This page includes tips on how our charitable search pages work and how to use them effectively to find the right grantmakers for your funding needs.
US Charitable Search Tips
Before you get started we recommend that you review our Search Terms glossary. Then you can thoughtfully choose the search criteria which will result in the best list of funders to approach.
Click on a box next to the search criteria, and results will display in a second or two. Click on another box and your results will refresh.
Step 1 - Select your Geographic Scope
- BROADEN your results by selecting both NATIONAL grantmakers and the STATES where you perform work.
- NARROW your results by just selecting one at a time.
- You will get new results as you click on criteria.
- The criteria will display in the above right. You can remove criteria by clicking on the minus sign or by deselecting the boxes.
- Add GLOBAL Grantmakers to your search to list funders who provide support worldwide.
Step 2 - Select one or more of the other terms
- NARROW your results by selecting more terms.
- BROADEN your results by deselecting any term.
- For Areas of Interest, click the category, and then click a subcategory to get results.
- For Keyword or Grantmaker Name, you do not need to select a Geographic Scope.
As you select terms, your list of results will refresh. This is so that you can see the impact that each term combination has on broadening or narrowing your results.
Our database only includes grantmakers that accept unsolicited requests in order to make your research more effective and efficient. You can learn more about our database development process in Creating a Funder Profile.
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, contact us at research@grantstation.com and we will answer any questions that you might have regarding specific grantmakers.
This is your first step in searching for grantmakers because this is a key aspect of eligibility in applying for funding.
You can make the following selections:
- Global - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations in most countries across the world.
- National - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations throughout the entire U.S.
- Regional - grantmakers who consider funding within certain states.
As you add selections, your search will BROADEN and your list of results will increase.
Example: Select Alabama and then select Alaska. The results will display grantmakers giving in Alabama OR Alaska OR both.
We recommend that you start by selecting "National” AND your state. This will cast a wide net that you can narrow with other search criteria. If your list is still too long, you can remove national funders to target those who focus in your area.
You can always include global grantmakers to see those in other countries you might consider funding for your work.
Are you an organization that performs work in other countries? If so, then use the International Charitable search to select those countries.
Choose the terms which best describe the programs or projects which you are seeking funding for.
The Areas of Interest are grouped into main categories. Click on each to view the search criteria in each section. Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You may select as many terms as you wish, but your results will NARROW with each selection.
Example: If you select Public Policy under "Civic Affairs” and K-12 Education under "Education”, each grantmaker listed will include both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Select any population to list grantmakers giving to programs with that focus.
You can combine this with any other search term to NARROW your results.
Example: If you select Seniors/Aging along with Housing under "Community & Economic Development”, each grantmaker listed includes both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You can NARROW your results to include only those grantmakers who indicate that they provide specific types of support.
Example: If you select Building Funds along with Hospitals/Clinics under "Health”, each grantmaker listed includes both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You can NARROW your results to include only grantmakers of a particular type.
This is useful if you know that you are seeking to expand your grantmaking portfolio with particular grantmakers.
You can NARROW your results by selecting the state you reside in. You can only select one at a time.
This can be helpful when you are seeking in-kind donations of products and services.
This can also be helpful in finding grantmakers in your vicinity for networking.
You can NARROW your results by searching for any word in the profile or you can just search by a keyword.
Example: human trafficking will show profiles with BOTH human AND trafficking in the profile. You might want to try searching for just trafficking.
Use quotation marks if you have several words that create a term.
Example: "nursing scholarships" will show profiles with those words placed in that order in the profile.
Instead of using the Keyword Search, you might get better results using the Areas of Interest terms.
Example: You can search for dog rescue, but you will want to separately select Animal Welfare under "Environment & Animals”. That will provide a larger list of grantmakers who would likely fund a dog rescue.
Example: You can search for farming, but you may want to separately select Organic Farming / Local Food under "Environment & Animals” in the Areas of Interest. That will provide a more focused list of grantmakers if that reflects your work.
Learn more about our Areas of Interest in our Search Terms glossary.
You can also search for a particular grantmaker by name without selecting any other criteria.
