- 1). Gather documentation such as copies of pay stubs and driver's licenses to verify your identity and income for everyone in your household. Regardless of which grant for which you want to apply, these documents more than likely will be a requirement of the application, since grant organizations want you to prove you truly cannot pay.
- 2). Contact the patient advocate at your local clinic or hospital. The advocate should be able to tell you of any grant opportunities available for medical expenses through your local government, as well as grants from the clinic or hospital through private donations.
- 3). Check with your local social services to see if you qualify for emergency Medicaid through county assistance.
- 4). Call your local health department to find out what state and federal grants are available. Examples include the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which covers bills related to heating costs including electricity, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps reduce bills through home renovation and improvements. Some of these same grants may be listed on grants.gov.
- 5). Download eligibility requirements and applications for the grants from the offering organizations using the organizations' websites. Alternatively, request the information and forms by email, phone, mail or fax.
- 6). Review the eligibility requirements for each grant for which you are interested. Make copies of any other documents you may need not already gathered in step one, such as copies of the bill statements.
- 7). Fill out the application for each grant. Double-check the accuracy of the information on the application. Make sure there are no grammar, punctuation or spelling mistakes.
- 8). Write out a separate grant proposal to include with the application. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how you are to use the grant monies and the exact amount for which you are applying. Sections must be distinct with clear headings and should reference any documents or figures required by the offering organization. Concise charts and tables are preferable if you can include them.
- 9). Find one or two people who can write you a letter of recommendation. People who are involved in your finances closely or who are well-respected in your community, such as your banker or pastor, serve as the best references, as do former employers with whom you have good relationships. The letter should reiterate your financial need, describe why you are deserving of the grant and speak to your character.
- 10
Write a cover letter for each grant application. - 11
Combine your letters of recommendation, cover letter, application and copied documents into packets for each grant. - 12
Verify the address of each grant office and send the packets to the appropriate representative.
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