How to compare funder priorities for social impact consultants

Q: How much does Raise Buddy cost?

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. Plus costs $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. Pro costs $199 a month and includes every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. The first three matches in each section open on every plan. Compare the plan limits against how many funders you need to review.

Compare funder priorities for social impact consultants. Learn what to prepare, how to weigh funders' stated goals, and where to check their rules.

By CDings · 2026-10-29

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

Start by writing down the change your practice works toward and the groups it serves. Then read each funder's stated goals in its own words, check its rules, and compare the two before you spend time on an application.

Option	What it does	Cost
Raise Buddy Free plan ^[1]	The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. ^[1]	The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000; its monthly fee is not published. ^[1]
Raise Buddy Plus plan ^[1]	Opens programs up to $5,000. ^[1]	$14.99 a month. ^[1]
Raise Buddy Pro plan ^[1]	Opens every program, with advisors' review and AI connection. ^[1]	$199 a month. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Before comparing funders, gather the facts about your practice and the work you want to fund. Having these ready makes each comparison faster and more accurate.

Mission and focus. Write the social change your practice works toward and the groups it serves.
Client summary. Note the types of organizations you work with, such as nonprofits, social enterprises, or public agencies.
Sector and location. Record the issue areas and places where your work happens.
Organization type. Know whether your practice is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or nonprofit, because some funders limit who they support.
Past results. Keep examples of outcomes you have helped produce, with any measurements you can share.
Registration and tax details. Have recent returns and registration numbers at hand, and check what each funder asks for.

A single summary page with these facts makes it easier to test each funder's priorities against your work.

Step by step

Define your priorities. Write the two or three changes your practice most wants to support, in plain words.

Collect each funder's stated goals. Read the mission or priority statement on the funder's own site and copy the goals in its own words.

Compare goals side by side. Put each funder's goals next to your priorities and note where they overlap and where they differ.

Check eligibility rules. Look at who can apply, what the money can cover, deadlines, and required documents. A close match on goals can still fail on a rule.

Sort the list. Separate funders into groups: a clear match, a match that needs preparation, and a match that needs more information.

Confirm unclear points. Contact the funder when its goals or rules are open to more than one reading.

Adjust your summary for each funder. Use the same core facts, but shape your examples to the goals that funder names.

Record what you learn. Keep notes on each funder's priorities, rules, and response times so the next comparison starts from what you already know.

Tools that can do it

Different sources help with different parts of the comparison. Use more than one.

Funder websites. Each funder's own site states its priorities, rules, and deadlines. Treat that page as the final word.

Government program lists. Public program lists can show grants and loans by sector and location. Check each program's own rules and documents.

Foundation directories. Directories can help you find funders that work on a given issue. Confirm the details on the funder's own site before you rely on them.

Peer networks. Colleagues who have applied to a funder can explain what its priorities look like in practice. Ask them what they learned about the review process.

Raise Buddy. 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. ^[1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. ^[1] 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. ^[1] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. ^[1] It covers 25 ways to raise money, such as angel investors, SBA loans and equity crowdfunding, each with its official rules and a first step. ^[1] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[1]

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. ^[1] Plus costs $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. ^[1] Pro costs $199 a month and includes every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. ^[1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. ^[1] For a guest, each search list stops after the first 5. ^[1] Only English is shown for now. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Comparing names instead of goals. A funder's name or reputation does not show what it will pay for. Read its stated goals.

Overlooking rules after a good match. A funder whose goals fit may still limit who can apply or how the money is spent.

Using one summary for every funder. Each funder words its goals differently, so adjust your examples for each one.

Trusting a secondhand description. Summaries from lists or colleagues can be out of date. Confirm the goals and deadlines on the funder's site.

Skipping the questions. When a goal is open to more than one reading, ask the funder before you write the application.

Losing track of what you learned. Without notes, the same research is repeated for each new opportunity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a funder's priority and an eligibility rule?

A priority is the change a funder hopes its money will produce, usually stated in its mission or annual goals. An eligibility rule is a condition you must meet to apply at all, such as location, organization type, or budget size. Consultants should read both. A strong match on priorities can still fail on an eligibility rule, so check the rules on the funder's own site before spending time on a proposal.

Does Raise Buddy apply to funders on behalf of a consulting practice?

No. Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. ^[1] The practice still writes and sends each application itself.

How much does Raise Buddy cost?

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. ^[1] Plus costs $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. ^[1] Pro costs $199 a month and includes every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. ^[1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. ^[1] Compare the plan limits against how many funders you need to review.

Can Raise Buddy read tax forms for a consulting practice?

Yes, for certain forms. 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. ^[1] Review the draft before you rely on it, because the profile is final only after you confirm it.

Is Raise Buddy available in languages other than English?

Not yet. Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. ^[1] A consultant who works in another language should check how the funder's own site presents its priorities and rules, since those pages may appear in a different language from the app.

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. ^[1]

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Sources

Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)