Be careful using quotation marks.
Example: "Bill Gates Foundation” will yield no results, since their foundations are named "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation” and "Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Grand Challenges Explorations”.
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, we might not list them because they are not actively accepting unsolicited requests at this time. Contact us at research@grantstation.com if you have any questions regarding a specific grantmaker.
Federal Search Tips
Click on a box next to the search criteria, and results will display in a second or two. Click on another box and your results will refresh.
Select the term which describes your organization. You can add multiple terms to broaden your results.
Select the term which describes your work. You can add multiple items to narrow your results.
Only select this if you are interested in the programs listed by a particular agency. You can add multiple items to broaden your search.
You can search for any word in the profile by using a keyword. You may want to clear all other terms and just search by this term. Example: human trafficking will show profiles with BOTH human AND trafficking in the profile. You might want to try searching for just trafficking.
Use quotation marks if you have several words that create a term.
Example: "nursing scholarships" will show profiles with those words placed in that order in the profile. Instead of using the Keyword Search, you might get better results using the Areas of Interest terms.
Example: You can search for art, but you will get results for any program mentioning “state-of-the-art”. You will instead want to select Arts.
CFDA Number
If you have this number, you can search by it. You may want to clear all other terms and just search by this number.
Canadian Charitable Search Tips
Before you get started we recommend that you review our Search Terms glossary. Then you can thoughtfully choose the search criteria which will result in the best list of funders to approach.
Click on a box next to the search criteria, and results will display in a second or two. Click on another box and your results will refresh.
Step 1 - Select your Geographic Scope
- BROADEN your results by selecting both NATIONAL grantmakers and the PROVINCES OR TERRITORIES where you perform work.
- NARROW your results by just selecting one at a time.
- You will get new results as you click on criteria.
- The criteria will display in the above right. You can remove criteria by clicking on the minus sign or by deselecting the boxes.
- Add GLOBAL Grantmakers to your search to list funders who provide support worldwide.
Step 2 - Select one or more of the other terms
- NARROW your results by selecting more terms.
- BROADEN your results by deselecting any term.
- For Areas of Interest, click the category, and then click a subcategory to get results.
- For Keyword or Grantmaker Name, you do not need to select a Geographic Scope.
As you select terms, your list of results will refresh. This is so that you can see the impact that each term combination has on broadening or narrowing your results.
Our database only includes grantmakers that accept unsolicited requests in order to make your research more effective and efficient.
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, contact us at research@grantstation.com and we will answer any questions that you might have regarding specific grantmakers.
This is your first step in searching for grantmakers because this is a key aspect of eligibility in applying for funding.
You can make the following selections:
- Global - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations in most countries across the world.
- National - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations throughout all of Canada.
- Regional - grantmakers who consider funding within certain provinces or territories.
As you add selections, your search will BROADEN and your list of results will increase.
Example: Select Alberta and then select Saskatchewan. The results will display grantmakers giving in Alberta OR Saskatchewan OR both.
We recommend that you start by selecting "National” AND your province or territory. This will cast a wide net that you can narrow with a keyword. If your list is still too long, you can remove national funders to target those who focus in your area.
Are you an organization that performs work in other countries? If so, then use the International Charitable search to select those countries.
Choose the terms which best describe the programs or projects which you are seeking funding for.
The Areas of Interest are grouped into main categories. Click on each to view the search criteria in each section. Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You may select as many terms as you wish, but your results will NARROW with each selection.
Example: If you select Public Policy under "Civic Affairs” and K-12 Education under "Education”, each grantmaker listed will include both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Select any population to list grantmakers giving to programs with that focus.
You can combine this with any other search term to NARROW your results.
Example: If you select Seniors/Aging along with Housing under "Community & Economic Development”, each grantmaker listed includes both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You can NARROW your results to include only those grantmakers who indicate that they provide specific types of support.
Example: If you select Building Funds along with Hospitals/Clinics under "Health”, each grantmaker listed includes both in their giving priorities. That makes those grantmakers strong leads.
You can always search using each term individually to find grantmakers who give in either arena to broaden your search.
