For organizations that rely on grants for funding, utilizing grant databases can significantly enhance the ability to secure funding and manage their grant-related activities effectively. This comprehensive guide explores the top 17 grant research databases and tools for nonprofits, both paid and free, and provides guidance on how to choose the best one for your organization’s needs.
What Is a Grant Database?
A grant database is a centralized digital repository of information on available grants from various funding sources. These databases aggregate comprehensive details about grant opportunities, including eligibility criteria, application deadlines, funding amounts and specific requirements from different sources, including foundations, government agencies and private donors.
Grant databases are an essential tool for nonprofit organizations. They help staff efficiently identify and target the most relevant funding opportunities that align with their organization’s mission and projects, thereby increasing their chances of securing financial support. These databases often come with search functionalities that enable users to filter and sort grants based on specific criteria, such as geographic location, funding type or area of focus.
Some grant database platforms require a subscription or access fee, while others are free to use.
Why Are Grant Databases Helpful?
Grant databases save significant time and effort by consolidating essential information into one accessible platform, allowing grant writers to focus more on crafting compelling proposals. Many grant databases offer tools and features to track submission deadlines, manage grant applications, and provide insights and analytics on funding trends and success rates.
By leveraging these capabilities, nonprofits and other grant-seeking organizations can find suitable funding opportunities and develop a more organized and effective approach to grant acquisition, ultimately supporting their long-term sustainability and growth.
Top 17 Grant Databases for Nonprofits
Searching for the right grant is not always as simple as typing “best grants for [x]” into Google. Some databases are riddled with ads, while others include misleading information or dead links, wasting valuable time and resources.
The following alphabetical list comprises the best and most reliable grant databases, selected based on their popularity, reasonable pricing, ease of use and variety of grants available.
Formed through the merger of information nonprofits Foundation Center and GuideStar, Candid serves as a comprehensive hub for data, insights, and resources within the social sector, including a grants database.
- Price: Varies; learning resources are often free
- Key Features: Extensive grantmaker and recipient databases, educational webinars, training sessions and tools aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of the nonprofit sector
- Types of Grants: Nonprofit foundation and corporate grants
- Usability: Highly informative and comprehensive, though the sheer volume of resources may impose a learning curve
A specialized resource focused on funding opportunities for Catholic ministries and organizations.
- Price: $299/year
- Key Features: Searchable database of funding sources, tips and advice for grant applications, focus on Catholic funding sources
- Types of Grants: Grants for Catholic ministries and organizations
- Usability: Straightforward and focused on a specific niche, making it highly useful for Catholic organizations but limited for others
Devex offers funding information and wide-ranging insights for global development professionals.
- Price: $83/month when billed annually, $149/month when billed monthly
- Key Features: Global funding opportunities, project databases, donor profiles, news and analysis
- Types of Grants: International development grants
- Usability: Comprehensive and globally focused, ideal for international development professionals but may be less relevant for purely domestic nonprofits
An online platform that provides information on grant opportunities and resources for non-governmental organizations.
- Price: Free access to basic listings, premium memberships start at $199/year
- Key Features: Grant listings, fundraising guides, proposal writing tips, donor database
- Types of Grants: International NGO grants
- Usability: User-friendly and geared toward NGOs, with valuable resources for capacity building
GrantsAlert provides information on funding opportunities for schools, districts and educators.
- Price: Free
- Key Features: Grant listings, newsletters, funding alerts
- Types of Grants: Education grants
- Usability: Simple and focused on educational funding, making it highly relevant for schools and educational organizations
A subscription-based service that helps researchers and institutions find funding opportunities.
- Price: Pricing is determined by institution size
- Key Features: Customized grant recommendations, comprehensive grant database, researcher profiles, collaboration tools
- Types of Grants: Research, foundation and government grants
- Usability: Easy to navigate with personalized features that streamline the grant search process, making it ideal for research-focused institutions
Grant Gopher helps nonprofits, schools and municipalities find grant opportunities through a searchable database.
- Price: Free for LITE; $9/month for PRO; $49/month for PRO Success Path
- Key Features: Grant opportunity alerts, search filters, saved searches and deadline reminders
- Types of Grants: Foundation and government grants
- Usability: Affordable and user-friendly with essential features, making it accessible for smaller nonprofits
The primary source for finding and applying for federal grants in the United States.
- Price: Free
- Key Features: Comprehensive federal grant listings, application submission, tracking and management tools
- Types of Grants: Federal grants
- Usability: Essential for any nonprofit seeking federal funding, but the complexity of federal applications can be daunting
GrantScape provides tools for discovering, tracking and managing all types of grants.
