Grants for Senior Citizens

Financial Assistance through Grants

The federal government awards grants to organizations and individuals who need funds to implement an activity which is authorized by federal law. Approximately 26 federal agencies offer more than 1,000 types of grants annually in a variety of subject areas. Many of the grants offered are specifically-designed to help the senior citizen.

Large corporations, charities and many foundations also offer cash to support worthwhile activities. There are more than 72,000 foundations in the United States which gave a total of over $40 billion in grants in 2007. According to research by the Foundation Center, a national grant information center, grant-making continues to grow each year with foundations increasing their awards every year.

Grants can be issued for a specific purpose (such as the grants offered by the federal government) or the grant can be "unrestricted", which means that the funds can be used for any use of the receiving organization.

Grants For Senior Citizens

There are a wide variety of grants available each year to support the needs of seniors. Federal grants can meet senior needs for nutrition, education and housing needs. Foundations also offer specialized grants for organizations who are working with seniors and which are supporting education, good health, affordable housing, senior safety and volunteerism.

However, there are very few grants awarded specifically to an individual. Regardless of what some commercials may tout, there is not a mysterious bank of free money just waiting to be tapped to help someone with living or medical expenses, for example. Individuals seeking assistance need to work through agencies and organizations.

Federal

Examples of federal grants include:

• Capital Assistance Program for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities provides funds to meet the transportation needs of elderly persons where public transportation services are not available or appropriate.
• The Foster Grandparent Program is designed to promote volunteer service by persons 60 or older who have limited incomes. Funds are available to support volunteer programs which provide personalized service to children with exceptional or special needs.
• Mortgage Insurance-Rental Housing for the Elderly provides quality rental housing for the elderly. Funds are available for programs which insure mortgage lenders against loss and which increase the number of rental housing opportunities for seniors.
• Nutrition Services Incentive Program provides funds to state agencies on aging and Indian Tribal Organizations to purchase foods and commodities from the United States Department of Agriculture to be used in the preparation of nutrition services programs such as home-delivered meals.
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program issues grants to encourage persons 55 and older to volunteer for community service.

Foundations

Many foundations are looking for individuals and groups that are providing educational, health and housing assistance for seniors. Lists of foundations proving grants are available with online research.

How to Apply for a Grant

Anyone can apply for grants for senior citizens. The receiver of the grant can be a:

• Non-profit organization
• Government agency
• Public or private school
• Small business
• Individual

The application process starts by writing a grant proposal to the organization that is offering the grant. The purpose of the proposal is to present your case for why you need the grant and to describe exactly what you would do with the funds if you received the grant. Be sure to:

• Do your research – Understand the purpose of the grant, what the grant is designed to accomplish, as well as the procedures, forms and deadlines to apply.
• Justify the purpose – Grantors aren't just handing out money for free. Applicants must prove the benefit to the community and the impact on the target audience.
• Demonstrate measurable results – Almost every granting agency will expect the grantee to provide an assessment of the program at the end of the grant period.
• Learn to write a proposal – Your local library is a good source for books on writing grants. There are also many online and classroom training courses and information at no cost or for a nominal fee. A good source for information is the Foundation Center.

Tips on Writing a Good Proposal

• Stay in touch with organizations that give grants so that you'll know when funds are available for grants.
• Read the application directions carefully to be sure that you complete all the required information.
• Make the proposal easy to read, including headings and a table of contents.
• Write short paragraphs that concisely express your needs and detailed plans to make your proposal easy to read.
• Start your proposal with a summary of your needs and plans.
• Detail the overall and specific goals of your organization and how the grant will help you meet those goals.
• Include the short and long term objectives that you can meet if you receive additional funds.
• Include a budget that shows exactly how the funds will be used and which details the administrative expenses.
• Ask local government officials and citizens to add statements about how the funds will help the community.
• Describe how you will decide if your program was successful after using the funds from the grant.
• Discuss the future of the organization after the grant funds are spent.
• Be sure to submit the proposal on time.

Watch Out For Scams

There are many websites for grant information companies that are designed to help people find grant money and write a proposal to apply for the funds. They usually charge from $50 to $100, but they don't provide any quality help with grants. Typically they provide:

• Just a list of grant programs with addresses.
• Old, outdated information
• No help with completing applications or writing proposals
• No customer service help
• No refunds
• Guarantees to get you a specific amount of money

If you want help in finding grants and preparing a proposal, there are several good websites. Some of these websites provide free services, while others charge a one-time fee of $39.95. Be sure to look for websites with easy-to-reach customer service representatives and that offer a 100 percent money back guarantee for the first 60 days. Some of the more helpful websites are:

• Grant Research Guide
• Grant A Day
• Uncle Sam's Money
• The Truth Behind Grants Exposed