Define your objective. What are you going to do with the money you receive? Why should the government want to fund your project? Write out the purpose of the grant before you begin looking. Knowing your goal will help you determine what grant opportunities are right for you.
Search a government database, such as grants.gov, for grant opportunities that fit your organization and project. All government grant postings are available to the public and no fees are required for research or to apply.
Match your project to a grant opportunity. Specific guidelines are posted for each grant. Most grant opportunities also include lists of grants that have been awarded so that you can compare your project to projects that have received funding. If you have trouble determining whether a certain grant is a match for you, use the contact information listed on the site.
Research the grant opportunity thoroughly. Are you qualified for the grant? Do you have time to put together the paperwork before the deadline? In addition to the application for the grant itself, federal grants require an application for approval to apply for grants, a process that can take several weeks. This process is explained in detail, including necessary links, on the grants.gov website.
Gather all documentation necessary for the application. Each government grant opportunity contains a checklist, not only for the process, but also for what information is required. Make sure you have access to and provide everything that is asked for because missing information could result in a rejection.
Fill in the application completely and thoroughly. Many applications are interactive, so you can save your information as you go and return to the document as necessary. You can file some grants electronically. Others require you to print them out and send them in.