How to use this directory well
Match on focus area and geography first, then read each funder's site and 990 to confirm fit. Note the application type — many large foundations are invitation only and do not take unsolicited proposals. This is a starting point, not a substitute for the funder's own current guidelines.
Researching a specific funder?
This curated directory adds application details for select funders. To research any of 2,000+ grantmaking foundations across 13 Southern states — with IRS Form 990 financials and focus areas — browse the free Funder Database →
Search the directory
Find more funders yourself — free databases
This directory is a curated starting point. These free tools are the real discovery engine — use them to search thousands of funders by cause, geography, and what they have actually funded (from public 990 filings).
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer →
Free database of millions of nonprofit tax filings (IRS summary data released since 2013, with filing documents back to 2001); search private foundations and read their 990-PFs to see exactly which organizations they funded and how much — a strong free way to reverse-engineer a funder's giving.
Candid — 990 Finder & Candid Search (GuideStar) →
Free registration gives limited but useful access: 990 Finder plus up to three years of filings per org, current-year revenue/expense data, and leadership info (combining GuideStar and Foundation Directory data); deeper Foundation Directory features require a paid subscription or in-person FIN access.
Candid Foundation Directory — Free In-Person Access (Funding Information Network) →
Foundation Directory (the premium funder-prospecting database) is available for FREE in person at Candid's Funding Information Network partner libraries, community foundations, and nonprofit resource centers; use this page (or network.candid.org) to find the nearest location. No remote access to the free version.
Grants.gov →
The official, free U.S. government portal to find and apply for grants from every federal agency; create a free account to apply (your org must also have an active SAM.gov registration with a UEI).
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) →
Free, mandatory registration system: any nonprofit that wants to receive federal grant or contract dollars must obtain a UEI (generated within SAM.gov) and maintain an active registration (renewed yearly). Requires a Login.gov account. Not a grant source itself — it is the eligibility gateway.
USAspending.gov →
The official open-data source for federal spending (contracts, grants, loans) back to FY2001; use Advanced Search to see which federal programs fund organizations like yours and which agencies award in your state/issue area — strong intelligence for federal prospecting.
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) →
Free official IRS tool to confirm a foundation's or nonprofit's tax-exempt status, eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions, and access filings (determination letters from 2014 onward are downloadable) — an essential due-diligence step before approaching or partnering with any funder.
National Council of Nonprofits — Find Your State Association →
Directory connecting you to your statewide/regional nonprofit association (network spans 47 states and DC, reaching 30,000+ charitable organizations), which often curates local funding opportunities, grantmaker connections, and capacity-building resources tailored to your state — a key discovery layer for state and local funders.
Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy →
Mississippi's statewide membership association for nonprofits and philanthropy (formed in 2019 from the merger of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits and the Mississippi Association of Grantmakers); posts funding opportunities and offers trainings, consulting, and a resource library — a go-to discovery hub for MS-specific funders.
Mississippi Arts Commission (eGRANT) →
Mississippi's official state arts grantmaking agency; MS-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits and units of government may apply for Operating, Project, and Mini-Grants through the eGRANT portal. An example of a state-agency funder discoverable for MS nonprofits.
Instrumentl →
Grant-discovery platform with a free 14-day trial (no credit card) and a free public browse-grants directory by focus area/location; paid plans add intelligent matching and tracking. Best suited to established 501(c)(3)s with ongoing grant-seeking capacity.
GrantWatch →
Large grant-search engine; you can browse and use search filters for free to discover opportunities, but viewing full grant details and applying requires a paid subscription. Covers nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals, with state-specific filtering (e.g., Mississippi).
Set up free deadline alerts
You don't need a paid subscription to get notified about deadlines. Create a free saved search with email alerts on Grants.gov for federal funding, use the free alert features on funder-discovery tools, and bookmark this page — we re-verify and refresh it quarterly (next: September 2026). For foundation deadlines, set a calendar reminder from each funder's site when you identify a fit.
How this directory is maintained
Every funder here was verified against its official website and/or public 990 on its listed date. We refresh the directory quarterly and re-verify links and application policies. Funders change priorities and deadlines often — treat this as a curated map, and always confirm current guidelines at the source. Spot something out of date? Tell us at goodcircles.org/for-nonprofits.
Diversify beyond grants with recurring, unrestricted support
Grants are competitive, restricted, and slow. Good Circles builds a base of recurring, unrestricted funding alongside your grant strategy: supporters pick your cause once, then a share of their everyday local spending funds you automatically — about 10% of each merchant's net profit, conservatively ~$72 per active supporter per year (an estimate), free for your nonprofit.
Claim a Founding Nonprofit spot → How to find grants →Sources & tools
Free first
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — search any foundation's 990 to see what and whom it funds.
- Candid / Foundation Directory — free in-person access at Funding Information Network partner libraries.
- Grants.gov — all federal grant opportunities, with free saved-search email alerts.
- National Council of Nonprofits — find your state association and grant-seeking guidance.
Last verified 2026-06-17. Funder priorities, deadlines, and application policies change — verify at the funder's site before you apply. Next scheduled refresh: September 2026.
FAQ
Is this funder directory free to use?
Yes. The directory is completely free, with no login or paywall. Good Circles publishes it as part of a free resource hub for nonprofits, and it is built entirely from public information about each funder.
How current is the funder directory?
Every listing carries a last-verified date, and the directory is refreshed on a quarterly schedule. Funder priorities, deadlines, and application policies change, so always confirm the details on the funder’s own website before you apply.
How do I find funders that fit my nonprofit?
Match on two things first: focus area and geography. Use the search and filters to narrow the list, then use the free databases listed below (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Candid, Grants.gov) to dig deeper into each funder’s 990 and recent grants to confirm fit before you invest time in an application.
What does "invitation only" mean for a funder?
Many large foundations do not accept unsolicited proposals and only fund organizations they invite. The directory labels each funder’s application type so you do not waste time applying where you cannot. For invitation-only funders, focus on relationship-building rather than a cold application.