To apply this year organizations need to fill out an application and submit it between the qualifications dates of June 15^th and July 30^th. Grant recipients will be notified sometime in the early fall and will receive their money by the end of 2010. To be eligible to apply for the grant, your organization must be located in the greater Atlanta area. To view all of the eligibility requirements and to obtain information on applying for one of the grants, please visit http://www.sprint.com/localgiving.

Sprint believes strongly in supporting the growth and development of children and since its establishment in 1989 they have focused on giving money to local communities across the country. To date they have donated over $110 million to support youth organizations. They have done so through direct grants, like the ones being offered to the Atlanta area, and in matching gift programs for their employees and retired employees.

“Non-profit organizations play a vital role in any thriving community, and the Sprint Local Grant Program allows us to help these non-profits do what they do best — serve the people of Atlanta,” said Debby Ballard, Sprint’s director of Community Affairs. “By partnering together in this way, Sprint and community organizations can truly make an impact where it is needed most.”

Sprint Nextel is one of the dominating companies that provide wireless and wire line communication services to consumers. Their innovative technologies have allowed them to serve individuals, businesses and government users. To date they have provided services to over 48 million customers. They have led the industry and provide for consumers some of the most advanced technology available. They are the only wireless company to provide customers with 4G services. They also provide cutting edge mobile data services and push to talk capabilities that can be used even internationally. They also lead the industry in pre-paid wireless brands. To learn more about Sprint and the services they offer you can visit http://www.sprint.com/.

Sprint (NYSE: FON)to Issue Grants to Two Atlanta Area Non-Profits was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Walmart Foundation recognizes the need for this type of program and has announced in a press release dated April 26, 2010, that they will award a $2 million grant to be applied toward a low-interest auto loan program. This program is available to low income families who often find themselves unable to get to work due to lack of reliable transportation. This grant will make it possible to expand the Ways to Work organization by ten offices which will in turn help thousands of families. According to the press release the grant was awarded, “as new research shows borrowers using the program have improved their credit scores by double digits, not just during the program, but even years after their loan repayment period has ended. This is significant, especially considering recent improvements in our nation’s economy that have not yet to reach many low-income borrowers”.

In addition to providing low interest loans to qualifying families, the program also provides financial education and support for thousands by partnering with local non profit agencies located throughout the country. Families participating in the program benefit not only in the short term but also long term. As noted in the press release, “A program evaluation shows that families using the program will increase their earnings over time by more than $14 million. In addition, families will avoid up to $4 million in predatory interest charges and fees over the course of the grant program”.

The Ways to Work website provides the following as criteria that must be met in order to qualify for a loan through the program.

• Continuous employment for a minimum of six months or completing registration in a post high school educational program.
• Involved parent of a dependent child who has exhausted conventional loan resources with disposable income necessary to repay the loan within two years at an interest rate of no higher than 8%.
• Have a household income no greater than 80% of the median income in your area.
• Reside in the geographic service area.

For more information about the Walmart Foundation or the Ways to Work organization, please visit their official websites.

Walmart Foundation Awards $2 Million Grant To Ways to Work Organization (NYSE: WMT) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

When people think of charitable donations, the first thing that comes to mind is cash assistance or the donating of a much needed product. In this case, the need is for skills necessary to be competitive in the workplace. Americans who are looking to improve their skill set in order to compete in a limited job market can benefit from grants applied to nonprofits in their area. The following seven organizations have been named to receive between $400,000 and $550,000 in grants to help members of their community improve their quality of life with long term employment.

• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (Cali-Baja region)
• Workplace, Inc (NE region- Connecticut, New York)
• Mid American Regional Council (Serving Kansas and Missouri Kansas City area)
• Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
• West Central Job Partnership, Inc. (Pennsylvania and Ohio region)
• Montgomery Institute (Eastern Mississippi)
• West Michigan Strategic Alliance (Western Michigan)

This financial help could not come at a better time. With record numbers of Americans dealing with unemployment and financial hardship, being able to find and keep well paying jobs is a top priority. Despite conflicting reports regarding the direction of employment opportunities in the country, most people can agree being at the top of your game is the best way to ensure long term employment. By targeting area organizations that help people in their region, these grants can be best utilized by people who live in areas that are known to have difficulty recruiting and maintaining skilled workers.

For more information on this and other ways the Walmart Foundation provides assistance to those in need, visit their website. If you live in any of the areas noted, contact the individual organization to learn more about how they can help you reach personal and professional goals.

