Grants provide financial assistance to both individuals and companies. When grants were first established, the grants were only made available for organizations. Now individuals such as women are eligible to receive grants. Most grants come from companies, charities or private organizations. It is believed that more grants for women exist than for any other minority group.
Grants
A grant is funding that is available to a person, student, organization or business to fund a project, event, facility or business. The entities that supply grants vary and the process for qualifying for a grant depends on that individual or organization. If the money is used for the intended purpose of the organization or individual that supplied the grant, the money does not typically have to be paid back. To qualify for a grant, an individual must meet criteria requirements and show need.
Educational Grants
Women who want to further their educational career may apply for grants through the federal government. The federal government supplies grants such as the Pell grant, which does not discriminate on race or gender. As long as the woman shows financial need and is enrolled in an accredited school, college or university, she may apply for the federal Pell grant. Other federally funded grants are made available to people who want to better themselves and the status of women in business, arts or other career fields.
Corporate Grants
Corporate grants are available to women. The corporations who supply the grants to women are doing so for tax purposes or to enhance their reputations within the community or the market of women consumers. The grants will either be given to the women to propose, or the corporation may seek and interest in the women's organization or cause. For example, if a company funds a grant for a woman, the woman recipient may have to work for the corporation in the future, or allow the corporation to have a stake in her business, product or project. Some of the corporations include, but are not limited to Kelloggs, Toyota, Microsoft or General Electric.
Private and Professional Grants
There are private organizations that fund women who are trying to advance their careers or education. The private organizations that fund the women's grants do so to uplift their cause. The professional and private organizations allow the grants to not only be used for outsiders, but members of the private and professional organization itself. For instance, a female member of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation may be awarded the grant, as well as a female family member of the foundation member.
Personal Grants for Business Women
Some grants are available for women business owners. The grants promote and encourage women to open up businesses. For example, a grant called the Amber Grant was established in 1998. The grant keeps the memory alive of Amber Wigdahl, who was killed in 1981, when she was only 19 years of age. The grant carries the purpose of providing a female entrepreneur the opportunity to fulfill the dream of owning and operating a business, something Amber was not fortunate enough to do.
Tags: private organizations, available women, federal government, fund women, grants available, grants available women
