If you are a single mom and struggling to get by, you are not alone. Whether you are going through a divorce or the father is absent most single mother face the burden of supporting themselves and their children all on one income.



  •  Only fifteen percent of women going through a divorce are awarded any form of court-ordered spousal support.

  •  Thirty-four percent of those women never receive what is due to them.

  •  Less than half of the women who claim child support ever receive the full amount.

  •  Within the first year of divorce a women’s average standard of living falls forty-five percent while a man’s will grow fifteen percent.

What are grants?

A grant is an award of financial assistance. The primary purpose of a grant is to transport a thing of value from a Federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or incentive authorized by a law of the United States. A grant is distinguished for a contact, which is then used to acquire property or services for the Federal government's direct use or benefit.

Grants are associated by company, state, local or tribal government, research institution or academia, not-for-profit, or any other kind of institution.

Grants for single mother can be found on one of the 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies. These programs fall into 21 broad categories defined by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Agencies may fall under multiple grant categories. Below is a list of categories where grants for single mother may be found:

  •  Agriculture

  •  Arts

  •  Business and Commerce

  •  Community Development

  •  Consumer Protection

  •  Disaster Prevention and Relief

  •  Education

  •  Employment, Labor, and Training

  •  Energy

  •  Environmental Quality

  •  Food and Nutrition

  •  Health

  •  Housing

  •  Humanities

  •  Information and Statistics

  •  Law, Justice, and Legal Services

  •  Natural Resources

  •  Regional Development

  •  Science and Technology

  •  Social Services and Income Security

  •  Transportation

If you are a single mother seeking help with funding for your higher education you should consider exploring financial aid options such as contacting your financial aid office where you attend school. Ask about:

  •  Direct financial assistance from your college

  •  Federal and state subsidized grants

  •  Work-study programs

  •  Support from alumni, local clubs, or religious groups,

  •  Corporate-sponsored scholarships or tuition-aid programs for employees or for children of employees

Who can apply for grants?

If you are a citizen of the United States or a U.S. territory, or are a foreign national who has lived in the United States or a U.S. territory for at least three years immediately preceding an application, you are eligible to apply for a grant.

How do I prepare an application?

Each grant program has special instructions and program guidelines on how to properly prepare an application. Make sure to review these carefully before beginning your application for any important information about the focus of the program, eligibility requirements, and the types of funding available.

Applying for a grant is a great way for single mother in debt to get out of debt and stay out.

Helpful sites

- lists over 900 grant programs.

- answers common questions about grants.