Grants for Minority Women With Bad Credit

There's a common saying in the American South: "There's always so much month left at the end of the money." And as prices on everyday items continue to rise and the financial situations continue to look bleak, many people are looking for ways to supplement their income or receive financial assistance, either through loans or grants. There are several types of grant programs available, and minority women looking for grants have several places to begin their search.

Don't Let Bad Credit Stop You

Although the grant application process is often grueling and extensive, many people's fears of the process are often unfounded. One of the most common misconceptions is the role that credit scores play in the applications process. Although there are many factors to consider, credit history is usually not a deciding factor for most granters. On the contrary, if the credit ratings are a result of certain types of financial hardships, they can strengthen your application. Of course, this detail needs to be evaluated for each individual grant for which women apply.

Ethnic- and Location-Based Grants

Two categorizations for grants for minority women are ethnicity and location. There are grants available for African-American, Asian, Hispanic and other minority groups. These can be further segmented to residents of certain states, especially those states and regions that are looking for ways to stimulate business growth and expand their business communities. The background information on each individual grant will let you know what the granter is looking for.

Business, Education and Personal Improvement Grants

There is also grant money available for minority women who are looking for ways to better their social standing and living conditions. Various programs offer money for housing assistance, care of children and older adults, and health care. One of the largest pools of money is for minority women to continue their education and enroll in secondary education programs.

Where to Look for Grants

The Foundation Center is one of the largest and most well-known resources for funding of all types and is a good place to begin searches for these grants. The United Negro College Fund offers college assistance for African-American women. Grants.gov is another good place to search for programs that are sponsored by the federal government. Local organizations and foundations also can be a great resource for smaller grants. Talking to foundations and nonprofit organizations in your region that deal with your area of interest is a step in the right direction as well.

Keep at it

Above all, it's important to understand that grant funding is highly competitive and subjective, so apply for as many as possible. And always have a Plan B.