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Grant Writing Basics

What Is a Grant? The Complete Beginner's Guide to Free Funding

January 25, 20261 min readLauren LaPointe
What Is a Grant? The Complete Beginner's Guide to Free Funding

Grants are non-repayable funds given by government agencies, foundations, and corporations to support specific projects or initiatives. Unlike loans, you never have to pay grants back.

Types of Grants

Federal Grants come from government agencies like the Department of Education, NIH, and NSF. These are highly competitive but offer substantial funding.

Foundation Grants come from private foundations like the Gates Foundation or Ford Foundation. They often focus on specific causes or geographic areas.

Corporate Grants come from businesses that want to give back to their communities or support causes aligned with their values.

Who Can Apply for Grants?

  • Nonprofit organizations (501c3)
  • Small businesses (especially for SBIR/STTR programs)
  • Educational institutions
  • Government entities
  • Individual researchers and artists

How to Get Started

  1. Define your project clearly
  2. Research grants that match your mission
  3. Review eligibility requirements carefully
  4. Prepare required documentation
  5. Submit before the deadline

GRANTPATH.AI helps you find grants that match your organization's profile, saving you hours of research time.

Lauren LaPointe

Lauren LaPointe

Founder & CEO

Lauren LaPointe is the founder of GRANTPATH.AI and a passionate advocate for making grant funding accessible to all organizations.

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