How to compare funding priorities for foundation staff in 2026

Q: How much does Raise Buddy cost?

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

Learn how community foundation staff can prepare, compare funding priorities, and check each option's rules before choosing where to focus.

By CDings · 2026-10-29

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

Compare funding priorities by writing down the foundation's current goals, scoring every priority against the same criteria, and recording the reasons for each choice.

Option	What it does	Cost
Raise Buddy Free plan ^[1]	Opens programs up to $1,000. ^[1]	Free. ^[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

Community foundation staff need a clear set of documents before they compare funding priorities. Having these ready keeps each comparison based on the same facts.

Current funding priorities. Write down the areas the foundation has said it funds, such as youth programs, housing, or the arts, and the wording used in board decisions.
Grant guidelines. Keep the written rules for each grant round, including eligibility, allowed costs, and reporting duties.
Giving history. Collect records of past grants, grantees, and amounts so new priorities can be compared with what was funded before.
Community needs information. Gather local data, such as needs assessments or reports from partner organizations, that explains why a priority matters now.
Budget and calendar. Note the total amount available, the decision dates, and the deadlines each priority must meet.
Roles and approvals. List who reviews each priority and who signs off on the final choice.

A shared folder with these items lets every reviewer start from the same facts.

Step by step

Name the decision. Write one sentence that says what the comparison must decide, such as which priorities receive money in the next round.

List the candidate priorities. Put each priority in its own row, with the area it covers and the people it serves.

Set the criteria. Agree on the questions every priority must answer, such as community need, fit with the foundation's mission, expected results, and total cost.

Gather the evidence. For each priority, collect the same kinds of facts: past grants, local data, and partner input.

Score each priority the same way. Use one scale for all priorities and write a short reason next to each score, so reviewers can check the logic later.

Check the rules. Confirm that each priority fits the grant guidelines and the budget. Note any priority that needs a legal or board check before it can move forward.

Compare the trade-offs. Look at the priorities side by side. Note what the foundation gains and gives up by choosing one over another.

Test the result with the board. Share the comparison with decision makers and record the questions they raise.

Record the decision. Write what was chosen, why it was chosen, and what would change the choice. Keep the record with the grant round files.

Review the choice later. At the end of each round, compare results with the goals and update the criteria for the next comparison.

Tools that can do it

Different sources can help with different parts of comparing priorities. The list below covers the kinds of sources staff can check.

Government program lists. Public websites that list grant and loan programs can show outside money that may match a priority. Check each program's own rules, documents, and deadlines before relying on it.

Peer foundations and regional associations. Other funders in the same area can share how they weigh priorities and what they learned from past rounds. Ask what evidence they used.

Local needs data. Local government reports, school and health data, and partner surveys can show where a priority is needed. Check the date and method of each source.

A shared review sheet. A simple spreadsheet or document with the same criteria for every priority keeps reviewers working in one format. Use it with the steps above.

Raise Buddy. 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] Its list includes private foundations that take applications, with the funding read from the yearly tax return each such foundation files. ^[1] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. ^[1] It works on the web and on phones. ^[1] Only English is shown for now. ^[1]

Staff who want to look for outside funding that matches an organization's own priorities can use Raise Buddy for that search. ^[1] The comparison of the foundation's own priorities stays with the staff, using the steps above.

Common mistakes to avoid

Comparing priorities with different evidence. Each priority should have the same kinds of facts before scoring starts.

Skipping the grant rules. A priority that the guidelines do not allow cannot be funded, however strong the need looks.

Letting the newest priority win by default. Compare new and older priorities on the same criteria.

Scoring without written reasons. A score with no reason is hard to defend when the board asks questions.

Using old needs data. Check the date of each local source before it shapes the decision.

Keeping the decision in one person's notes. Store the comparison where the whole review group can read it.

Forgetting to record what would change the decision. Note the conditions that would lead to a different choice in the next round.

Frequently asked questions

What should community foundation staff check before comparing funding priorities?

Start with the current priorities, the written grant guidelines, the giving history, and the budget and deadlines for the round. Make sure each priority has the same kinds of evidence, such as local needs data and past grant results. Confirm the rules for every priority before scoring, and write down the reason for each score so the decision can be reviewed later.

What does Raise Buddy do for a funding search?

Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for after you paste your website or describe what you do. ^[1] Its list includes private foundations that take applications, with the funding read from the yearly tax return each such foundation files. ^[1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear. ^[1]

Does Raise Buddy handle the application itself?

Raise Buddy keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[1] Staff still review each program's rules, prepare the answers, and send the application through the process the funder requires. The comparison of the foundation's own funding priorities is also done by staff, using their own criteria.

How much does Raise Buddy cost?

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. ^[1] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. ^[1] Pro is $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]

Can Raise Buddy connect to an AI assistant?

On the Pro plan, you can connect an AI assistant such as Claude so it can search Raise Buddy, with ten tools to use. ^[1] To connect an assistant, you add Raise Buddy's address to it. ^[1] The app works on the web and on phones. ^[1]

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]

Try Raise Buddy

Sources

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