Funding guides

• How federal grants work

  A plain-English overview of how U.S. federal grant opportunities are announced, who can apply, and what happens after you submit.

• The truth about small business grants

  Why general-purpose ‘free money’ grants for starting a business are rare, what federal funding small businesses can actually pursue, and where loans fit in.

• Nonprofit grant readiness checklist

  A practical checklist for nonprofits preparing to pursue federal grants: registrations, documents, capacity, and compliance basics.

• How to read a funding announcement

  What to look for in a federal notice of funding opportunity: eligibility, deadlines, award amounts, cost sharing, and review criteria.

• How to spot and avoid grant scams

  Common government grant scams and how to protect your business or nonprofit.