Elsewhere in this article you will learn about some of the thousands of cash grants offered by Uncle Sam. Grants are outright cash awards or gifts- usually to be applied toward a specific goal or purpose. Getting a grant usually takes a lot of work, a lot of time and energy. To maximize your chances of getting a specific cash grant, you have to get a lot of basic information.

If you are a student, be sure to visit http://www.students.gov, your comprehensive information portal providing answers to your questions on grants, scholarships, education, career, government and more.

If you are an organization, be sure to visit http://www.grants.gov which allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive gran
t opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

Everyone should visit http://www.govbenefits.gov. GovBenefits is a partnership of many Federal agencies and organizations with a shared vision - to provide improved, personalized access to government assistance programs. GovBenefits.gov is a FREE confidential prescreening tool allowing you to search for benefits you may be eligible to receive.

There is also an online service called BenefitsCheckUp located at www.benefitscheckup.org that identifies benefits open to people 55 and older. This website covers government and private programs that can help with health care, utility costs and other essential needs.