- Price: $31–$105/month; custom quotes available for enterprise organizations
- Key Features: Searchable database, grant tracking and management tools, notifications for deadlines
- Types of Grants: Various including foundation, corporate and government grants
- Usability: User-friendly interface with efficient search and tracking capabilities, making it easy for nonprofits to manage their grant processes
An online database for grant seekers in various sectors.
- Price: Pricing upon request
- Key Features: Detailed information on a wide range of grants, advanced search filters, grant writing tips
- Types of Grants: Education, healthcare, arts and more
- Usability: Detailed and extensive, but the high price may be a barrier for smaller nonprofits
GrantStation offers a wide range of resources to help nonprofits find and secure grant funding.
- Price: $199 for one year; $299 for two years
- Key Features: Extensive database of grants, proposal writing tutorials, strategic planning resources, international grant listings
- Types of Grants: Foundation, corporate and government grants
- Usability: Comprehensive and well-organized, with valuable additional resources, though the breadth of information may be overwhelming for new users
Grant Watch lists thousands of current grant opportunities and provides resources for nonprofits, businesses and individuals.
- Price: $18/week or $199/year
- Key Features: Detailed grant listings, email alerts, grant archives, application tracking
- Types of Grants: Foundation, federal, state and local grants
- Usability: User-friendly with a straightforward interface, though some users may find the weekly subscription model less convenient
Instrumentl is an intuitive, all-in-one grant discovery and tracking tool that integrates grant research, application management and tracking.
- Price: Starts at $179/month for the basic plan, with higher tiers available
- Key Features: Automated matching of grants to your projects, collaborative tools for teams, deadline tracking, comprehensive database of foundation, corporate and government grants
- Types of Grants: Foundation, corporate and government grants
- Usability: Highly user-friendly with a clean interface, powerful search capabilities, and automation features that save time and effort
The National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations (NAVSO) offers funding opportunities for veteran-related projects.
- Price: $79–$119/month
- Key Features: Veteran-specific funding opportunities, resources for nonprofits, networking opportunities
- Types of Grants: Grants for veteran-related projects
- Usability: Highly specialized and useful for organizations serving veterans, but limited in scope for others
Pivot provides a comprehensive database of funding opportunities, particularly for academic research.
- Price: Institution-based pricing; contact for details
- Key Features: Customizable funding alerts, extensive grant listings, collaboration tools, researcher profiles
- Types of Grants: Research, foundation and government grants
- Usability: Highly effective for academic and research institutions with a robust set of tools, but may be complex for non-academic users
Walton Family Foundation Grants Database
The Walton Family Foundation’s database lists all grants awarded by the funding arm of the Walmart Corporation.
- Price: Free
- Key Features: Searchable database of past grants, information on funding priorities, insights into the foundation’s focus areas
- Types of Grants: Education, environmental and community development grants
- Usability: Useful for understanding funding patterns and priorities, but limited to one foundation’s grants
Grant Database Comparison
This chart contains the information in the previous section in an easily scannable format.
| Grant Database | Price | Types of Grants | Usability | Usability Rating |
| Candid | Varies | Nonprofit foundation and corporate grants | Highly informative and comprehensive | ★★★★ |
| The Catholic Funding Guide | $299/year | Grants for Catholic ministries and organizations | Straightforward and focused | ★★★ |
| Devex | $83/month–$149/month | International development grants | Comprehensive and globally focused | ★★★★ |
| Funds for NGOs | Free–$199/year | International NGO grants | User-friendly and geared towards NGOs | ★★★★ |
| GrantsAlert | Free | Education grants | Simple and focused on educational funding | ★★★ |
| GrantForward | Determined by institution size | Research, foundation, and government grants | Easy to navigate with personalized features | ★★★★ |
| Grant Gopher | Free–$49/month | Foundation and government grants | Affordable and user-friendly | ★★★★ |
| Grants.gov | Free | Federal grants | Essential for federal funding | ★★★ |
| GrantScape | $31–$105/month | Foundation, corporate, and government grants | User-friendly interface | ★★★★ |
| Grant Select | Pricing upon request | Education, healthcare, arts, and more | Detailed and extensive | ★★★ |
| GrantStation | $199 for one year; $299 for two years | Foundation, corporate, and government grants | Comprehensive and well-organized | ★★★★ |
| GrantWatch | $18/week or $199/year | Foundation, federal, state, and local grants | User-friendly with straightforward interface | ★★★★ |
| Instrumentl | $179+/month | Foundation, corporate, and government grants | Highly user-friendly with clean interface | ★★★★ |
| NAVSO | $79–$119/month | Grants for veteran-related projects | Highly specialized for veterans | ★★★ |
| Pivot | Determined by institution size | Research, foundation, and government grants | Highly effective for academic research | ★★★★ |
| Walton Family Foundation Grants Database | Free | Education, environmental, and community development grants | Useful for understanding funding patterns | ★★★ |
Other Tools for Grant Writing for Nonprofits
Searching and applying for grants takes patience, diligence and incredible attention to detail. In addition to filling out an application form, grant seekers need to source important documents, obtain letters of support, develop budgets and project timelines, and craft compelling explanations as to why a grantmaker should fund their project or cause.
