Find the Right Grants

• Searching for "low-income grants" casts a wider net than grant seekers may realize. Although it is a solid starting point, most grants are awarded for more specific purposes than simply income levels. Grants may be awarded to low-income families specifically for housing payments, for example, or for food assistance.
  
  Compile a list of all private and public grants offered to low-income applicants, then drill down into the list to find the grants that are specifically designed for your situation and needs. The more grants you apply for, the higher your chances of winning grant money, but applying for a grant that does not truly apply to you can be a waste of time.
  
  

Custom-Tailor Grant Proposals

• Do not send a cookie-cutter grant proposal to each granting organization you choose to pursue. Take the time to get to know each organization's preferences and guidelines for grant proposals. Call each organization and ask about submission timelines, formats and the types of information the organization likes to see in grant proposals. Draft your grant proposal early and ask a member of the grant review committee to look at it and give you early feedback, if at all possible. This single step can go a long way toward pushing your proposal over the top.
  
  

Have a Plan

• Grantors generally want to see how their money is going to accomplish a long-term good in your life or your home. Have a plan for using the money to pull yourself out of your troubled situation, not simply to cover short-term expenses that are going to pop back up in another month. Describe your plan to decrease your expenses, increase your income, or both after receiving the grant money. Show the granting organization that you are someone who just needs a little help to get back on your feet, rather than someone who is going to look for another handout as soon as the grant money is gone.
  
  

Community Development

• If at all possible, use your grant proposal to discuss how the grant money is going to affect more than just your personal situation. Talk about the benefits to the community that will arise if you win the funds.
  
  For example, if you could say the grant money will allow you to continue participating in teen-mentorship programs rather than finding a third job, the grantor is likely to look more favorably on your proposal. Always discuss how the grant will benefit your children and family, as well.