--- {"title": "Candid Foundation Directory vs OpenGrants in 2026", "description": "Candid Foundation Directory vs OpenGrants compared for small-business owners: what each does, prices, setup, and questions to ask.", "url": "https://cdings.com/candid-foundation-directory-vs-opengrants/", "date": "2026-10-12"} --- Candid Foundation Directory vs OpenGrants compared for small-business owners: what each does, prices, setup, and questions to ask. 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] - [Visit Raise Buddy](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org, read 2026-10-07 (https://candid.org) [^2]: Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start) [^3]: Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org/find-funding, read 2026-10-07 (https://candid.org/find-funding)