How to Find Grants for Nonprofits

If you’re running a nonprofit, you’ve probably asked yourself: how do we fund this brilliant idea without selling a kidney? Great news—you don’t need to moonlight as a magician to make money appear. You just need to find grants for nonprofits. These handy financial boosts are like fairy godmothers for mission-driven organizations, waving a funding wand that helps you serve more people, expand your programs, and (finally) fix the copier. So, whether you're fighting food insecurity or teaching teens to code, grant funding might just be the secret ingredient in your nonprofit success story.

Are Grants Really Just Free Money?

Let’s get something straight—grants are not just “free money.” They’re investments. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. alone (source: Urban Institute). That’s a lot of good happening out there—and a lot of competition for dollars.

Grants can help nonprofits:

• Hire and train staff
• Launch new programs
• Fund research or advocacy
• Expand to new communities
• Improve infrastructure (hello, HVAC upgrades!)

But here’s the kicker: only about 20% of nonprofit funding comes from foundations and government grants (source: National Philanthropic Trust). That means if you want a slice of that pie, you’ve got to know where to look—and how to ask.

Where Can You Find Grants for Nonprofits?

Looking to find grants for nonprofits? You won’t need a pickaxe and a pirate hat—just some solid internet access and the right tools. Here are a few treasure chests worth digging into:

1. Grants.gov

Let’s start with the Big Kahuna. Grants.gov is your go-to for federal grant opportunities in the United States. It lists thousands of opportunities from agencies like the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and even NASA (space nonprofit, anyone?). You can search by category, eligibility, and agency.

Website: www.grants.gov

2. Candid's Foundation Directory

Operated by Candid, this is the deepest database of private and corporate funders — 140,000+ foundations and corporate donors, and millions of historical grant records. You can search by focus area, location and grant size, and see who a funder has actually given to before, which tells you far more than a mission statement does. It is a paid product, but here is the tip worth the price of this article: many public libraries hold a subscription and will let you use it free from a reading-room terminal. Ask your reference librarian.

Website: fconline.foundationcenter.org

3. GrantWatch

GrantWatch is like a reality show but with funding instead of drama. It compiles federal, state, local, and foundation grants for nonprofits, schools, and small businesses. You can filter by type of organization or service area.

Website: www.grantwatch.com

4. Instrumentl

This one's for the data nerds out there. Instrumentl uses AI to help nonprofits match with grant opportunities and track deadlines. It also helps you analyze funder behavior, past grantees, and giving patterns. There’s a free trial, but full access comes with a cost.

Website: www.instrumentl.com

5. State and Local Agencies

Don’t overlook your state’s department of health, education, or economic development. Many states have grant portals that list open applications, especially for programs that serve local communities. Check with your governor’s office or state-specific grant databases.

Example: California has www.grants.ca.gov

How Do You Win a Grant Once You've Found One?

Finding a grant is only half the battle. Winning it? That’s where things get real. Here’s how to level up your chances:

1. Get Specific: Tailor each application to the funder’s mission. Generic copy-paste jobs are obvious—and often doomed.
2. Tell a Story: Make your data emotional. Don't just say you served 800 people. Say how Maria's life changed because of your program.: Make your data emotional. Don’t just say you served 800 people. Say how Maria’s life changed because of your program.
   Follow the Rules: This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many applications get tossed for missing a deadline or skipping a required form.
3. Follow the Rules: This sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many applications get tossed for missing a deadline or skipping a required form.
4. Show the Math: Your budget should be clear, detailed and realistic. If the numbers don't add up, your proposal won't either.: Your budget should be clear, detailed, and realistic. If the numbers don’t add up, your proposal won’t either.
   Measure Impact: Funders want ROI—Return on Impact. Be ready to explain how you’ll track success.
5. Measure Impact: Funders want to know what their money bought. Be ready to explain how you will track success.

Can a Small Nonprofit Actually Win Grants?

Think your nonprofit is too small to score a grant? Think again. According to Candid, foundations gave out over $88 billion in 2022 alone (source: Candid’s Foundation Stats). Many of those dollars went to grassroots orgs with tight teams and big dreams.

The trick is to look for funders that:

• Prioritize equity and inclusion
• Focus on rural or underserved areas
• Support capacity-building efforts, like staff training or tech upgrades
• Have open or rolling applications

Sometimes, the smallest orgs make the biggest waves—especially when funders see passion backed by a strong plan.

What Kinds of Nonprofit Grants Are There?

You’ve got options. Lots of them. When you’re trying to find grants for nonprofits, knowing what kind of grant you need will save you tons of time.

Here are a few common types:

• Program Grants – For launching or expanding services
• General Operating Support – The unicorn of grants, this covers everyday costs
• Capital Grants – For big-ticket items like buildings or vehicles
• Planning Grants — For research or pilot projects – For research or pilot projects
  Capacity-Building Grants – For improving operations, hiring, or tech
• Capacity-Building Grants — For improving operations, hiring or technology

Each type comes with different requirements, timelines, and expectations—so read the fine print like your funding depends on it (because it does).

Do You Need a Professional Grant Writer?

You don’t need to be Shakespeare to write a great grant, but you do need to be clear, strategic, and compelling. If grant writing feels intimidating, consider these options:

• Hire a freelance grant writer (check sites like Upwork or Catchafire)
• Join a nonprofit association that offers workshops or mentorship
• Use a template or AI assistant to kickstart your draft (just don’t rely on it entirely)

Many foundations even offer feedback if your proposal doesn’t win. So don’t be shy—ask for notes and apply again. Persistence pays off.

How Do You Stay on Top of Grant Deadlines?

Grant deadlines, reporting requirements, funder follow-ups—it can get chaotic fast. To stay sane and efficient:

• Use a grant tracking spreadsheet or software
• Set calendar reminders for deadlines
• Keep templates and financial documents somewhere everyone can reach them
• Create a boilerplate proposal you can customize

The more organized you are, the more time you’ll have to actually focus on your mission—and not just the paperwork that keeps it going.

Where Do Government Contracts Fit Alongside Grants?

One thing worth being clear about: Bid Banana is a search engine for bids and awarded contracts, not a grant database. If you are hunting grants, the tools above are where to start. But most nonprofits fund their work from both sides, and the contract side is the one that tends to get overlooked — government agencies buy program delivery, case management, training, transportation, meals and outreach from nonprofits every day, through nonprofit RFPs rather than grant cycles. A contract is often steadier money than a grant, and far fewer organizations are competing for it.

Bid Banana searches 1.6 million bid pages across all 50 states, updated daily, and you can filter by industry and agency to find the ones aimed at organizations like yours. It is $49.99 a month or $479.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial. Grants and contracts run on separate systems, so keep watching Grants.gov alongside it — plenty of nonprofits qualify for both and only ever look at one.