Many individuals don’t realize how beneficial grants can be. A grant is money awarded that does not need to be paid back. As times can be financially trying, grant opportunities can provide relief. They are also a great source to turn to for funding assistance. For example, if you are looking for financial backing for college or other personal expenses, these resources can assist. There are many different grant opportunities out there designated to a variety of situations. With this being said, it is important to be aware of scams and only apply to reliable grants. The resources below are trusted and will walk you through the process so you can get the funding you need.

Federal Pell Grant

This type of grant is meant to provide low-income students financial assistance for college. It can be used for tuition, living expenses, supplies, and transportation. The maximum amount awarded is $6,495. Each individual is granted a different amount based on your financial need, expected family contribution, the cost of attendance, and if you’re considered a part-time or full-time student. Before applying make sure you meet the requirements. You must be:

• A United States Citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Enrolled in a degree or certificate program at your college or career school
• Demonstrate financial need

In order to apply for this opportunity, each applicant will need to fill out a FAFSA form. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application is available from October 1st to June 30th. It is recommended to apply sooner rather than later. Funding is distributed on a rolling basis which means you are more likely to be awarded more funding the sooner you apply. When applying you will need the following documents:

• Social Security number
• Driver’s license
• Federal tax information or tax return

Once you accurately complete all the questions, submit the form. This form will be reviewed by each school the applicant has been accepted into. Within 3 weeks you will receive an email in which you can access your student aid report. This will break down how much you will be awarded. Students must claim the amount awarded to them in a timely manner, or they risk losing the award for the year. Applicants can accept their award by logging back into the FAFSA account they created. They will then select “View Financial Award” and then “Accept Award”. The grant funds will be paid directly to your college 2 to 4 weeks before the start of the semester. If there are any leftover funds, they will be distributed to the student by the school’s financial aid department. For any other questions or concerns, you can email: studentaid@ed.gov or call 1-800-730-8913.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

This grant is for undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need. These awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year. This grant is very similar to the Federal Pell Grant. To apply, follow the same steps as the Federal Pell Grant above starting by filling out the FAFSA form. The only difference is that not all schools offer this grant. Participating colleges receive a lump sum designated for this grant. The school distributes the funds on a first come first serve basis. Once they run out of grant money, they stop offering it. This is why it’s important to submit your FAFSA form when it’s available on October 1st. If you are eligible for these funds, you will see them and accept them through your FAFSA account as mentioned previously. These funds can be credited to your student’s account, paid to you directly, or a combination of these methods.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

This grant opportunity is also to help students be able to afford and attend college. The amount awarded is the same as the Federal Pell Grant which is $6,495. In order to apply for this opportunity, you will have to complete the FAFSA form as well. This grant is different in its eligibility requirements. To be eligible for this opportunity you must:

• Have a parent or guardian that was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died serving in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11
• Must be ineligible for the Federal Pell Grant due to having less financial need
• Must have been younger than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at a college or career school at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death

If you are eligible for this grant it will show up in your FAFSA portal. You will accept it and funds will be directed to your college, just like the Federal Pell Grant.

Teacher Education Assistance For College and Higher Education Grant

This grant is for undergraduate post-baccalaureate, or graduate students who are enrolled in programs designed to prepare them for a career in teaching. The maximum funding for this grant is $4,000. This grant has very strict requirements that must be followed. To be eligible for this program, complete and submit your FAFSA form as mentioned above. You must meet all the requirements for the Federal Pell Grant, as well as a few others. The other requirements for this opportunity are to:

• Attend a school that has the TEACH Grant program
• Meet academic requirements by maintaining at least a 3.25 GPA
• Receive TEACH Grant counseling which explains the terms and conditions of the grant
• Sign an agreement stating you will teach in a high-need field at an elementary, secondary, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families
• Must agree to serve as a full-time teacher for a minimum of 4 years

It’s important to note that high need fields consist of bilingual education, foreign language, mathematics, reading specialist, science, and special education. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in the grant being converted into a loan which you will have to pay back with interest.

Modest Need

This is a foundation that provides grants of up to $1250 to low-income individuals or families. It’s financial help that does not have to be paid back. This grant is not given directly to the applicant. Therefore it cannot be used for personal expenses such as credit card bills, groceries, or gas. If approved, it can be used for rent and will go directly to the landlord, unless the landlord is family. To be eligible for these funds you must be:

• 18 years of age or older
• A legal resident of the United States or Canada
• You are applying for yourself or someone in your household
• Your household has at least one active bank account OR has filed a Federal Tax Return within in the past two years
• Have access to a scanner or a fax machine to upload the required documentation
• Have a legal lease that your landlord and a member of your household both have signed. The lease must show the monthly cost of your rent
• At least one adult member of the applicants household must be employed (and have documentation of employment) at the time of applying
• The largest source of income must be from employment, child support, veteran benefits, or retirement income

For other questions about requirements, you can email: doiqualify@modestneeds.org or call: (844) 667-3776. Once you determine if you are eligible, you can apply. In order to apply, create an account and fill out the . online application. The application takes about 30-45 minutes. Make sure you answer every question and be specific. There are many individuals applying for this assistance, so it’s important to tell the foundation why you need the help. It’s based on who needs it the most. After you complete the application, scan or fax the documents the foundation required. These documents are necessary for the application. The fax number is: (877) 212-6462. Once the documents are sent over, you need to click the button that says “mark my documentation ready for review.” This will notify the foundation that your application is ready to be looked at. The application will then be reviewed by donors. The donors determine how much you will be awarded. Then the application goes under the final administration review. After this review, the applicant must leave a “thank you testimonial” and the applicant’s request will be fulfilled. The payment will go to the vendor rather than the applicant to ensure the funds are being used for their intended purpose.

Net Wish

This is a non-profit organization that offers grants to those who need financial assistance. This organization knows there are so many families struggling to make ends meet and pay bills. This grant is prioritized by need and emphasizes families with children and/or elderly. The maximum amount of funding awarded is $200. These funds are not cash. It is normally a gift card or prepaid card. The grant money could also be directed towards the bills you need help with such as medical providers, utility companies, whoever it may be. To apply, click here. You will be asked your name, email, address, and why you need funding assistance. It’s important to be extremely specific because, as mentioned before, this grant is based on need. If you are selected for the grant you will be contacted by phone or email.

These grant opportunities are here to provide financial support. Grants tend to be very competitive, so it’s important to take your time when applying and make sure everything is correct and done to the best of your abilities. Receiving funding for these grant opportunities cannot be guaranteed, but they are reliable and it’s definitely worth applying for.