There is no generic grant, and no generic proposal. First you find a grant that fits your need, and then you write a proposal to the specificiations that the grant requests. All Grants are different, and each proposal is unique.The US Government grant web site it http://www.grants.govYou can go there and look, but I am sorry to say there are no grants for personal financial assistance or to start a business. You are going to need a loan. You will find a great deal of information on how to start and fund a new small business at the Small Business Administration web site, http://www.sba.gov
You stand a greater chance of getting a government-guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov than a government grant. Read the SBA Financing page to learn about criteria needed for borrowing It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business. One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/�� , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups -- minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples includeIowa Women s Foundation http://www.iawf.org/New Mexico Women s Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.htmlEven SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CO�� The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE S NONE.http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALO��Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women s business center that will train women entrepreneurs
The best place I found to get all the information about Government Grantswas http://www.mygovernmentcash.com/. Its a online book you buy that tells you everything about every grant, and how to apply for them. I bought it to read up oh how to get a small business grant, and a college grant for my son. I did what the book said and got them both. I hope this helps and goodluck
