waiting to be claimed!"

How accurate is this assertation?

Well, you have to be very careful about who to trust when searching for grants. There are piles and piles of paperwork to sift through when seeking a grant, and people often give up because they don't understand the legalities and fine print. Apparently, the government has made it as difficult as possible for people to apply for and receive grants.

Essentially, grants are free money given by the government for a specific purpose. In the last several years, more and more grants have become available for women and minority owned businesses, especially those that offer a service to the community. Non-profit organizations are eligible for grants, as well as profiting organizations that give back to a particular group. You can find grants to buy a home, write a book, start a new business, or pay off debts. They are certainly out there; you just have to have the right reference guide to help.

I have done extensive research on the guides to grant research on the internet. Many are scams to get your money, and offer nothing but generalized advice that will lead you nowhere. However, some actually lead you directly to the grant of your dreams. Here are the results of my research:

1. Grant-Sources.com

This well-organized directory offers access to thousands of grant directories, a guide to putting together a grant proposal, information about filling out grant applications, and access to hundreds of private grant foundations. It also lists information about scholorships for particular groups, and how to obtain them. Grant-sources offers a 90-day money back guarantee, which means that you have nothing to lose by ordering their product.

Rating: ***** out of *****
Price: $39.95
Website: www.grant-sources.com

2. UncleSamsMoney.com

Uncle Sam's Money is one of the most comprehensive, organized grant directories on the web. It offers 15 free bonuses when you sign up, as well as an updated list of all of the grants available to particular people. The grants are searchable by subject, and clearly defined.

Rating: ***** out of *****
Price: $39.95
Website: www.unclesamsmoney.com

3. Government Free Money

This is an excellent guide for small business-based grants. It offers a no-nonsense explanation of each grant, and searchable listings through various categories. The site is a little difficult to navigate, however, and the price is high compared to equivilent sites of its caliber.

Rating: **** out of *****
Price: $49.95
Website: www.government-free-money.com

4. Scholarship Grant Guide

Here is another great guide, though it is focused primarily on scholarships rather than other types of grants. The text can be difficult to read, and it offers extraneous information that may have nothing to do with your actual search. The quality of the scholarships, however, are excellent.

Rating: **** out of *****
Price: $49.00
Website: www.scholarshipandgrantguide.com

5. Government Grants

This site would be amazing if it weren't for the pop-up advertisements that arise every time you click a link. They obviously rely quite a bit on advertising, which takes away from the over-all impression of the site. There aren't any bonus items, and the information is of average quality.

Rating: *** out of *****
Price: $39.95
Website: www.governmentgrants.com

6. Federal Grants

Federal Grants is an excellent site if you have a specific search query narrowed down. It is extremely difficult to navigate if you want to browse the topics because you can't get back to your original search without starting all over. There are also quite a bit of pop-up advertisements, though not so many as with Governmentgrants.com.

Rating: *** out of *****
Price: $39.95
Website: www.federalgrants.com

7. Get Free Grants

This is a cheaper guide, and for good reason. The categories are not very well-organized, and the lay-out is difficult to follow. Again, if you have a specific search, you might find it here, but you would probably do better with paying a little more money for quality.

Rating: ** out of *****
Price: $29.95
Website: www.getfreegrants.com

8. Today I Can

Here is a guide for which I would not begin to waste my money. Poorly designed over-all, Today I Can focuses primarily on private foundations, and not on government grants. The categories are not well-defined, the font and graphics placement are poor, and the information is brief, at best. A classic case of: You Get What You Pay For.

When pursuing this type of endeavor, it is always best to choose a venue that offers a money back guarantee. That way, if you are dissatisfied, you haven't taken a risk. Even though most grant sites are inexpensive, thirty and forty dollar investments tend to add up. If you are serious about locating and applying for a grant, you should go with the best - you'll achieve better results.