Learn more about each term in our Search Terms glossary.
You can NARROW your results by searching for any word in the profile or you can just search by a keyword.
Example: human trafficking will show profiles with BOTH human AND trafficking in the profile. You might want to try searching for just trafficking.
Use quotation marks if you have several words that create a term.
Example: "nursing scholarships" will show profiles with those words placed in that order in the profile.
We recommend that you use our standard Search Terms. Review this glossary to identify those terms which best describe your work.
You can also search for a particular grantmaker by name without selecting any other criteria.
Be careful using quotation marks.
Example: "Arthur Child Foundation” will yield no results, since their giving program is named "Arthur J. E. Child Foundation”.
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, we might not list them because they are not actively accepting unsolicited requests at this time. Contact us at research@grantstation.com if you have any questions regarding a specific grantmaker.
International Charitable Search Tips
Before you get started we recommend that you review our Search Terms glossary. Then you can thoughtfully choose the search criteria which will result in the best list of funders to approach.
1. Select your Geographic Scope.
- Select your CONTINENT to get a list of grantmakers giving across the entire continent.
- You will then see the ability to select your COUNTRY. If you click on that, your results will BROADEN to include those who focus giving on your country.
- You will get new results as you click on criteria.
- The criteria will display in the above right. You can remove criteria by clicking on the minus sign or by deselecting the boxes.
- Add GLOBAL Grantmakers to your search to list funders who give in any country.
- If you work in a DEVELOPING country, you can add that to your search to see grantmakers who define their giving scope to those areas.
2. You can NARROW your results by searching for a keyword in the profile. Review a list of effective words to use in our Search Terms list.
As you select terms, your list of results will refresh. This is so that you can see the impact that each term combination has on broadening or narrowing your results.
Our database only includes grantmakers that accept unsolicited requests in order to make your research more effective and efficient.
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, contact us at research@grantstation.com and we will answer any questions that you might have regarding specific grantmakers.
This is your first step in searching for grantmakers because this is a key aspect of eligibility in applying for funding.
The focus is less around where you are located, but where your work has an impact. Each profile will spell out the eligibility requirements, such as if the grantmaker only gives to organizations located.
Example: If your organization is located in France, but performs work in Africa, select Africa for the Geographic Scope. If the grantmaker then only gives to organizations located in another country, that will be indicated in the profile details.
You can make the following selections:
- Global - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations in most countries across the world.
- Developing - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations in developing countries.
- Continental - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations throughout an entire continent.
- National - grantmakers who consider funding for organizations throughout a particular country.
- Regional - grantmakers who consider funding within certain provinces or territories. This option appears for the UK and Australia.
As you add selections, your search will BROADEN and your list of results will increase.
Example: Select Africa and then select Asia. The results will display grantmakers giving in Africa OR Asia OR both.
When you select a continent, you will see the option to select national grantmakers. Select countries to BROADEN your results.
We recommend that you start by selecting your continent AND your country. This will cast a wide net that you can narrow with a keyword. You can always select one or the other as you go.
Example: Select Asia and India. You can always clear Asia from the Current Search Criteria to search for India only.
Regarding developing countries, you can use that filter to view grantmakers that indicate that their giving scope focuses on developing countries. You can always reach out to the grantmaker and ask if they consider funding for programs in your country.
You can NARROW your results by searching for any word in the profile or you can just search by a keyword.
Example: human trafficking will show profiles with BOTH human AND trafficking in the profile. You might want to try searching for just trafficking.
Use quotation marks if you have several words that create a term.
Example: "nursing scholarships" will show profiles with those words placed in that order in the profile.
We recommend that you use our standard Search Terms. Review this glossary to identify those terms which best describe your work.
You can also search for a particular grantmaker by name without selecting any other criteria.
Be careful using quotation marks.
Example: "Allan Ferguson Charitable Trust" will yield no results, since their giving program is named "Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust".
If you don’t find a particular grantmaker listed, we might not list them because they are not actively accepting unsolicited requests at this time. Contact us at research@grantstation.com if you have any questions regarding a specific grantmaker.