How to find new funding sources for nonprofit finance managers

Learn how nonprofit finance managers can prepare, search, and compare sources of new funding, and check each funder's rules before applying.

By CDings · 2026-10-31

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

Prepare your organization's basic facts and tax records, search several sources, read each funder's rules, and track every application as you go.

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

Prepare the facts a funder is likely to ask for before you search. Keeping these details in one place makes each application faster and more consistent.

Organization profile. Write the legal name, mission, and the community the organization serves.
Tax status. Know the organization's tax-exempt status and keep the supporting letter ready.
Financial records. Keep recent Form 990 filings, financial statements, and the current budget on hand.
Program purpose. Define the work that new money would support.
Service area. Note where the organization operates and who it reaches.
Leadership details. Keep the names and roles of board members and key staff ready.
Current and past funders. List who has funded the organization before and what each funder's grant covered.

A single shared folder with these details helps keep every application consistent.

Step by step

Define the funding need. Decide what the money would pay for, such as a program, staff time, equipment, or reserves.

Set search rules. Note the location, subject area, organization type, and other requirements that matter for eligibility.

Search several sources. Look at funders' own websites and other listings, and record each opportunity you find.

Read eligibility rules. Check who can apply, what the money can be used for, the deadline, and the required documents before you spend time on an application.

Build a shortlist. Sort opportunities into those that match now, those that need preparation, and those that need more information.

Confirm unclear details. Contact the funder when rules, documents, or spending limits are not clear.

Prepare each application. Adjust answers to each funder and provide the material it asks for.

Track each application. Record the deadline, the submission date, and the next action.

Review and refresh the search. Funding programs change, so update the search on a regular schedule.

Tools that can do it

Other sources are worth checking alongside the funder's own website. For each one, look up what it covers, whether it costs anything, and how often its listings are updated, and confirm any listing with the funder before you apply.

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 Form 990 or an IRS letter from a photo or PDF into a draft profile that 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] Its program list also includes the UK's Find a Grant, Australia's GrantConnect, France's Aides-territoires, Japan's jGrants, Spain's BDNS and Austria's Transparenzportal. ^[1] It keeps track of where each application stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[1] The app works on the web and on phones. ^[1] The web app needs nothing installed. ^[1]

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000, Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000, and Pro is $199 a month with every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. ^[1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. ^[1] On the Pro plan, ten AI personas read your organization's matches and write what to do first, and none of them is a real person. ^[1] For a guest, each search list stops after the first 5. ^[1] Only English is shown for now. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Applying without checking eligibility. Time spent on an application pays off only when the organization meets the funder's stated rules.

Ignoring limits on use. Some money can pay only for certain costs, so check the allowed uses before you accept it.

Trusting a listing without checking the source. Confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the funder.

Overlooking the difference between restricted and unrestricted money. The terms set how the money can be spent and reported, so read them closely.

Waiting until the last minute. Board approvals, signatures, and financial reports can take longer than expected.

Using different organization details in different places. Keep figures and descriptions consistent across every application.

Not tracking follow-up requests. A missed request for information can stall an application.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between restricted and unrestricted funding for a nonprofit?

Restricted funding must be used for a purpose the funder has set, while unrestricted funding can usually go toward general operating costs. Finance managers should read the funder's terms before accepting either type, because those terms control how the money can be spent and how it must be reported.

What documents do funders usually ask a nonprofit for?

Funders often ask for proof of tax status, recent tax filings, a current budget, financial statements, and a description of the program the money would support. Requirements vary between funders, so check each funder's own document list before you start an application.

Can Raise Buddy check whether a nonprofit can apply before it applies?

Yes. Each match says whether the organization can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, using the funder's own words. ^[1] The organization still reads the full requirements on the funder's site before sending anything.

Does Raise Buddy send applications to funders for a nonprofit?

No. Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but the organization applies on the funder's own site. ^[1] Staff still review each program's requirements, prepare the answers, and send the application through the funder's required process.

How much does Raise Buddy cost?

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)