How to Research Grant Opportunities
The complete guide to finding grants that actually fit your organization
The secret: Successful grant seekers don't apply to more grants – they apply to better-matched grants. This guide shows you how to find opportunities where you actually have a chance of winning.
Active U.S. foundations
Target grants per application cycle
Research time for quality prospect list
Where to Find Grant Opportunities
Professional Databases
Comprehensive, searchable databases with advanced filtering
Foundation Directory Online
Best for: Foundation grants of all sizes
Search by location, cause area, grant size, application deadline
GrantSpace
Best for: Beginners and small organizations
Free foundation profiles, funding news, training resources
Candid (formerly Foundation Center)
Best for: Research and training
990 forms, foundation profiles, research reports
Government Sources
Federal, state, and local government funding opportunities
Grants.gov
Best for: Federal government grants
All federal grant opportunities, application portal, deadline alerts
State Government Websites
Best for: State-specific funding
State agency grants, tax incentives, local programs
Municipal Websites
Best for: Local community grants
Community development, arts funding, neighborhood grants
Corporate Giving
Company foundations and corporate social responsibility programs
Company Websites
Best for: Direct corporate giving
Application guidelines, funding priorities, local contacts
Corporate Foundation Directories
Best for: Systematic corporate research
Corporate foundation profiles, giving patterns, contact info
Local Business Journals
Best for: Regional corporate giving news
Grant announcements, corporate philanthropy news
4-Week Research Process
Follow this systematic approach to build a high-quality prospect list efficiently.
Cast a Wide Net
Week 1Generate a large list of potential funders
Actions This Week:
- Search databases using broad keywords related to your work
- Review lists of foundations in your state/region
- Check corporate giving pages of major local employers
- Ask colleagues and board members for funder suggestions
- Look at who funds organizations similar to yours
Goal & Tools:
Identify 50-100 potential funders
Apply Basic Filters
Week 2Eliminate obvious non-matches
Actions This Week:
- Filter by geographic restrictions
- Remove funders outside your cause areas
- Check grant size ranges against your need
- Eliminate funders with impossible requirements
- Remove those not accepting applications
Goal & Tools:
Narrow to 20-30 viable prospects
Deep Research
Week 3Thoroughly investigate your best prospects
Actions This Week:
- Read complete guidelines and recent annual reports
- Analyze 2-3 years of actual grants made
- Research board members and staff backgrounds
- Look for news articles about the foundation
- Check if they've funded your issue recently
Goal & Tools:
Identify 8-12 strong matches
Prioritize and Plan
Week 4Rank prospects and create application timeline
Actions This Week:
- Score each funder on alignment and probability
- Check application deadlines and requirements
- Estimate time needed for each application
- Plan your application sequence
- Consider making pre-application contact
Goal & Tools:
Select 4-6 top prospects for applications
How to Evaluate Grant Opportunities
Not all grants are worth pursuing. Use these criteria to separate strong prospects from time-wasters.
Mission Alignment
CriticalKey Questions:
- Do they fund organizations exactly like yours?
- Is your cause area listed in their priorities?
- Do their recent grants go to similar programs?
- Does their language match how you describe your work?
Red Flags:
- No grants to organizations like yours in 3+ years
- Your cause area not mentioned in guidelines
- All recent grants go to much larger/smaller organizations
Geographic Focus
CriticalKey Questions:
- Do they fund in your state/region/city?
- Are there geographic restrictions in guidelines?
- Where have their recent grants gone?
- Do they have local staff or board members?
Red Flags:
- No grants in your region in recent years
- Guidelines explicitly exclude your area
- All board members/staff located far from you
Grant Size Match
ImportantKey Questions:
- What's their typical grant range?
- Do they fund your requested amount?
- Are you asking for too much or too little?
- Do they prefer multi-year or single-year grants?
Red Flags:
- Your request is 5x larger than their typical grant
- They only fund multi-year and you need one-year
- Average grant is much smaller than your need
Application Requirements
ImportantKey Questions:
- Can you meet all their requirements?
- Do you have the required partnerships/credentials?
- Is the application timeline realistic for your capacity?
- Do they require matching funds you don't have?
Red Flags:
- Requires 501(c)(3) status you don't have
- Needs partnerships you can't establish in time
- Matching funds requirement you can't meet
Pro Research Tips That Actually Work
Follow the Money Trail
Don't just read what funders say they fund – look at what they actually funded. Their 990 forms (tax returns) show exactly where their money went.
Example: A foundation says they fund 'education initiatives,' but their grants all go to charter schools. If you run after-school programs, you might not be a good fit despite the broad category match.
Local Connections Matter
Foundations often prefer to fund in communities where their board members live or work. Check board member locations and business affiliations.
Example: The Smith Family Foundation has board members in Austin, Denver, and Seattle. Even though they don't explicitly restrict geography, 80% of their grants go to those three cities.
Timing is Strategic
Some foundations make most decisions at specific times of year. Research their board meeting schedules and plan accordingly.
Example: The Community Foundation makes grants quarterly but receives 60% of applications for the December deadline. Your chances might be better applying for March funding.
Size Matters Both Ways
Being too small OR too large for a funder reduces your chances. Look for funders whose typical grant size matches your request range.
Example: Don't ask a funder who makes $50,000-$100,000 grants for $5,000. You'll look like you didn't do your research. Find funders who specialize in smaller grants.
Fresh Opportunities Beat Old Favorites
Newly launched grant programs often have less competition than established ones. Look for foundations announcing new initiatives.
Example: When a corporation launches a new environmental grant program, you might compete against 50 applicants instead of 500 for their established education grants.
Research Strategies by Organization Type
Brand New Organizations
Common Challenges:
- No track record
- Limited data
- Untested programs
Best Target Funders:
- Fiscal sponsors that support start-ups
- Micro-grants from community foundations
- Corporate volunteer engagement programs
- Religious institution grants
Research Strategy:
Focus on founder credentials, community need data, and partnerships with established organizations.
Small Established Nonprofits
Common Challenges:
- Limited capacity
- Small budgets
- Volunteer boards
Best Target Funders:
- Local family foundations
- Community foundation donor advised funds
- Corporate community investment programs
- Government contracts for direct services
Research Strategy:
Emphasize community relationships, cost-effectiveness, and ability to deliver personal service.
Growing Organizations
Common Challenges:
- Scaling challenges
- Infrastructure needs
- Staff development
Best Target Funders:
- Capacity-building grants
- Multi-year foundation commitments
- Corporate foundation strategic partnerships
- Federal program grants
Research Strategy:
Show growth trajectory, systems development, and plan for sustainability.
Research Tools & Templates
Essential Research Spreadsheet Columns:
- • Funder name and contact information
- • Grant size range and typical award
- • Application deadline and decision timeline
- • Geographic and program restrictions
- • Recent grants to similar organizations
- • Application requirements and complexity
- • Your fit score (1-10) and notes
Time-Saving Research Shortcuts:
- • Set up Google Alerts for funder news
- • Follow foundation social media accounts
- • Subscribe to grants newsletters in your field
- • Join professional associations with grant resources
- • Network with grant writers in your area
- • Attend funder information sessions
Skip the Research Phase
Our platform has already researched thousands of grant opportunities and can instantly match you with funders who support organizations like yours. Get personalized recommendations based on your location, cause area, and organizational profile.