FAQ
Spotting scams & stale listings
How to tell a real grant from a scam or a dead listicle before you waste time — or money.
- How do I know a 'government grant' offer is a scam?
- By a few reliable tells, per the FTC. The government doesn't contact you out of the blue about grants. You're never asked to pay a fee to qualify or release funds — anyone asking for a gift card, wire transfer, or crypto is a scammer. And there's no secret list: the only complete federal grant list is Grants.gov, and it's free, so never pay for a list of grants.
- Should I ever pay a fee to apply for a grant?
- Almost never, and only tiny disclosed ones. Legitimate government grants never charge to apply. A rare legitimate private grant charges a small, clearly-stated fee — the Amber Grant's $15 is in its official rules (with a hardship waiver). But a large fee, or any fee to 'release' or 'guarantee' money, is a scam. Your EIN and SAM.gov registration are always free.
- Why do the same grants keep showing up on lists as 'open' when they're closed?
- Because aggregator sites earn ad revenue whether or not a program is real, and they rarely update. The FedEx contest (retired in 2024) and Fast Break (ended 2024) are still listed as live all over the internet — some pages even keep the old deadline graphics. Always confirm on the funder's own current-year page before applying.
- How do I verify a grant is actually open?
- Run the Live-or-Dead Check: find the funder's own website (not a listicle), confirm it shows a current-year application window with this year's dates, and check that the eligibility still fits you. If the only source is a roundup article, treat it as closed until the funder's page proves otherwise.
A little skepticism protects both your time and your bank account. When in doubt, go to the funder’s own page — and see our running list of dead and stale programs.
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