Government loans - money you borrow from the federal government and that you repay with interest. Government loans can help pay for: School Buying a house Starting or growing a business.  Federal government grants - typically not given to people for personal expenses. Grants are for organizations that work with programs and projects funded by the government, including: Universities Research labs Nonprofit organizations State and local governments Law enforcement Businesses Your organization can find federal grants on Grants.gov or contact your state or territory to find funding opportunities locally. Government benefits - help people with food, health care, housing, and more. Each benefits program has its own eligibility rules, application process, and deadlines. Unlike government loans, government benefits usually do not need to be repaid. If you need financial help, use the USAGov benefit finder to search for government benefits you might qualify for.