Candid Foundation Directory vs OpenGrants in 2026
Candid Foundation Directory vs OpenGrants compared for small-business owners: what each does, prices, setup, and questions to ask.
CDings is published by the makers of Raise Buddy and ProductCost, which are compared here alongside other tools.
Candid Foundation Directory helps users search organization records from Candid's directory. [1] OpenGrants is included in this comparison, but the supplied facts do not describe its features or pricing. Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding a small-business owner may be able to apply for from a website or business description. [2] For finding organization records, Candid Foundation Directory's sources describe that need. [1] For matching a business description to possible funding and showing whether a business can apply, Raise Buddy's sources describe that need. [2] [2]
| Option | Free entry | Paid prices | Card payment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candid Foundation Directory | Registration is free. [1] | Premium monthly starts at $219/month billed monthly; Premium annual starts at $100/month with $1,199 billed annually; Ultimate annual starts at $142/month with $1,699 billed annually. [3] [3] [3] | Not published |
| OpenGrants | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Raise Buddy | Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2] | Plus is $14.99 a month up to $5,000; Pro is $199 a month for every program. [2] | Not published |
The short answer
Candid Foundation Directory helps users search organization records from Candid's directory. [1] OpenGrants is included in this comparison, but the supplied facts do not describe its features or pricing. Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding a small-business owner may be able to apply for from a website or business description. [2] For finding organization records, Candid Foundation Directory's sources describe that need. [1] For matching a business description to possible funding and showing whether a business can apply, Raise Buddy's sources describe that need. [2] [2]
What Candid Foundation Directory and OpenGrants are built for
Candid Foundation Directory says its search covers organizations by name, EIN, or keyword. [1] Candid says its directory includes annual grant transactions. [1] Candid says its records are kept up to date in real time. [1] Candid says it can provide custom nonprofit data sets based on user needs. [1] The supplied facts do not describe what OpenGrants is built for, so check its own information for the tasks it supports.
What Raise Buddy is built for
Raise Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. Raise Buddy lets a small-business owner paste a website or describe what they do, and it lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding they may be able to apply for. [2] Each match says whether the business can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2] It can read a Schedule C, Form 1120, 1065 or 990, or an IRS letter, from a photo or PDF into a draft profile the user confirms, and it does not keep the EIN or the papers. [2] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [2]
Pricing and fees
Candid Foundation Directory lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219 per month, billed monthly. [3] Candid Foundation Directory lists a Premium annual plan at $100 per month starting price, with $1,199 billed annually. [3] Candid Foundation Directory lists an Ultimate annual plan at $142 per month starting price, with $1,699 billed annually. [3] Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2] Raise Buddy Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [2] Raise Buddy Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and AI connection. [2] OpenGrants pricing is not published in the supplied facts. The supplied facts do not state a card payment fee for Candid Foundation Directory, OpenGrants, or Raise Buddy.
Getting started
Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [1] Candid Foundation Directory says it includes unlimited searches and profile views. [3] The supplied facts do not describe OpenGrants sign-up steps. Raise Buddy needs nothing installed for the web app. [2] The app works on the web and on phones. [2] A user can paste a website or describe what they do, and the list of funding follows. [2] If a user has a tax form or IRS letter, they can add a photo or PDF and confirm the draft profile it produces. [2]
Things to check before you choose
- What type of funding information does the tool provide, and does it match the funding search needed?
- Does the tool explain why a funding option may apply to the business?
- What does the plan cost each month, and is the price published before sign-up?
- Does the tool cover the country and type of organization being searched?
- Where does the business owner complete an application, and what information does the tool keep?
How to choose
If the need is searching organization records by name, EIN, or keyword, Candid Foundation Directory's sources describe that use. [1] If the need is a list of funding matched to a business description, Raise Buddy's sources describe that use. [2] If the need is a match that says whether a business can apply and explains the reason with the funder's own words, Raise Buddy's sources describe that use. [2] If the need is custom nonprofit data sets, Candid Foundation Directory's sources describe that use. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Does Candid Foundation Directory have a free entry option?
Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [1] Its paid options include Premium monthly, Premium annual, and Ultimate annual plans with published starting prices. [3] [3] [3]
How much does Raise Buddy cost?
Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [2] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and AI connection. [2]
Can Raise Buddy find funding options for a small business?
Raise Buddy lets a small-business owner paste a website or describe what they do, and it lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding they may be able to apply for. [2] Each match says whether the business can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2]
What does Candid Foundation Directory search?
Candid Foundation Directory says its search covers organizations by name, EIN, or keyword. [1] Candid also says it offers annual grant transactions and keeps its records up to date in real time. [1] [1]
Does Raise Buddy keep track of funding applications?
Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but the business owner applies on the funder's own site. [2] Each match says whether the business can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2]
Free plan opens programs up to $1,000; Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro is $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection). The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [2]
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