Welcome to the Silver and Gold Members Area! Here you will find the “Ask an Expert” section along with other valuable information.
Use the form on the right to submit your question to our team of grant experts. Every week we will choose a few questions and post the answers to them on this page.
To see if someone has asked a similar question already, use the Search box below to check for keyword(s) related to your questions.
I have a great program, why can’t I get grant funding?
Joe T. – November 23, 2015
This is a great question. Too often grant seekers are so enamored by the program they are trying to fund, they fail to take the time to match it with funding sources which have similar goals.
There is a misconception that if a program or project is great, surely the granting organization will see that and award a grant. In reality the grant universe works much differently. To be successful, a grant seeker must match the program to the funding source and not the funding source to the program. This may mean that you need to make subtle changes with your program to successfully gain an award. Be open to that possibility.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is match?
Match refers to the grant seeking organization’s contribution to the project. Depending on the funding source, this can be in the form of “cash”, labor, and services performed.
Can I get $1,000,000 for my project?
The grant universe is not the same as it was just 10 years ago. It is very rare to find a single funding source that will cover an entire large project. Frequently you will have to find several smaller grants that total your overall needs.
Are there grants for my business?
It is very rare for a “for-profit” business to be eligible for grants. In those rare cases, it typically involves employee training or the commercialization of technology from private sector to the government.