CDings Plain comparisons of small-business tools

Candid Foundation Directory vs Pocketed in 2026

Candid Foundation Directory vs Pocketed compared for small-business owners: what each says it does, costs, setup and checks before choosing.

By CDings ยท

CDings is published by the makers of Raise Buddy and ProductCost, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Candid Foundation Directory says it lets users search organizations by name, EIN, or keyword and includes grant transaction data. [1] Pocketed's sources reviewed here do not provide product facts to describe. Raise Buddy lists funding programs from a business description and gives application fit details. [2]

OptionFree entryPaid pricesCard payment fee
Candid Foundation DirectoryRegistration is free. [1]Premium monthly $219/month starting price billed monthly; Premium annual $100/month starting price $1,199 billed annually; Ultimate annual $142/month starting price $1,699 billed annually. [3] [3] [3]Not published
Raise BuddyFree plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2]Plus $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro $199 a month (every program). [2]Not published
PocketedNot publishedNot publishedNot published

The short answer

Candid Foundation Directory says its search covers organizations by name, EIN, or keyword and provides grant transaction data. [1] Pocketed's sources reviewed here do not provide product facts to describe. Raise Buddy takes a website or a description of what a business does and lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding that may be available to apply for. [2] Each match says whether an application can be made, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, using the funder's own words. [2]

What Candid Foundation Directory, Pocketed is built for

Candid Foundation Directory says its search covers 1.9 million organizations by name, EIN, or keyword. [1] It says it offers 3 million annual grant transactions. [1] Pocketed's sources reviewed here do not provide product facts to describe. Candid Foundation Directory says its monthly plan includes unlimited searches and profile views. [3]

What Raise Buddy is built for

Raise Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste your website or describe what you do, and it lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for. [2] Each match says whether you 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 you confirm, and it does not keep the EIN or the papers. [2]

Pricing and fees

Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [1] The sources reviewed here do not publish Pocketed pricing. 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 advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [2] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [2] A guest's search list ends after 5. [2] Card payment fees are not published for these options.

Getting started

Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [1] The sources reviewed here do not provide Pocketed setup steps. Raise Buddy's web app needs nothing installed. [2] The app works on the web and on phones. [2] You paste your website or describe what you do, and the funding list follows. [2] If you have a tax form or IRS letter, you can add a photo or PDF and confirm the draft profile it produces. [2]

Things to check before you choose

Check whether the tool covers the funding types and locations that matter for the business. Check whether it explains why a funding option may fit and what the next step is. Check how application work is handled and where submissions take place. Check what happens to uploaded documents and identifiers. Check whether the interface language works for the people who will use it.

How to choose

If a business needs organization searches by name, EIN, or keyword, Candid Foundation Directory's sources describe that feature. [1] If a business needs funding matches based on a description of what it does, Raise Buddy's sources describe that. [2] If a business needs a clear application fit statement, Raise Buddy's sources describe that. [2] If a business needs multiple fundraising paths, Raise Buddy's sources say it covers 25 ways to raise money, each with official rules and a first step. [2]

Frequently asked questions

Is Candid Foundation Directory free?

Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [1] Its pricing facts also list paid plans with monthly and annual options. [3] A business should check which plan features are needed before choosing a paid option, because the listed plans differ in included features.

How does Raise Buddy find funding options?

Raise Buddy uses a business website or description of what the business does to list grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding options that may be available to apply for. [2] Each match also says whether the business can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear using the funder's own words. [2]

Does Raise Buddy keep tax documents?

Raise Buddy can read a Schedule C, Form 1120, 1065 or 990, or an IRS letter, from a photo or PDF into a draft profile that the user confirms. [2] The claim states that it does not keep the EIN or the papers. [2]

What does Candid Foundation Directory include?

Candid Foundation Directory says its search covers 1.9 million organizations by name, EIN, or keyword. [1] It also says it offers 3 million annual grant transactions. [1] A business should compare those facts with the type of funding information it needs.

Can Raise Buddy track funding applications?

Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but the application is made on the funder's own site. [2] The tool also provides funding matches with information about whether the business can apply and what may block an application. [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]

Try Raise Buddy

Sources

  1. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org, read 2026-10-07
  2. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  3. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org/find-funding, read 2026-10-07

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