Common questions about FunderKit and foundation research
Yes. Foundation profiles, search, and browsing are completely free. All data comes from publicly available IRS filings.
All data comes from IRS Form 990-PF filings published through the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) system. We also use the IRS Business Master File for NTEE classification codes.
We process new IRS releases as they become available. There is typically a 6-12 month lag between when a foundation files and when it appears in the IRS system, so the most recent data usually reflects giving from 1-2 years ago.
FunderKit is a research tool. Use it to identify potential funders and understand their giving patterns. You should then contact foundations directly about their application process.
Form 990-PF is the annual tax return that private foundations file with the IRS. It includes financial information, a list of grants awarded, officer compensation, and details about the foundation's operations.
NTEE stands for the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities. It's a classification system used by the IRS to categorize nonprofit organizations by their primary purpose, such as Education (B), Health (E), or Human Services (P).
Start by searching for foundations in your state or NTEE category. Look at their giving profiles to see if they fund organizations of your size and type. The "What They Fund" and "Where They Give" sections on each profile show giving patterns.
The giving trend indicates whether a foundation's total annual giving is growing, stable, or declining over the past several years. Foundations with growing trends may be more receptive to new grantees.
We include foundations that have filed electronically with the IRS through the TEOS system. Foundations that file on paper, very new foundations, or those that haven't filed recently may not appear yet. We process new filings regularly.
Grant data is extracted directly from IRS filings, so it's as accurate as what foundations report. Some foundations provide more detail than others in their 990-PF filings. Grant amounts and recipients come directly from Part XV of the form.
Total giving is the amount the foundation distributed in grants during the filing year. Total assets is the foundation's investment portfolio and other holdings. Larger assets generally mean the foundation has more capacity to give.
Yes. On individual foundation profiles, you can export the grants table to CSV using the "Export CSV" button. This lets you analyze grant data in a spreadsheet.
Check our detailed guides for more information about foundation research.