Grants and Scholarships for Single Mothers – Get Back to School

04. September 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Financial Aid, Government, Higher Education (University +), United States · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mothers, especially single mothers, find it difficult to balance the things that need to be done at home and things that need to be done in school or at work. Majority of all instances, home always comes first, leaving work and school tasks to suffer.

In a time of financial hardships, paying for college while putting food on the table and paying the bills is almost an impossible feat. But single mothers need not worry anymore. Going back to college will be easy as pie with the different grants and scholarships for single mothers offered by various organizations and the government.

I Know What a Scholarship is, but What is a Grant?

Grants are a form of award or financial assistance, offered to both individuals, groups, companies and organizations. They are not to be confused with loans or free money, as erroneously pitched in infomercials. A grant’s primary purpose is to transport a thing of value from a federal agency to a recipient in order to carry out a public support or incentive authorized by a law of the United States.

Can a Single Mother be Eligible for These Grants?

Yes, a single mother can be eligible for grants by applying as an individual. By signing up as an individual, they must sign on their own behalf, and not on behalf of the government, group, or organization. They are also expected to comply with the requirements and assurances that come with the application, and they can only avail of the grants that are open to individuals.

Different Opportunities Make for Different Doors

With single mothers in dire need of financial aid, scholarship providers recognize that single parents need help if they are to pay for school. That is why there are many grants and scholarships for single mothers, created specifically to help make a college education more accessible and affordable. Scholarship providers are making it possible for single moms to create a more secure financial future for them and for their children.

Here are some of the scholarship opportunities and programs that one may look into:

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: Single parent scholarships are awarded to single eligible parents who are residents of Arkansas.

The Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship Program: The Jeanette Rankin Foundation has awarded over 500 scholarships to women who want to attend college since 1978. Applications are available from the month of November to February. This scholarship may not directly target single moms, but they would be the subset of the “single women 35 and older” category.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low Income Women and Children: The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation, which was established in 2003, aims to carry on Congressman Mink’s commitments: educational access, support and opportunity for low income women, especially mothers and educational enrichment for children.

W.I.S.P. Change Your World Scholarship

Doris Buffer, president and founder, announced in March 2007 a new scholarship program of the Sunshine Lady Foundation for the sons and daughters of the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP). People at WISP believe that students who are willing to learn, work hard, motivated and capable should have the opportunity at earning a college degree. These scholarships are for those who show the greatest promise of success, in financial need and have education as their number one priority.

“We need to put a college education within reach of every American. That’s the best investment we can make in our future.” – President Barack Obama

These college grants and scholarships for single moms are the best possible way for a mom to earn a degree, thereby securing their own financial future, as well as her family’s.

Financial Aid for Single Mothers – Making Life Easier

02. September 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Financial Aid, Government, Higher Education (University +), United States · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Being a single mother can be a daunting and fearful experience. There are always things to worry about, problems to solve, and things to do and sometimes these may even happen simultaneously. The fear of running out of resources to put food on the table, pay for the bills or buy the necessities is an overwhelming fear that every single mother shares. It’s important for them to know that they are not alone – with different types of financial aid for single mothers available, they can sleep easy at night.

What Are Grants?

Grants, as they are commonly known, are a form of financial assistance for single mothers. However, it is not a benefit or an entitlement. There are over 1000 different grants that an individual, such as a single mother, group or organizations can avail of, from the 26 Federal Grant making agencies.

Grant Eligibility

An individual submits a grant application on his/her own behalf, and not on behalf of a group, company, institution or government. Individuals sign the grant application and its associated certifications, along with assurances that are required and necessary for the application process. Signing up as an individual will only allow you to avail of the grant programs that are open only to individuals. Each grant has special instructions and program guidelines on how to prepare an application. Any citizen of the US or US Territory who has resided in the US or US Territory for at least 3 years preceding an application can apply and be eligible for a grant.

Educational Assistance for Single Mothers

Other forms of assistance include educational grants, scholarships for single moms, job training, and career development programs to assist single mothers in obtaining their G.E.D., a college degree or vocational training. Other sites provide employment help for single mothers, such as assistance in resume writing, job application and interview skills as well as job hunting resources.

Medical Assistance for Single Mothers

Medical assistance for single mothers can be in the form of medical financial aids, which can be availed of during pregnancy with prenatal classes and medical care from birth through childhood. Various government sponsored nutrition and programs for single mothers, such as cooking and menu planning promote healthy children without the burden of increased costs.

Where do I Even Start Looking for Them?

Along with the Internet, the public library is a no fee resource for finding different types of financial aid for single mothers. Local, state and federal government websites can provide you with the information that you need for programs for single mothers. Government websites can also provide ways to find financial assistance, as well as helping one obtain housing, health care, food and medical care.

Financial aid for single mothers includes a multitude of programs, which range from housing assistance, home improvement programs, educational opportunities to health care. The government has a vested interest in your success. These programs are in place to assist you. We firmly believe that one of the best investments you can make is in yourself by applying for grants and scholarships for moms. The American Dream can be yours.

Government Grants for Single Mothers – What Kinds Are Available?

05. June 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Financial Aid, Personal Finance, United States · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

In the United States, there are all sorts of government grants for single mothers or financial aid available through the Federal Welfare Service and private organizations. But unfortunately, not all single mothers are able to take advantage of these special single mother grants. More often than not, it is only those who are earning below a certain level who are able to qualify and avail of these grants and financial aid benefits.

Take Action

In order for any single mother to determine if they can qualify for these financial aids, they first have to contact their local Federal Welfare Service. They will then be required to fill out an application form at their local Welfare office.

But aside from the Federal Welfare Service that offers these financial assistance, there are many schools offering scholarships specifically for single mothers. If you want to learn more about this kind of single mother grants, you will need to contact the school’s financial aid office to see if they offer such scholarship.

You Have Options

The best way for a single mother to find out more about scholarships is by contacting the State Department for Higher Education, their local High School Guidance Office, as well as querying through the internet. As a single mom earning a salary is very important, you may want to consider colleges and universities offering online courses for those who need to work but want to improve their education. If you happen to be a single mom who’s working and going to school at the same time, it may be worth it to talk to your employer to see if they have any scholarships available.

There are also private organizations which offer single mother grants and other financial assistance for single mothers and information relating to these organizations can be found online.

Contact your local Federal Welfare Service office, or take a look around the internet today and see what financial aid for single moms you can find. You may even find yourself going back to school to get those qualifications that you wanted, thus improving your chances of getting a better paying job.

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