Helpful Resources for Grant Writers

Top-rated all-in-one grant platform with intelligent matching, funder profiles, Form 990 data, deadline tracking, and AI-powered prospecting. Loved by grant writers for its ease of use.

Formed by the merger of GuideStar and Foundation Center. Home of Foundation Directory Online with 225,000+ funder profiles, grant research tools, nonprofit data, and free training resources.

150,000+ funding profiles and 15,000+ curated grants from foundations, corporations, and governments. Includes strategy resources, guides, and frameworks for building smarter funding plans.

Searchable database with AI Grant Finder, grant calendar, and deadline management tools. Weekly podcast. Flat-rate pricing ensures equal access for organizations of all sizes.

All-in-one grant funding platform combining a massive, actively updated database with a sophisticated AI engine, application tracking, and access to a vetted consultant network.

Budget-friendly database built for smaller nonprofits and schools. Free plan available; Pro plan at $9/month adds alerts, calendar tools, and extended search. Great for first-time grant seekers.

The official federal grant database with 1,000+ programs and ~$500 billion in annual awards. Includes collaborative Workspaces for team submissions, form libraries, and training resources. Start here for any federal funding.

System for Award Management — required registration for any organization seeking federal grants or government contracts. Replaces the old DUNS number system with the Unique Entity ID. Register early; can take weeks.

Public database of all federal spending, mandated by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Research which agencies fund what — and who has received awards similar to yours.

Comprehensive database of all federal assistance programs — grants, loans, and non-financial aid — available to governments, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. Browse by program type and eligibility.

AI writing assistant that builds a "Smart Content Library" from your past proposals and org docs — then generates context-aware drafts that stay consistent with your voice and history.

Expert-built AI grant writing tool for nonprofits. Summarizes and prioritizes opportunities, analyzes RFPs, and drafts preliminary responses. Described as the most advanced AI grant writing solution available.

AI spreadsheet tool that syncs your CRM and data sources into automated dashboards. Great for preparing financial data for grant proposals and generating real-time impact reports for post-award requirements.

The leading training platform for grant writers. Home of the Global Grant Writers Collective™ — comprehensive courses, 1-on-1 coaching, and a community whose members have raised over $1 billion for nonprofits.

Free self-paced courses from Candid including "Introduction to Finding Grants." Discover what funders look for, how to find prospects, winning proposal samples, LOI templates, and worksheets.

Free professional development platform for nonprofit staff and volunteers. Hundreds of courses covering grant writing, fundraising, financial management, and nonprofit leadership — no cost, no catch.

The primary professional association for grant writers. Offers the GPC (Grant Professional Certified) credential, ethics resources, networking events, a job board, and chapters across the U.S.

One of the best regional grant writer associations — their public resource pages on researching funders, ethics, and connecting with colleagues are valuable for grant writers everywhere, not just the Pacific Northwest.

National membership organization for grantmakers and foundations (since 1949). Their public resources include best practices, sample documents, and legal guidance useful for understanding the funder perspective.

Active peer community for grant writers to ask questions, share advice, vent about difficult funders, and celebrate wins. Great for candid real-world perspectives you won't find in official guides.

Free access to 990-PF filings (the tax returns filed by private foundations) for the past 3+ years. Look up any foundation to see its assets, giving priorities, past grant recipients, and amounts awarded.

The largest database of U.S. nonprofit information — missions, programs, leadership, financials, and Form 990s. Free registration gives broad access. Look up any 501(c)(3) to research potential partner organizations or funders.

Practical guide to free grant research tools that many grant writers overlook — including how to use library access to Foundation Directory, how to find regional grantmaker associations, and corporate giving strategies.

The gold standard for long-form grant writing articles. Covers the entire grant lifecycle — prospecting, proposal writing, budgeting, reporting, and management. Also offers free downloadable e-books and planning calendars.

Run by GPA Approved Trainer Diane Leonard. Consistently practical posts on SMART objectives, work plans, proposal review best practices, and federal grant readiness. Free webinars count toward GPC certification credit.

#1 ranked Google blog for grant writing. Covers grants for nonprofits, freelancing career advice, federal grant breakdowns, AI tools for grant writers, and strength-based writing techniques. Regularly updated.

Strategic nonprofit finance and grant writing content. Especially strong on diversifying funding streams, grant budgeting, and navigating 2025 federal funding changes. Includes a popular free grant template download.

Equity-centered grant writing blog covering proposal structure, community voice, diversity-focused funding sources, and career advice. Curates the annual list of "20 Must-Read Blogs for Grant Writers."

Expert how-tos and nonprofit grant writing guides from Candid's team. Free collection of winning proposal samples, LOI examples, worksheets, and funder red flags to avoid. Backed by decades of philanthropy data.

The #1 ranked grant writing podcast in the world (since 2017). Hosted by Holly Rustick, a 20-year grant writing veteran. Weekly episodes on trends, freelancing, federal funding changes, and building a grant writing career. Over 400 episodes.

