If you’re an American who pays taxes, at tax time and throughout the year, you need to be aware of what may trigger audits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). First, though, be aware that in general, your chances of being audited are only about 1.5% if you’re just an average taxpayer. There are, however, some so-called “red flags” that may increase the odds that you’ll be picked for an audit.

There’s a saying that originated in old Hollywood in the 1930s: “Be Nice to People on Your Way Up. You’ll Meet ‘Em On Your Way Down.” You know what? That’s great advice for business and real estate investing too, and when you’re looking to get a grant. From the very beginning, in every transaction, it’s to your benefit to treat others with kindness and respect. Of course, that’s just the right

One of your resources for grant funding is foundation grants, so knowing a little about how they work and what gets funded can unlock a vast resource of grant money. We’re going to look at a representative sample of foundation funding. These figures are for what was given out in the United States in a recent year, but many of the categories are similar to the types of foundation grants that

Canada dishes out some of the most extreme climate conditions on the planet, so we certainly have an incentive to get the whole housing and energy efficiency thing right. Energy efficiency grants are often available to help.

The first of the federal government’s Solar Towns Programme grants have been awarded to eight community groups across Tasmania.

The grants, capped at $20,000 each, provide for the purchase and installation of either rooftop solar PV, a solar hot water system, or a solar heat pump hot water system on existing buildings (one year or older) which provide support to the local community.

Native Americans historically have had lower rates of home ownership and business ownership than the overall population of the United States. Finding the funding to buy a house or start a business can be tough, especially in times of tighter lending standards. In response to this, the federal government has made government money available through various programs. To address the issue of low rates of home ownerships,

It’s unquestionably a huge disappointment to work hard on your grant proposal, only to have it not be chosen. At this point you can either become discouraged and give up, or you can use the rejection as a learning experience. Most proposals are rejected. Given the large numbers of proposals that are submitted, that is a reality of the process. However, you can try to pinpoint the reason in several ways:

Do you know what happens to areas where there’s an economic decline? One bleak scenario is that without money, it starts to become dilapidated and possibly crime-ridden, so that just accelerates the pace of businesses and residents leaving the area. Revenues decline further because of the shrinking tax base, and the downward spiral continues. One way to prevent this is with an infusion of outside funding. One way a town or neighborhood can get a boost is with money from the federal government. One of the longest-running and most successful federal grant programs is the Community Development Block Grant. Here’s how it works. A sum of money in the form of a federal grant is provided

There’s been some severe weather in the United States in the past couple of months, and billions of dollars of damage has been one result. Even if you’re not in one of the hard-hit areas, it’s worthwhile for you to be prepared with the resources that you’ll need if a natural disaster happens close to home.

I get a lot of questions about government grant proposals, and I’ve reviewed a fair number of them. I’ve seen some instances where people want to make a grand political statement as part of their government grant request or making the basis of their funding request kind of a pushback against some public policy that they don’t agree with.

Some people may be skeptical that government grants are real because they seem too good to be true. They do exist and are available, and I have countless happy students who can attest to that. Here’s what you need to know though. Grants exist for a purpose. The reason that the government gives money to individuals, organizations, and small businesses is that the grant funds fulfill a purpose.

One of the popular uses of government funding is acquiring real estate. Many of my students have used government funding programs to buy their first home or upgrade their existing residence. Others still are real estate investors, either with some experience or just getting started. No matter whether you’re a novice or a seasoned investor, there are four basic principles of real estate that you can put to work to catapult your success

I sometimes have students who are gung-ho to get a grant, any grant. They will inquire where to go to get the most money, the most quickly. I ask them what it is they are seeking to fund exactly, and they have no idea. This approach is not likely to succeed, for several reasons. First, grants exist for a purpose. The idea behind them is that the government wants to encourage positive social changes, such as job creation or home ownership,

Most of us want to live in the kind of world where other people have the same good character traits as we do. We expect honesty, mutual respect, and ethics. There are lots of people who live up to these standards, but some who will fall short. Especially in business and real estate dealings, it’s smart to have cordial, professional working relationships, but to also protect your own interests at the same time.