Grant research for nonprofits
Nonprofits have the widest range of funding options, and the most noise to sort through. We do the searching and tell you which opportunities are worth your time.
Where nonprofit funding actually comes from
Most nonprofits know about federal grants and their local community foundation. The money that goes unclaimed is usually somewhere else. A thorough search covers all of it:
- Federal programs, from agencies whose priorities change year to year
- State agencies, including arts councils, humanities councils, and health and human services departments
- City and county programs, which are small, local, and often uncontested
- Community foundations serving your county or region
- Private and family foundations, many of which never advertise
- Corporate giving programs, including the local store grants that fund equipment and supplies
- Non-cash support: technology credits, donated goods, and discounted services
This holds whether you're a 501(c)(3), another 501(c) type, or a faith-based organization running community programs. Which sources fit depends on your mission, budget, where you work, and what you want to fund.
What we do
You tell us about your organization once. We build your research profile, then search across those sources, check each opportunity against your profile, and set aside the ones that don't fit. What you get back is a short list with the reasoning attached.
Every opportunity comes with a Fit Score explained factor by factor, the eligibility rules and whether you appear to meet them, the deadline, the award range, the effort an application takes, and a link to the funder's own page with the date we checked it.
Apply, maybe, watch, or skip
Every opportunity gets a plain recommendation. Apply means you appear eligible, the fit is strong, and we confirmed the current round with the funder. Maybe means something needs a closer look first. Watch means a strong match that isn't open yet, so you know when to expect it. Skip means it isn't worth your time right now, and we say why.
Skips matter as much as the rest. Knowing that a well-known program isn't worth 30 hours of your director's time is worth the research on its own.
What this isn't
It isn't a database subscription. There's nothing to log into and no search to run. It also isn't grant writing: we don't write your application, and we don't submit anything on your behalf. We find and qualify the opportunities so your writing time goes toward the ones worth winning.
A Fit Score measures alignment, not the chance of being funded. Funders make their own decisions and change their requirements, so we tell you to confirm details with them before you apply.
What we need from you
A clear picture of your organization: your mission and programs, who you serve, where you work, your budget, your registrations, and what you want to fund. The more we know, the sharper the research gets. Every report shows what each recommendation is based on and flags anything worth double-checking.
Newly formed, or not formed yet?
Most grants require a registered organization with an EIN, and many foundations ask for IRS 501(c)(3) determination. If you're mid-formation, the honest first step is finishing that, then coming back. If you're newly formed and waiting on determination, some funding is still open to you, including corporate and local programs and anything through a fiscal sponsor. Tell us where you are and we'll tell you what's realistic now.
See where you stand
Six questions, about two minutes, and you'll see how ready your nonprofit is to apply, plus what to fix first.
Take the 2-minute readiness check See how it works
Already know where you stand? Email us at hello@granthounds.com.