Grant seekers should take advantage of the many resources available for improving grant writing skills and ensuring they can help their organizations thrive.
Grant Writing Software and Resources
From workshops to peer grant reviews, there are hundreds of grant writing resources available. Here are a few of the best.
- The Grantsmanship Center (TGC)
TGC provides comprehensive resources and training for grant writing and grants management. Their offerings include workshops, online courses and a membership program for ongoing support and access to their vast library of resources. The center’s approach combines expert-led instruction with practical, hands-on exercises to build the skills necessary for successful grant writing. - Instrumentl Free Workshops
Instrumentl workshops provide practical tips and strategies for finding and securing grants. Topics often include grant research, proposal writing, and leveraging technology for grant management. The workshops are led by experienced professionals and are an excellent resource for both new and seasoned grant writers looking to improve their skills. - Federal Grant Writing Bootcamp
The Federal Grant Writing Bootcamp is an intensive training program designed to help participants master the complexities of federal grant applications. The bootcamp covers topics such as understanding federal grant guidelines, developing strong proposals and managing grant compliance. This program is ideal for organizations seeking to secure federal funding and requires a detailed understanding of federal grant processes. - LearnGrantWriting.org
LearnGrantWriting.org offers an online grant writing course and community support for aspiring grant writers. Their program is structured to guide users through the entire grant writing process, from understanding funders to crafting compelling proposals. The site also provides access to a community of grant writers for networking, collaboration and peer support. - CharityHowTo
CharityHowTo offers a wide range of online webinars and courses focused on grant writing and other nonprofit management topics. Their resources are designed for different skill levels, from beginners to experienced professionals. CharityHowTo’s training sessions are led by industry experts and cover various aspects of grant writing, including proposal development, finding funders and grant management strategies. - GrantAdvisor
GrantAdvisor is a platform that allows grant seekers to share reviews and feedback about their experiences with various grantmakers. This community-driven resource provides insights into the grantmaking process, helping users identify grantmakers who are supportive and transparent. GrantAdvisor aims to improve the overall grant-seeking experience by fostering open communication between funders and grantees. - AI-Powered Tools
These tools leverage artificial intelligence to enhance various aspects of the grant writing process. Tools such as Grantable and FundWriter.ai can assist with identifying suitable grant opportunities, generating grant proposal drafts and optimizing language for clarity and impact. They often integrate with existing grant management software, providing features like natural language processing and machine learning to streamline and improve the grant writing process.
Grant Management Software
These software programs are widely recognized for their ability to simplify and enhance the grants management process, helping organizations efficiently handle their grant activities.
- Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM)
This comprehensive grants management solution streamlines the entire grant process, from application to reporting. It offers features such as customizable online applications, automated workflows and integrated communication tools. The platform is user-friendly and supports collaboration among grantmakers and applicants. - Blackbaud Grantmaking
Blackbaud Grantmaking is a powerful grants management software that provides tools for managing grant applications, tracking funding and generating reports. The software is known for its robust data management capabilities and integration with other Blackbaud solutions, making it ideal for large organizations. - Fluxx
This software offers an intuitive and flexible platform for managing grants. Its features include real-time dashboards, automated workflows and comprehensive reporting tools. Fluxx is designed to enhance transparency and efficiency, making it easier for grantmakers to monitor and evaluate their grant portfolios. - Little Green Light
Little Green Light is a great option for nonprofits that need an affordable and user-friendly solution for managing donors and fundraising activities, with some basic grant tracking capabilities. It is primarily focused on donor and fundraising management, whereas dedicated grants management software is specifically designed to handle all aspects of the grant lifecycle, from application to reporting. - SmartSimple GMS360°
SmartSimple is a versatile grants management system that caters to the needs of both grantmakers and grantseekers. It offers customizable workflows, advanced data analytics and secure document management. The platform is highly configurable, enabling organizations to tailor it to their specific grant management processes. - WizeHive Zengine
This grants management platform provides end-to-end solutions for managing the entire grant lifecycle. It features customizable application forms, automated task assignments and robust reporting capabilities. Zengine is designed to improve collaboration and streamline administrative tasks, making it a popular choice among nonprofits and foundations.
Navigating the world of grant funding can be complex and arduous, but the right tools and resources can make all the difference. By leveraging the grant research databases and tools highlighted in this guide, nonprofits can enhance their grant-seeking strategies and increase their chances of securing vital funding.
To learn more about how you can effectively manage and lead your own nonprofit organization, explore the University of San Diego’s online Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and Management program today.