Grants for Senior Citizens
Many older adults are eligible for grants for senior citizens. There are numerous Federal/National, State/Provincial, Foundation and Charity programs available that provide seniors with grants to help with expenses such as: home modification and renovation, health care, education, job training, transportation, rental housing, food/nutrition and mortgage assistance.
This article includes:
Types of Programs
Grant programs provide money to qualified applicants that does not need to be repaid (as opposed to a loan program). There are a variety of different grant providers including:
Federal/National: There are numerous grants available from national programs such as Area Agency on Aging, The Administration on Aging the AARP.
State/Provincial: The are also numerous grants available from state/provincial governments. Contact the local state office to obtain information on available grants.
Foundation/Charity: There are many foundations and charities that provide grants for senior citizens. United Way,
Grants are available for a variety of needs, including:
- Education
- Job training
- Home renovations/modification
- Mortgage assistance
- Health Care
- Community Service/Volunteerism
- Rental Housing
- Medical Equipment
Tips for Finding Grants
Grants are best found on the internet. There are numerous sites that provide comprehensive, searchable lists of available grants for senior citizens.
For seniors in the USA: The Area Agency on Aging and the AARP are excellent resources for finding grants.
For seniors in Canada: The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has several programs available for seniors needing to modify/renovate their home.
How to Apply
The receiver of a grant can be:
- Individual
- Business
- School
- Non-Profit
- Government Agency
The process begins by research available grant options and then writing a grant proposal to the organization that is offering the grant. The purpose of the proposal is to describe why you need the grant and what you are going to do with grant funds if they are awarded to you.
It is important to do your research, clearly explain the purpose of the grant, outline measurable results and learn how to write a proper grant proposal.
Grant Writing Tips
- Be prepared and aware of when funds are available for grants.
- Include a budget that shows exactly how the funds will be used
- Read the application instructions carefully.
- Start with a summary of your proposal
- Make the proposal easy to read
- Write clear and concise paragraphs
- If applicable, explain your organizations goals and how the grant will help you meet those goals
- Include short and long term goals that you plan to meet if you receive additional funds
- Ask local government officials and residents to add statements about how the funds will help them
- Be sure to apply on time
Beware of Scams
Unfortunately there are individuals and groups who target seniors looking for assistance in writing and applying for grants for senior citizens but do not provide valuable service. Some businesses do but beware of the ones that do not.
Be cautious of programs that:
- Do not offer a money back guarantee
- Simply provide a list of available grants
- Do not actually assist with the application and grant writing proposal process
- Do not offer refunds
- Provide outdated information
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