Hosted by Rodney Walker, who has helped raise over $450 million in grants. Features interviews with both grant writers AND funders — a rare funder-perspective angle that reveals exactly what reviewers want to see in proposals.

Free one-hour partner workshops and on-demand classes covering SMART objectives, letters of support, funder research, and more. Regular schedule with free raffle entries for attendees. Beginner through advanced tracks available.

Webinar platform with both free and paid ($44/month) content for every stage of grant writing. Topics include conducting grant research, building funder relationships, writing compelling budgets, and getting started with federal grants.

One of the oldest and most respected grant training organizations. Offers individual webinars from $79, a 2-day Essential Grant Skills course, and their flagship 5-day Grantsmanship Training program covering proposals, program planning, and funder relationships.

AI-powered writing assistant that catches grammar errors, improves clarity, and adjusts tone. Essential for polishing grant proposals before submission. The free version handles most needs; Premium adds advanced style suggestions.

Highlights overly complex sentences and passive voice — two of the biggest red flags in grant proposals. Helps you simplify jargon-heavy writing into clear, punchy prose that reviewers and program officers can quickly scan and understand.

Project management platform used by grant teams to track proposal deadlines, assign tasks, manage document versions, and coordinate with program staff. Free tier supports teams up to 15 people — plenty for most nonprofits.

Visual Kanban board tool for organizing grant pipelines — from prospect to submitted to awarded. Many grant writers use Trello boards to track each opportunity through the full lifecycle. Free plan is robust and requires no technical setup.

Used by grant writers to gather program evaluation data, needs assessments, and stakeholder feedback required by many grant applications. Easy survey creation, basic analytics, and export to formats accepted by funders.

AI-powered research engine that pulls cited answers from reputable sources — ideal for gathering background statistics, needs assessment data, and evidence-based arguments for grant proposals. Saves hours of literature searching.

Broader nonprofit community with frequent discussions about grant writing, fundraising strategy, and organizational management. A great complement to r/grantwriters for more general nonprofit sector conversations.

Global membership organization for fundraisers and grant writers. Offers CFRE certification, local chapter networking, the AFP Conference (one of the largest in the sector), and ethical fundraising resources.

A national network of regional grantmaker associations. Find your local or regional grantmaker association here — these groups often host convenings, share funding alerts, and offer behind-the-scenes access to local foundation priorities.

The go-to hub for nonprofit sector trends, emerging issues, and plain-English guidance on nonprofit law, governance, ethics, and advocacy. Includes state-specific legal resources — a constant recommendation in nonprofit communities for understanding compliance and operations.

One of the most universally recommended free resources in r/nonprofit. Gives verified nonprofits access to deeply discounted or donated software from Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, Intuit, and 40+ partners. Also offers free learning resources on tech strategy, cybersecurity, and digital marketing for nonprofits.

The recognized leader in nonprofit board governance. Their free library includes infographics, templates, and guides covering board recruitment, fiduciary duties, executive transitions, and evaluation. Frequently cited in r/nonprofit whenever governance questions arise.

The leading free magazine and newsletter advancing critical conversations in nonprofit and social movement policy. Covers funding models, equity in philanthropy, organizational democracy, and the political economy of the sector — essential reading for grant writers wanting deeper funder context.

The most widely-shared nonprofit blog on Reddit. Author Vu Le (former Executive Director) writes candid, funny, and deeply insightful posts on equity in funding, white saviorism, overhead myths, and why the grant system is broken. Required reading for any grant professional wanting to understand the sector's frustrations with traditional philanthropy.

Publishes free research on global NGO technology trends, digital fundraising benchmarks, and social media strategy. Their annual "Global NGO Technology Report" is widely referenced in nonprofit communities for benchmarking your org's digital maturity.

Consistently the top-upvoted free tool in r/nonprofit. Eligible orgs get free Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet), up to $10,000/month in free Google Ad Grants for search advertising, YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Maps credits. One application unlocks the entire suite.

The most comprehensive free database of U.S. nonprofit sector data — tax filings, financial benchmarks, giving trends, and geographic breakdowns. Essential for grant proposals needing to contextualize your organization or issue area within national data. Hosted by the Urban Institute.

Free online magazine packed with practical, field-tested tips for nonprofit professionals — HR policies, board relations, financial management, and communications. Known for being direct and no-nonsense compared to more academic nonprofit publications. Strong newsletter following in the sector.

A well-respected nonprofit consultancy with a free online library of downloadable toolkits. Covers strategic planning, HR policies, board development, volunteer management, and nonprofit operations. Particularly useful for early-stage or under-resourced organizations.

Publishes the annual national and state-by-state dollar value of volunteer time — a critical figure for grant budget in-kind match calculations. Also releases major research reports on nonprofit civic engagement and sector health. Referenced in grant proposals nationwide.

Free platform for the social sector covering nonprofit job listings, volunteer opportunities, internships, and grad programs in nonprofit management. Frequently recommended in r/nonprofit by those building careers in grant writing or development — also useful for finding partner organizations for coalition grants.