Foundation Directory alternatives (2026)
Foundation Directory Online is now part of Candid Search. If you're shopping around, here's what else finds foundation funders and what each costs.
Prices and features checked October 22, 2026
Where Foundation Directory went
Candid merged Foundation Directory and GuideStar into Candid Search. Premium is $219 a month paid monthly, or $1,199 a year. There's a free plan with limited results, and full access is free at Candid's Funding Information Network partner libraries. Before paying anyone, check whether you qualify for free access.
What to look for
Does it rank funders against you? A list you have to sort yourself is a database, not a shortlist.
Does it show red flags? Invitation only, wrong geography, no new grantees.
Foundations and government grants? Some tools cover only one.
Can you pay monthly without a premium?
Compared
| Tool | Starts at | Foundations | Fit ranking | Tracker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantlas | $99/mo | 137,257 | ✓ with reason + red flags | ✓ Yes |
| Instrumentl | $349/mo monthly · $3,588/yr | 450k+ profiles | ✓ Beta | ✓ Yes |
| Grant Frog | $229/mo ($199 billed yearly) | 200K | Filter only | ✓ Yes |
| GrantStation | $199/yr, often $75–$139 | 350,000 funder records | ✗ No | Funding plan |
| Grantable | Free / $50/mo | ✓ from 990s | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer | Free | 990 lookups | ✗ No | ✗ No |
Recommendation by situation
| If you… | Look at |
|---|---|
| …can get free Candid access | Take it |
| …want a ranked shortlist with red flags | Grantlas |
| …run a team with post-award needs | Instrumentl |
| …want grants management with research included | Grant Frog |
| …need to check one funder's 990 | ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer |
Each tool
Grantlas
Ranks foundations and open government grants against your organization, with a Fit, the reason and red flags on every match, then tracks each application with reminders, a calendar feed and board reports. Drafting happens in Claude or ChatGPT, connected to Grantlas.
- Price
- $99/mo or $999/yr; Pro $199/mo with 3 clients, +$49/mo each up to 5.
- Best for
- One-person grant shops and consultants.
- Watch out for
- No post-award spend tracking.
Instrumentl
A full grants platform for teams, from prospecting to post-award spending.
- Price
- $349/mo monthly or $3,588/yr.
- Best for
- Teams with post-award needs.
- Watch out for
- Peer prospecting starts at $499/mo.
Grant Frog
Grants management with foundation research.
- Price
- Professional $199/mo yearly or $229 monthly, for 3 users.
- Best for
- Running proposals, reports and budgets in one place.
- Watch out for
- Foundations only, no government grants.
GrantStation
Researched funder profiles, including government and international, plus training.
- Price
- $199/yr; less through member discounts.
- Best for
- Tight budgets with a state-association membership.
- Watch out for
- You sort and rank the results yourself.
Grantable
AI writing workspace with funder prospecting.
- Price
- Free, $50/mo, $150/mo.
- Best for
- Drafting from your past proposals.
- Watch out for
- Multi-client needs a $300/mo add-on.
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Free search of IRS 990 filings, including private foundation 990-PFs.
- Price
- Free.
- Best for
- Checking one funder's filings.
- Watch out for
- No matching, ranking or tracking.
Questions
Is Foundation Directory Online still available?
It's now part of Candid Search, with Free, Premium and Ultimate plans.
Is there a free Foundation Directory alternative?
Candid's free plan, Candid at partner libraries and ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer are free. They don't rank funders against your organization.
What's the cheapest paid alternative with red flags on every match?
Grantlas, at $99 a month or $999 a year. Grantable has a free plan and paid plans from $50 a month, built around writing.
More comparisons
- Grantlas vs Instrumentl →Same first question, $250 a month less.
- Grantlas vs Candid →A ranked shortlist instead of a reference database.
- Grantlas vs Grant Frog →Funder research with a Tracker, not a grants office.
- Grantlas vs GrantStation →A ranked shortlist, not a directory to sort.
- Grantlas vs GrantWatch →Ranked for your nonprofit, not a list for everyone.
- Grantlas vs Grantable →Find the funder first, then write where you already write.
- Instrumentl alternatives →From free to $219 a month, sorted by who each tool fits.
Prices and features checked October 22, 2026
- Candid pricing
- Instrumentl pricing
- Grant Frog pricing (Monthly and Yearly toggle)
- GrantStation membership
- GrantStation member pricing (PANO example)
- GrantStation
- Grantable pricing
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Instrumentl, Candid, Foundation Directory, Grant Frog, GrantStation, GrantWatch, Grantable, Grantsights and Engrant are trademarks of their owners. Grantlas isn't affiliated with any of them. Prices and features come from each company's public pages on the date shown and can change. If something here is out of date, email team@grantlas.com and we'll fix it within a week.