It Doesn’t Matter If It Sounds Like You Don't Qualify
You are going to find programs that excite you at first and then when you read further it seems that you will not qualify. Or you will gather more information on a program in this book and you will run into some phrase or sentence in the description that makes you feel you do not have a chance. You may encounter things like:
- "all the money is given out by June 30th" and it is already September 1
- "the money is only for people who live in the country" and you live in the city
- "the money goes to nonprofit organizations"and you are not one
- "you have to come up with 20% of the money for the project"and you don’t have any
- "the money is only for people who live in Minnesota" and you live in New Jersey
- "the money is for people making less than $60,000/yr" and you make $70,000
Don't look at phrases like these as impassable boulders that stand in your way of getting the money you need. In reality, they can simply be small pebbles in the road that you may not even feel at all. But if you don't follow up, you will never know.
Here's what I've seen happen in each of these situations:
 1) "All the money is given out by June 30th": The end of the accounting year for most government agencies is September 30, but the agency can start giving out more money beginning October 1, and you can be the first in line. I think you can wait another 30 days for your money.
2) "The money is for people who live in the country:" That may be so. But it will still pay to get the details of the program to see if there is something in the description that was not obvious to others. A young man in Boston was trying to get money from a program that gave money for teenage entrepreneurs that lived in the country. He lived in Boston. When he got the materials, it said that it was for people in the country, but the description also said that it was for people who wanted to start lawn mowing businesses. That is wanted he wanted to do and he convinced the office that he was qualified. Government officials, or for that matter anyone, do not know everything. Get the facts and find out for yourself.
3) "The money is for nonprofits": for about $100 in fees you can become a nonprofit. Just call up the IRS and your state capital and ask for the office that registers nonprofit organizations. Fill out the paperwork. Don’t worry. You'll do it wrong. Send it in anyway. And they will send it back telling you how you messed up and then you will correct your mistakes. Another way to solve the problem is to find a local nonprofit, like a community college, church, or community group. Tell them you would like to use their name to apply for a bunch of money and that you will give them 15% if you get the money. They have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
4) "You have to come up with 20% of the cost of the project": There is always more than one way to come up with the extra money other than having the cash in your pocket. Some programs allow you to provide services or equipment that you already have as part of your 20%. You may be able to use your sweat as your contribution. The fact that you will work for free in helping to get the house built or the refurbishing done is worth something. You can call yourself a general contractor or just a handyman who pounds in the nails. Or you may need equipment, like the use of a car, to get the project done. This can be your car, which you already have and can count as a percentage of the project.
5) "The money is only for people in Minnesota": Contact them anyway. It's likely that if this is a unique program, then the program administrators will be aware of similar programs around the country that do the same thing. People doing similar work around the country have a tendency to organize and share information on how they are doing. We are one of the best organized countries in the world. If there are ten people in the country doing the same thing, they will start an association, a newsletter, and have annual meetings.
6) "The money is for people making less than $60,000": We all know that rules are made to be broken and many bureaucrats who hand out money have the power and authority to break the rules. It is easier for them to bend a few rules if they like you or they like your project. Or they may be having trouble giving away all their money this year, and you are one of the best ideas they have seen. Remember, bureaucrats are human too. They have feelings. Like all of us, unless they are having a bad day, their instinct is to help. Always give them a chance to see if they can help.
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