Grant Directory List

Securing grant funding is key to keeping your organization thriving but knowing where to find the right opportunities can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re crafting a grant proposal or just starting your search, paid subscription services are an option for big budgets—but if you’re a small nonprofit or pinching pennies, you’re in luck! There are plenty of free grant funding resources to help you discover open opportunities and build winning proposals. We’ve rounded up the best ones below to make your grant funding hunt a breeze or Grant Oath can search for you, please see our services list.

Looking for grant funding from foundations? Whether you’ve got a funder in mind or need a starting point for your grant proposal, these free tools will supercharge your search:

• Foundation Center (via Candid)
  What It Is: Access the Foundation Directory Online (FDO) for free at 400+ public spots like libraries across the U.S. and beyond.
  How It Helps: Pinpoint grant funding opportunities that match your mission. Find a location with their lookup tool.
• Guidestar (via Candid)
  What It Is: Now part of Candid, Guidestar offers free IRS Form 990s for nonprofits and foundations.
  How It Helps: Check a nonprofit’s 990 for their funders or a foundation’s PF 990 for past grants—amounts, recipients, and purposes. It’s a fast track to grant funding for your grant proposal!
• GrantStation
  What It Is: A paid database with free goodies—get their weekly U.S. grant newsletter or monthly international one.
  How It Helps: Stay updated on new grant funding opportunities without spending a cent. Some libraries offer free database access too!
• FundsforNGOs
  What It Is: Free and paid options for global nonprofits.
  How It Helps: Explore recent grants by category or sign up for their free newsletter. For $49/year, unlock a funder database—affordable grant funding help!
• Grant Gopher
  What It Is: A U.S.-focused database with a free tier.
  How It Helps: Search for free, see your first five results, and get a newsletter with open grant funding. Free sample proposals included—great for your next grant proposal! Full access is $99/year.
• Grantmakers.io
  What It Is: A free database of 4.8 million grants from IRS 990-PF data, built by Chad Kruse.
  How It Helps: See who foundations fund, why, and how much—ideal for finding grant funding without a subscription. A small org’s dream!
• Philanthropy News Digest (PND)
  What It Is: A Candid service with RFPs by category.
  How It Helps: Get free funding alerts via their newsletter—a must for grant proposal prep, plus news and jobs!
• scientifyRESEARCH
  What It Is: A global research funding database with a free plan.
  How It Helps: Covers all fields with filters and alerts—open to anyone chasing grant funding opportunities worldwide.
• Terra Viva Grants Directory
  What It Is: Free profiles and lists for grants in developing countries (agriculture, energy, environment).
  How It Helps: For $12/year, get alerts and a database—cheap grant funding support. 
• Community Foundations (Council on Foundations)
  What It Is: Local U.S. foundations listed by state.
  How It Helps: Find them via their locator or Peak Proposals—perfect for local grant funding and proposals!
  SEO Tip: Boosts "community grant funding" clicks.
• Corporate Foundations
  What It Is: Businesses offering grants or in-kind support, often locally.
  How It Helps: Visit sites of companies like Walmart or Bank of America for CSR programs. Look at local news or event sponsors too!
  

Government grant funding is a powerhouse for your grant proposal, and these free tools simplify the search:

• Grants.gov
  What It Is: The go-to for U.S. federal grant funding from 26 agencies (e.g., USDA, HUD).
  How It Helps: Search by agency, use their app, or get alerts. Non-U.S. orgs can apply—check eligibility!
• State Governments (U.S.) (Varies—e.g., California Grants Portal)
  What It Is: State-level grant funding, some federally backed.
  How It Helps: Check your state’s department site or Grants.gov—essential for local grant proposals!
• International Government Resources (Varies—e.g., UK Aid)
  What It Is: Grants from your country or foreign embassies.
  How It Helps: Visit agency sites or embassy lists for grant funding—great for global proposals!
• USAID & Global Aid
  What It Is: U.S. aid via Grants.gov; others like Bond (UK).
  How It Helps: Use USAID’s Business Forecast or check aid sites (see Wikipedia’s list). Devex teases listings—track them down!

For larger grant proposals, these free databases deliver:

• Regional: Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, EU, Inter-American Development Bank.
• Global: UN agencies like UNDP, WHO, World Bank—see the UN list.
  How It Helps: Searchable grant funding (some need free signup)—ideal for big wins!

• Newsletters: Free from foundations or Nonprofit Quarterly (some Chronicle of Philanthropy needs a sub).
• Google Alerts: Set one for funders—get grant funding updates emailed.
• Charity Excellence Framework (CEF): UK-focused with a free database, useful worldwide.
  

These free resources cut through the noise, uncover grant funding opportunities, and fuel stellar grant proposals—whether you’re after local support or global impact. Dive in, mix and match, and watch your funding grow!

For help submitting an application and grant proposal to any of the above funders, get in touch with us below!