Murray's Grant Gateway
A Message From Senator Murray
Throughout our state, concerned citizens are coming together to solve
problems and
improve their communities. Often these innovative, local solutions need
financial support. That's where federal grants can help.
Each year, Congress provides federal Cabinet departments
with money to support local efforts through grants. The Cabinet departments
collect applications from across the country and then select the most
deserving projects based on objective criteria.
Federal grants are a high priority for me. In the Senate, I use my
position on the Appropriations Committee to fund our nation's grant
programs. A member of my staff focuses on federal grants. And I've created
this Grants Gateway to walk you through the steps of the grant process.
Get started by reading the 4 Myths listed below.
Best of luck,
Four Myths about Federal Grants
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Myth 1: Anyone can get a federal
grant.
Fact: Not everyone is eligible for grants.
Most grants are awarded to:
non-profits like charities, schools and community organizations,
state & local government agencies,
federally-recognized tribes,
and public safety agencies like hospitals, police and fire
departments.
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Myth 2: Senator Murray decides who gets a grant. Senator Murray's
office can write or review my grant proposal.
Fact: Senator Murray does NOT decide
who gets a grant and who doesn't. Those decisions
are made by the cabinet department peer reviewer committees based
on objective criteria. Unfortunately, Senator Murray's office
cannot write or review grant proposals. We can help you identify
federal grants for which you may be eligible, and we've put these
tools here on this web page.
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Myth 3: If we just get this grant,
it will take care of everything.
Fact: Federal grants rarely cover all
the costs of a project. Many grants are designed
to leverage other sources of funding. So if you can't get the
community to invest some money in your project, don't expect a
grant to pay all the bills. Grants often provide a portion of
the funds needed for a given project; many grants even require
non-federal matching funds of 10-25 percent, some require more.
Granters want to know you'll become self-sufficient once your
project gets off the ground and it will be sustainable when your
grant period ends.
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Myth 4: It's easy to get grants. It's "free money."
Fact: Applying for a grant can be a full
time job. Grant writing is a lot of work and granted
funds have many requirements. You'll need time to research and
develop your project and write the application. It often takes
the granting agency several months to pick a winner. It's not
quick or easy, but it is possible.
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