>Good morning!
>So all I hear is how women and moms can get small business
>grants... but yet everywhere I look someone is looking for
>money up front for a list of places... the lists usually
>being outdated and old!
>
>In this economy, are there still orgnanizations offering
>grants? Can anyone help?
>
>My background info: I am a SAHM with three young children,
>and pregnant with my fourth. I have a Master's of Science
>Degree in Counseling with an advanced degree in Marriage and
>Family Therapy. Before my twins were born last year, I was
>working as a therapist in a foster care agency in NYC.
>
>I incorporated my small business in September, where I sell
>children's books for siblings of twins and a twin journal. I
>am now working on expanding my business to utilize my degree
>while still being at home (or at least with my kids!). I am
>attempting to start up Baby and Toddler classes teaching
>weekly "Mommy and Me" type sessions such as Baby
>Sign Language, baby and toddler gym classes, potty training.
>I have already begun working on becoming certified with some
>companies that offer these courses as home businesses.
>
>So now I need funding for transforming my basement into a
>child-friendly "playspace" to hold the classes, as
>well as funding for advertising and brochures, flyers, etc.
>
>As I just found out I am expecting my fourth child, this puts
>a bit more stress on my funding options, as my husband can
>only help out so much! If anyone can help, please let me know
>where to turn and who can possibly consider me for a small
>business grant.
>
>I do appreciate you taking the time to read my post and look
>forward to hearing from you.
>Thank you.
>Jennifer

As some that does grant research for a living I can tell you that the reason you are being "charged" for the information is that the company has already done the work finding the information and you are being charged for the work that they did to find the information.

While there is no "secret" place where this information can be found it does take quite a bit of work and research - especially if you are doing this kind of research for the first time.

If you do want to pay someone else for finding this information why don't you just look for the information yourself? Like I noted above there is no "secret" place that we go to to find this information. It just requires work.

Specifically what you want to do - meaning the kind of business that you are doing is really quite commendable and you should start looking for funding in research because after all you did mention writing and utilizing the degree that you have. I have seen lots of funding programs relating to child care and childcare developement so you should be looking into those types of programs as well.

And since childcare-related ventures have a lot of funding programs you should also making your venture part profit and part non-profit so that you can take advantage of a majority of funding programs. This is what a lot of ventures have been doing lately and its kind of starting a trend. So it is something that you should definitely be looking into.

Rose
Grant Basics 101
http://grantbasics101.bravehost.com/grants.htm