Online Financial Help for Single Mothers

With millions of single parents taking care of children on their own every day, it isn’t surprising to know that parents may not have time to visit local community based organizations to find the information they need to qualify for financial help for single mothers. Luckily, many federally based organizations have taken their agency online to allow parent to plan for their appointments and applications thoroughly, so that you no longer have to waste time from work to apply.

State Programs

Most state run programs, such as Medicaid for children, can be applied for online. Each state has their own website that you can use to determine your eligibility for programs such as SNAP benefits to buy food, and medical insurance for your family. Income guidelines vary slightly depending on your family size, but if you need financial help for single mothers your state website is the first place that you should check for information on applying for benefits that can help you provide for your family.

Your state website will allow you to print applications, or may allow you to complete the applications online in some states. There will also be a list of the documents that you need to bring along to your appointments to complete your application process. In most states you need to bring proof of income, identification, birth certificates and social security cards to qualify for financial help for single mothers. Other states may also require a recent copy of all your rent and utility bills, too.

Other Organizations

Other organizations may be more difficult to locate online if you need emergency help. You can call 211 on any phone to find information on government programs, but you may need a more local resource if you want to find financial assistance immediately. Other online programs that you can use include the Free Application for Student Financial Aid, and information from your local health department.

Your local Health Department can provide financial help for single mothers by providing you with food vouchers that can be used for milk, infant formula, and other foods. The Women, Infants and Children program is simple to apply for, but you do need to go to the office for regular appointments to get your vouchers. You may also find that some local churches and charities have websites with information on the programs offered, such as pantries and other financial help for single mothers.

College Grants for Single Moms

Financial concerns are the biggest barriers for single parents when returning to college. Though it may be daunting to think about paying for college, don’t let it get in the way of pursuing your dream. There are many different avenues for accessing funds for school, and the ones most people are familiar with are grants and loans. Because obtaining grants and loans are complex endeavors, this article will focus exclusively on finding grants. Grants for college students are pots of money that do not have to be repaid when you finish school.
Before you get started looking at and applying for grant funding, you need to know a little about them! Grants come from numerous sources including federal, state, local, and tribal governments, research centers, non-profit organizations, or even private foundations. Federal, state, and local government grants usually fund larger projects such as master’s or doctoral dissertations for research projects. If you’re looking for money to start or finish your undergraduate degree, you might want to look for smaller agencies, non-profit organizations, and private foundations. Another good resource is to go directly to your college/school’s advising office as some programs have small, need or talent-based grants specific to your profession or college.

Grants can be relatively unstructured and require little from the recipient other than to go to class and get good grades or they can require research, publication, or service in order to access the money. Some grants provide money up-front and some require that you pay for your classes, books, and materials and then submit receipts for reimbursement. You may have a credit card or other manner for paying for things up front, but if you can not swing tuition and books for a semester before getting reimbursed, then a reimbursement grant is not for you.

There is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ grant funding, there is only grant funding that meets your needs and fits with your own goals. The most important part is that you decide – before spending any time applying for funding – what type of funding you want and what type of commitment you want to have to your funder. You should also ask as many questions as you need to before applying for any funding so you completely understand everything the grant will provide to you and require from you.

So now that you know what type of funding you want to pursue, now to you need to find the funding sources. Many grant opportunities are created for specific groups of people or specific talents, hobbies, or professions. A good place to start is to sit and make a list for yourself of all your talents, hobbies, volunteer work, civic activities, and professional aspirations so you can focus your funding search. A big downfall of many new college students when looking for funding is that they spend too much time searching and not enough time writing the grant. Narrowing your search criteria will make it easier to identify grants that you have a good chance of receiving if you take the time to put together a great proposal.

Next… Writing the grant!

Writing the Grant

Each and every grant you find will have come with a set of instructions for how to apply. These instructions usually include a synopsis of you or your project (depending on what you’re trying to fund), your background as the applicant or a personal statement, letters of reference or support, and a statement of what the money will be used for and why you need it.