Nonprofits To Receive Grants From Walmart Foundation (NYSE: WMT) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

FEDERAL GRANTS

To qualify for federal grants, you have to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Be sure to submit this free application between January 1^st and June 30^th of any given year to qualify for the next school year’s enrollment. Although sometimes you are able to submit the FAFSA after these deadlines for the current year, it is always best to get your application in as soon as possible to qualify for funds that may be limited by federal budgets. Once you’ve submitted your FAFSA, you will be notified if you qualify for any of the following grants:

1) Federal Pell Grant: Pell Grant eligibility is based on financial need. Although students with a family income as high as $45,000 may be eligible, most awards go to students with a family income below $20,000. For the award year of 2007 – 2008, the maximum grant is $4,310 and will increase to $4,731 for the 2008 – 2009. By 2012, the award will be as high as $5,400. This grant can be used for tuition, fees, and education-related expenses. To receive a Pell Grant, here are some of the basic criteria:

a) Submit a FAFSA and qualify as a financially needy student;

b) Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. national, or eligible non-citizen,

c) Have a high school diploma, a GED Certificate, or pass an approved test;

d) Meet satisfactory academic progress as determined by your institution;

e) Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary school; and

f) Be working toward a first undergrad degree or teaching credential;

2) Federal SEOG (Supplemental Equal Opportunity) Grants: This grant awards money to undergrad students who have extraordinary need. The student can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, financial need, the funding at the chosen school, and the policies of the financial aid office at that school. To further qualify, you must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen,

c) Not have a Bachelors degree.

d) Not be in default on any federal student loan; and

e) Not have a Federal Pell Grant overpayment.

3) SMART Grants: This grant gifts up to $4,000 for third and fourth-year full-time undergrad students who are studying science (physical, life or computer), mathematics, technology, engineering, or a foreign language important to national security. To be eligible for the SMART Grant, students must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Qualify for a Pell Grant.

c) Choose a major.

d) Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale); and,

e) The maximum grant can only be awarded for two years.

4) TEACH Grant: The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program was established to benefit current and prospective teachers. This new grant offers up to $4,000 per academic year for a maximum of $16,000 for undergrad students or $8,000 for graduate students. When combined with other aid, the award cannot exceed the cost of attendance and is prorated for those attending less than full-time. To be eligible, students must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Meet basic eligibility requirements.

c) Be currently completing coursework or plan on completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.

5) Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): This grant is offered to full-time eligible undergrad students and provides up to $750 for the first year and $1,300 for the second year of study. When combined with a Pell Grant, this award may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

a) Be a U.S. citizen;

b) Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;

c) Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;

d) Be enrolled in the first or second academic year at a two or four-year eligible institution;

e) Have completed a demanding secondary school program of study;

f) Not have been previously enrolled in an undergrad program (if a first-year student); and

g) Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year (if a second-year student).

While these are the most common grants currently offered, there are hundreds more awarded every year by the US Department of Education. Click here to see a more thorough list. To see their newest grants, click here for their Federal Register.

STATE GRANTS

Almost every state in America features a wide variety of grants for their student residents. A lot of the money for these grants is funded by local lotteries. State budgets earmark portions of the gaming profits and set them aside specifically for education. This increases a resident student’s odds of financing their future whether they choose to attend a college, university, community college, technical or career school. Here are a few specific student categories that this money is set aside for:

• Minority grants: There are two main categories of minority grants. The first is grants for ethnic minorities designed to offer assistance based on ethnic challenges. The second is non-ethnic minority grants offered to individuals who may be challenged or disadvantaged. This category includes grants for students with disabilities, and grants for women.
• Low-income and disadvantaged students grants: These grants are awarded specifically to low-income and disadvantaged students.

Every state offers different grants to their students who attend one of their qualified education institutions. Click here for a list of State-Based College Grants from CollegeScholarships.org. Also, click here for a list of 101 fabulous grants, which anyone can apply for.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS

Every college provides institutional grants to their students in order to help make up the difference between college costs and family contributions. Many of these grants are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, while some are offered only to students whose families demonstrate financial need. Still more are awarded regardless of a family’s finances, while others come with special privileges or obligations. Be sure to find out about the types of grants awarded by every college your student is considering since these grants vary from institution to institution.

Grants-for-Service programs

Also known as Grants for High-Need Fields of Study, Grant-for-Service programs are administered by many government and university sources. They are set up as mutually beneficial service agreement where a student agrees to work for the state in a medically underserved facility or educationally underserved school after graduation. In exchange, the state will cover the student’s tuition in nursing school or as a student teacher. Click here for a list of nursing and teaching grants-for-service programs.

Now that you have an idea of where to find grants, don’t forget to check out articles 1 and 2 in this series (“Free College Money Part 1: Starting with Pennies,” and “Free College Money Part 2: Tax Programs”) to learn about additional college funds available to everyone. Also, return here next week to see the fourth article, “Free College Money Part 4: Searching for Scholarships.”

Free College Money Part 3: Hundreds of Grants was created by and is property of American Consumer News.