Whether you are a young student going to college or a small business owner, funds are critical to staying afloat and achieving success. But with rising inflation, paying back loans is a major hurdle for many. This is why many small businesses and undergraduates rely on grants for financial aid. By getting approved for the right grant program, you can essentially access free money.
What is a grant?
A grant or gift aid is, in essence, a sum of money given to an individual or business by federal, state governments, or private organizations. These are distributed based on economic needs. The most attractive thing about grant funds is that they don’t have to be paid back as long as recipients meet all eligibility requirements. This also makes access difficult for a large number of people and companies. There are specific criteria that must be met to qualify for almost all types of grants.
Some of the common factors considered when approving small business grants include the following:
- Size of the business
- Owner information (especially important for grants targeting minorities and other groups)
- Structure of the property
Some of the common factors considered when approving students eligible for grants include the following:
- Student income, if any
- Family size and number of siblings in college
- Family income and expected family contribution
- Price of classes
It’s worth noting that each aid and grant program will have its own set of rules when determining eligibility. It is important to review them before applying.
How do business grants work?
The idea of government grants is to support specific companies and promote their business goals. These business goals, in turn, are in line with government goals of creating jobs, supporting grassroots businesses, or helping minorities and other groups.
Federal grants are the most popular, but also the most competitive for businesses. This is why many businesses try to get local government grants or grants issued by corporations. In almost all cases, these grants do not have to be paid back.
When it comes to business grants offered by private corporations, businesses can benefit from additional benefits. For example, the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest offers entrepreneurs $4,000 in FedEx printing and services.
Types of aid for financial aid
As mentioned, grants are given to individuals and businesses as a form of financial assistance. In the United States, student grants and small business grants are the most common options available. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of financial aid.
- Grants for small businesses: Small business grants are generally intended to support minority-led businesses, veterans, and nonprofit organizations. These grants are issued by federal, state and corporations.
- Federal Student Aid: Although most students apply for federal student loans to pay for college tuition, there are some federal grants available to deserving students. There are currently four types of federal student grants available. These are federal Pell grants, federal supplemental educational opportunity grants, teacher training grants for college and higher education grants, and state-issued grants.
Do the recipients have to pay back the grants?
Whether it’s a federal grant or aid issued by large corporations, the recipients are not expected to pay the money back. This is because these are grants and not loans.
To obtain grants, recipients must meet a long list of eligibility criteria. They must demonstrate financial hardship to cover the expenses and explain why they deserve the full grant. If their circumstances later change, these beneficiaries may have to pay back the grant money.
When must a grant be returned?
Unlike federal loans that must be repaid within a set period of time, recipients are not expected to repay the grants. That said, it is important to meet the eligibility requirements. Failure to do so will result in the grant being canceled and the beneficiary must return the grants.
Let’s look at some of the circumstances in which a student may have to pay back the scholarship money.
- Withdrawal from school or program: If the student drops out before completing at least 60 percent of the semester, the federal government will ask them to pay back 50 percent of the financial aid offer.
- Change in student enrollment status: In the event of a change in enrollment status after receiving the Pell Grant, the student must repay the difference. Failure to repay Pell grant money will result in a Pell overpayment on record, which in turn will disqualify the student from future federal aid programs.
- Other financial support grants: If after getting the skin grants, a student manages to get other non-federal grants, the government can ask for it back.
Can businesses receive money from the federal government?
The federal government is focused on supporting small businesses, especially in the post-pandemic period. That’s why the government has introduced a number of financial aid programs designed to provide free money to small business owners.
How do you qualify for small business grants?
To meet your financial needs, you can apply for federal or state grants. But note that you must meet the grant eligibility criteria. Since there are several federal, state and private grants available to businesses, the first step to qualifying for the right one is research. The more research you do, the easier it will be to narrow down the right grants where you are most likely to qualify.
You can check the Small Business Administration website for information on all types of private loans and grant programs.
The next step is to write a comprehensive business plan that explains what you do and how you hope to grow your business. The business plan should include information about your products and services and explain your financial needs to grow the business. A comprehensive business plan sets you apart from the rest and increases your chances of getting the grant money.
Once you have your plan and shortlist in place, you should go ahead and start applying.
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