"Question: I want to pursue a government grant, but the organizations I've contacted charge large up-front fees for their services. How can I find government money without spending a lot of money?
-- Ike, New York City

Answer: When it comes to looking for government grant money, you don't need an expensive consultant, you need a database software program called the Federal Money Retriever.

This user-friendly program lets you point and click through the maze of government programs. It provides descriptions, eligibility requirements, available funds and contact information. ...It's a bargain compared to what most consultants will charge you for the same information.

It's unusual to find a product that the experts agree is the "best of the best." But this one has the ringing endorsement of lots of nonprofit and research institutions whose limited budgets require that they seek out the most time- and cost-efficient ways to obtain grant information and funding."

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* Ms. Hirsch is a career counselor and small-business adviser in Chicago, who has written numerous books on these subjects, including, "Love Your Work and Success Will Follow" (John Wiley & Sons Inc.).
 

Small Business Resource Guide to the Web 1997
(quoted also in Lycos Online Small Business Resource Guide)
MacMillan Computer Publications
"This innovative software program searches its own database of federal financing opportunities and returns sources based on the search criteria input. Full text of the federal programs is included..."

Economic Opportunity Report
Business Publishers Inc.
“The Federal Money Retriever is a computer software package that lists grant programs offered by 53 federal agencies...“

Economic Development Digest
National Association of Development Organizations
“Federal Money Retriever for Windows ... can be searched by: agencies, beneficiaries, subject terms, functional categories and eligible applicants.”

The Idaho Statesman
“Anyone who has a need for federal funding - and who doesn’t? - should be interested in the electronic publication developed and marketed by IDI Magic Technologies Corp.“

NBIA Updates
National Business Incubation Association
“Retriever can cross-reference at every search step. There is also extended, interactive help that includes information on the federal funding in general, advice on grantwriting, sources of additional information, and a point-and-click help screen.”

The Times News
“It's a boon for those seeking federal grants: county commissioners, mayors, school officials...“

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The Chronicle of Philanthropy
"... takes thousands of pages of grant information published by the federal government and turns it into a searchable database for organizations that want to obtain government aid."

Nonprofit Colorado
Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations
"Special 'helps' in the software allow the user to search for information on subjects related to the selected area of interest and the referencing appears to be quite comprehensive... well-organized and thoughtfully constructed."

Delaware Nonprofit
Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies
“The real advantage of this impressive instrument, aside from its user-friendliness, is that with a little digging your agency can find funding opportunities buried under titles that a manual search would not always reveal.“

Books in Review
The Compleat Professional's Library
“If you are serious about competing for the $866 billion in federal grants described in the Retriever, your $195 investment should pay dividends many times over.“

FANO Newsletter
Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations
“This software takes you through all federal programs with a description of the program, who is eligible and how many dollars are available. Contact names and phone numbers are available...“

ORA News Line
Oregon Rehabilitation Association
“This easy-to-use Windows-based program helps you find the information you need, without having to wade through pages of extraneous information...“

Update
The Evergreen State Society
"Useful tool for any organization that searches for federal grant support."

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Small Communities Advisory Network
International City/County Management Association
“Do you have limited time on your hands? Federal Money Retriever allows you to explore funding opportunities suitable for your needs in a very short amount of time.”

Idaho Cities Magazine
Association of Idaho Cities
“Federal Money Retriever is a remarkable instrument. It is really setting a new standard for software related to grant searching. What would take days of manual searching can be done in less than 30 minutes. What is more, the search is truly comprehensive - you will discover funding opportunities buried under titles that a manual search would not reveal. I am finding sources of funding I never knew existed, and I've done this for sixteen years.“

InfoTech Report
International City/County Management Association
“Federal Money Retriever lets the user search through more than 1,390 federal assistance programs in minutes, and save or print the full texts of all federal programs.“

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Lester Salamon, Director
Institute for Policy Studies
Johns Hopkins University
"Miracle workers with the federal programs inventory..."

Rueben Miller, Chairman
National Small Town Task Force (STTF)
“Federal Money Retriever is a valuable tool for small governments. Really user friendly...”

Joel Cogen, Executive Director
Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
“CCM staff members did an extensive review of the software... We were impressed - it is professionally presented and easy to use.”

Dan Chadwick, Executive Director
Idaho Association of Counties
 “This easy-to-use program provides immediate access to every federal funding source available to counties. It includes search capability to allow you to identify funding you would not think otherwise available, and provides the total funding as well as the qualifications and rules.”
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