The Personal Statement/Background Statement: Many people do not spend enough time on this section and wind up writing what they think the reviewer wants to read. Anyone who has read grant applications will tell you – when the applicant is writing what they think is the “right” answer, their personal statement sections are bland, dry, and poor representations of who they are and what they can accomplish. This is where you show them who you are and why you deserve money. Remember: You are applying for money and just like a job interview you have to prove to them you deserve their funds – write your personal statement accordingly.

The Synopsis of the Project, Career Goals, or Purpose of College: If you’re writing about a specific project, you will need to have a clear idea and plan for your project before you start applying for grants. If you have a half-baked or poorly thought-out idea, your funders will notice this and kick your application to the curb. If you don’t know why exactly you want to go back to school, and that’s what you’re supposed to be writing about, then spend some time reflecting and thinking about why college is important so your statement can be moving and provocative.

Letters of Reference and Support: Many grants require you to submit letters from employers, former professors/teachers, or other community members that indicate you have a support system for getting through college or using the money from the grant effectively. Though this sounds basic, always pick references that you know will give you stellar reviews – don’t pick a person just because you’re “friends” or because you want to become friends. Funding your college education is not an appropriate time to start building friendships. Use the people around you who know you will be successful for these types of letters.

A couple do’s and don’ts of grant writing for college:

• Use clear, concise language and don’t use ten words when five will do
• Don’t use jargon or acronyms
• Don’t use slang or inappropriate language
• Do not, under any circumstances, use “text speak” (U, L8R, LOL)
• If you’re not a great writer, have someone proofread and edit your statements
• If you don’t understand what a grant is asking for, contact the grantor and ask – never guess!
• READ THE DIRECTIONS – many grantors will automatically disqualify any grant submitted that doesn’t meet their requirements and instructions.

Next… Creating a Project Outline

Creating a Project Outline

Many grants require you to outline an idea, project, research study, or other endeavor related to your education and college experience. Creating an entire idea or project from scratch is a big undertaking, but if you take the time to outline your ideas, the entire process – from start to finish – will run smoother and result in a better outcome! There are several parts to consider for a project outline: The audience reading your project, the title, the introduction/background, the purpose of your project, literature review, rationale of the project, methods for completing the project, significance and implications of the finished project, and timeline for the project.

The Title: Titles of projects should be as short as possible, using words that are commonly used in regular conversation. You don’t get bonus points for using a $25 word when a $2 one will do just as well – and it can sometimes do more harm to your proposed project than good.

The Introduction/Background: This section brings your reader into your idea and provides them a basic understanding any concepts with which they may not be familiar prior to reading your ideas. This section should be short, clearly written, and allow anyone reading it to understand the basic “gist” of your project by the end of the section.

The Purpose and Rationale of the Project: This section requires you to spend significant time brainstorming before and while you write this section. What is essential in this section is to specify for your readers—and for yourself—the precise focus of your project and to identify key concepts you will be studying. This section also answers several questions for your readers such as: What do you hope to find, what will the project add to the field of knowledge, why should this even be a project, and finally what will your project not be exploring?

The Literature Review: This section explores the existing research that is significant to the project. You should identify the existing research and literature that explores your project topic and how other scholars have approached your project’s major themes or ideas.

The Methodology for Completing the Project: This section is essential to creating an excellent project. This section will outline how you have chosen to go about implementing your project and making it “come to life’. This section includes a description of how the project will be achieved including the process, materials, procedures, tasks, etc.

The Significance and Implications of the Finished Project: A clear statement of significance will allow you to discuss how the project will contribute to your profession, to a plan for future projects, or serve your community. This section will also explain the usefulness or benefits of the project to both the outside world and the research community

The Timeline for the Entire Project: Many grants also require a schedule with anticipated completion dates for specific parts of the project. This timeline helps the grantors determine if your project is realistic and appropriate for their grant.
Remember: Outlines are not supposed to be finished documents; they are a roadmap to a finished product. They should include short sentences, succinct ideas, and occasionally bullet points unless the grant instructions specifically state something different.