How to Find Foundation Grants: Databases, 990s, and Smarter Prospecting
Most foundation money never appears on a website with an 'Apply' button. Here's how to find it anyway — databases, Form 990s, and a prospecting method that builds a truly aligned funder list.
By The Grant Officer AI Team
Here's the frustrating truth about foundation fundraising: most foundations don't advertise. Tens of thousands of U.S. grantmakers have no website, no newsletter, and no open call — they quietly fund organizations they find or know. Learning how to find foundation grants means learning to research funders the way funders research you. The tools are more accessible than most people think.
Start With Foundations Like Yours Get Funded By
The single best prospecting question: who funds organizations similar to mine? Pull up peer organizations — same cause, similar size, nearby geography — and look at their annual reports, website donor lists, and press releases. Every funder on those lists has already demonstrated interest in your kind of work. That's a warmer list than any keyword search will produce.
Mine Form 990s: The Public X-Ray of Every Foundation
Every private foundation files a public Form 990-PF listing its assets, officers, and — the gold — every grant it made, with recipient names and amounts. Free sources like the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and nonprofit-data sites let you read them. When you find a prospect, check three things:
- ✓Grant sizes. If they write $5K–$25K checks, ask for that — not $150K.
- ✓Actual recipients. What they fund reveals priorities more honestly than any mission statement.
- ✓Geography and repetition. Funders who give repeatedly in your county or cause area are your strongest prospects.
Use Databases and Community Knowledge
Grant databases (some free through public libraries' funding information centers) let you filter funders by subject, geography, and grant size. Your local community foundation is another shortcut — its staff know the regional funding landscape and often run their own competitive grants. And state nonprofit associations frequently publish funder lists members swear by.
Qualify Before You Chase
A long prospect list is a liability; a short aligned one is a pipeline. Screen every foundation against your profile — cause, geography, grant size, and whether they accept unsolicited requests. Many funders start with a letter of intent, and for those with no open process, a brief, well-researched introduction to a program officer is the standard first move. Track everything on your grant calendar so cycles don't slip past.
Frequently asked questions
Are foundation grant databases worth paying for?+
For organizations pursuing multiple foundation grants a year, usually yes — but check free access first. Many public libraries offer funding-center database access at no cost, and Form 990s are free forever.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept unsolicited proposals?+
Look for a connection — a board member, a funded peer, a community event — and open with a short introduction rather than an ask. Some closed foundations invite proposals after informal conversations; others truly only fund pre-selected organizations. Their 990 shows which.
How many foundation prospects should I research at once?+
Depth beats breadth. Ten thoroughly researched, well-aligned foundations will outperform a hundred names in a spreadsheet. Add prospects as you exhaust or disqualify the current list.
Skip the manual prospecting. Your AI Grant Officer scans real foundation, government, and corporate opportunities and returns a ranked, scored shortlist matched to your mission.
Build my funder listGrant Officer AI helps you find and prepare funding applications. We don’t guarantee funding, and we’re not a government agency or a provider of legal, tax, or financial advice. Always review official program rules before applying.