The 5 Best Grant Databases to Find Funding for Your Nonprofit
Introduction
Finding grants is often the hardest part of nonprofit fundraising.
Many organizations spend weeks — or even months — searching for the right funding opportunities before they ever begin writing an application.
The good news? There are proven places to look.
Below are some of the best grant databases and resources to help you find funding faster.
Top Grant Databases for Nonprofits
These platforms are some of the most widely used tools for finding grant opportunities:
Grants.gov is the official database for all U.S. federal grant opportunities. It is a large, free database managed by the U.S. government.
Best for: Finding federal funding (from agencies like the EPA, HUD, or HHS).
Key Features: It centralizes over 1,000 grant programs. It isn't just for searching; you also use the "Workspace" feature to collaborate on and submit your actual federal applications.
Note: It is strictly for government grants; you won't find private family foundations or corporate giving here.
Candid is the gold standard for researching private foundations and corporate giving. It focuses on "who" is giving money rather than just "what" grants are open.
Best for: Prospect research and finding funders whose missions align with yours, even if they don't have an active "Request for Proposals" (RFP).
Key Features: It allows you to look at a funder’s past 990 tax forms to see exactly how much they typically give, who they have funded in your area before, and who the key decision-makers are.
Note: This is a paid subscription service, though many local libraries provide free access to it.
PRO TIP: Don't have the budget for a Candid subscription? Visit your local public library. Many offer free access to the Foundation Directory through the 'Candid Community' program.
GrantWatch is a curated directory that aggregates a mix of federal, state, local, foundation, and corporate grants into one searchable feed.
Best for: Small to mid-sized nonprofits and "boots-on-the-ground" organizations looking for a wide variety of current, open opportunities.
Key Features: It offers user-friendly filters (like searching by geographic location or specific category) and human-verified listings. It simplifies the "language" of grants so they are easier to read at a glance.
Note: While you can search for free, you usually need a "MemberPlus" subscription to see the full details and application links.
Instrumentl is more than just a search engine; it is a grant management and tracking platform. It combines the data of a search engine with the organizational tools of a project manager.
Best for: Teams that want to automate their "prospecting." It matches your specific project to potential funders and tracks deadlines automatically.
Key Features: It provides "Recipient Profiles" (letting you see which foundations fund organizations similar to yours) and an automated "Grant Tracker" that reminds you of upcoming deadlines and reporting requirements.
Note: It is generally the most expensive of these options but saves the most time by consolidating the search and management into one workflow.
Local Grant Opportunities
Not all funding comes from national databases. Many nonprofits find success by focusing locally.
Whether you are looking for animal rescue grants, veteran support funding, or community garden stipends, local family foundations are often more accessible than national federal grants.
Look for funding through:
• Community foundations
• City or county government programs
• Healthcare systems and hospitals
• Local banks and credit unions
• Family foundations in your region
What to Do After You Find a Grant
Finding the grant is only 10% of the battle. The other 90% is the writing—and that’s where most small nonprofits fail because they run out of time. Don't let a great opportunity expire.
Writing a strong proposal is what actually determines whether you receive funding.
Grant applications can take hours — or even days — to complete, especially if you're starting from scratch.
Write Your Grant Proposal Faster
GrAInt Writer helps small nonprofits generate structured grant proposals, Letters of Inquiry, and proposal rewrites in minutes.
Instead of guessing what to write, you follow a guided process and let AI generate a professional draft you can edit and submit.