• Boost Grant Success with Powerful Program Evaluation | DSHS National Library Week (April 9, 2025)
  • Recording
  • Slides
• Get Ready For Grant Success | RGV Nonprofit Summit (October 30, 2024)
  • Slides
• Grant Writing Essentials | DSHS National Library Week (April 9, 2024)
  • Slides

Researching potential funders is easier when you use a grant database. Some free options are included below to help you in your search:

• Candid Funding Information Network - Zip code search for the closest library or partner site.
• Community Foundation Locator - Find community foundations in your area by clicking on the interactive map.
• Grant Gopher - Grant searches for nonprofits, schools, and municipalities. The Lite membership version is free.
• Grantmakers io - Profiles of foundations and their grantees. 
• Grants.gov - Funding opportunities posted by federal agencies.
• Rural Health Information Hub - Rural funding opportunities nationwide.
• Texas Rural Funders - Rural funding opportunities specific to Texas.

There are many subscription-based options available. Search for "top grant databases" and research the best fit for your organization's fundraising needs.

For bi-monthly funding updates from the Grant Development Center, subscribe to GDC Emails at the bottom of this page.

Private/Foundation Funding

• Candid Learning
• Community Tool Box
• Grant Station

Public/Government Funding

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Budget Preparation Guidelines
• Local Infrastructure Hub
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• U.S. Health and Human Services Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Library/Electronic Reading Room

• Fundraising HayDay - Grants and fundraising topics.
• Fundraising.AI - Strategies and tools for implementing responsible AI practices. 
• GrantTalks.com - Critical trends, helpful tips, and how grants are changing the world.
• Grant Writing Simplified – Insights for new grant writers.
• Grantwriting and Funding – Grant writing strategies, nonprofit funding action steps, and tips and tools.
• Great Grant Seeking – Expert advice on improving your grants program.

National

• CDC Office of Rural Health - Health topics impacting rural Americans, science on rural health, success stories, and other resources.
• Center for Rural Affairs - "Grant Application Guide for Rural Communities" is free to download from the website.
• Foundation for Rural Service - Scholarships for rural high school graduates attending college or technical school, and Community Grant Program to support nonprofit organizations serving rural areas.
• HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy - Primary federal agency that directly supports rural communities through policy, research, service delivery, and grant programs.  
  • Data Warehouse for Rural Health Investments and Grants
  • Rural Community Programs
  • Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer Tool
• National Rural Health Day- Occurs annually in late November. Showcases the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health, and other rural stakeholders. Includes tool kits, key messaging, data points, and other event information.
• National Rural Health Foundation - National nonprofit membership organization. Provides leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research.
• Robert Wood Johnston Foundation: Rural Health Focus - Resources, research, and emerging insights into the many factors that shape rural opportunity and health in America.
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership - National network of nonprofit partners with over 350 technical assistance, training, and capacity-building providers nationwide.
• Rural Community Toolbox: Funding & Tools to Build Health Drug-Free Rural Communities - Federal funding programs and information resources for technical assistance, training, and treatment to help rural communities address substance use disorder (SUD) and related community issues.
• Rural Health Information Hub - Online library including funding opportunities, toolkits, and rural data visualizations.
  • Rural Health for Texas Overview
  • Applying for Grants to Support Rural Health Projects Overview
  • Tools For Success
• Rural Health Research Gateway - Access to research conducted by the Rural Health Research Centers.
• Tribal Grant Writing - A leading agency specializing in grant writing, research, and capacity building for tribal governments and Native American organizations nationwide. Free quarterly grant writing training, announcement webinars, and other resources can be accessed by signing up for their newsletter.
• USDA Economic Research Service (2023) - Overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America. Resources focus on population migration, poverty, housing insecurity, and employment. Includes metro and nonmetro comparisons.
• USDA Rural Development - A YouTube series on navigating federal government grant-related online platforms, budgeting, and important forms.
• USDA Rural Health Index - Inventory tool to help community leaders identify USDA programs, technical assistance, and funding to improve community health.

Texas

• Texas Rural Counties Map (Texas Department of Agriculture)
• Texas Rural Funders - Resources include a Grants Hub, broadband information, and other rural-focused data.
• Texas Rural Nonprofit Network (One Star Foundation) - Fosters networking, collaboration, community development, and resource sharing among nonprofits to support rural communities.
• Texas State Office of Rural Health (SORH) - Coordination, facilitation, and grant-issuing agency for federal and state programs related to rural healthcare. Major programs include healthcare workforce recruitment and retention, infrastructure assistance, and the Rural Hospital Medicare Flexibility Program. 
• University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Center for Rural Health and Nursing - Free eight-week, self-guided online rural grant writing course. Offered each semester.

• Association of Fundraising Professionals - Free weekly newsletter on fundraising topics.
• Blue Avocado - Free educational content on fundraising, finance, leadership, marketing, and more.
• Community Toolbox - Service of Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. Free resources to help you build a healthier community.
• Grants.gov - Access to funding opportunities posted by federal agencies. Comprehensive federal grants learning center and community blog.
• Greater Sum Foundation - Networking, professional development, and funding resources. 
• Greenlights Grant Initiative - Grant writing resource for schools applying for federal school safety funding.
• Independent Sector - Value of volunteer time and other nonprofit resources.
• National Council of Nonprofits - Tools, resources, and research for nonprofits.
• NIH Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information -Helpful federal grant application resources including a grant process overview, videos, podcasts, etc.
• Nonprofit Financial Commons - Peer community for finding and sharing information and tools.
• Tech Soup - Donated and discounted software, hardware, services, training, and data for nonprofits, charities, and libraries. 
• Texas Nonprofit Strong - Resource directory, research, impact reports, and an events calendar.
• UT Grant Resource Center - Consultations and orientations for private sector funding research by nonprofits and individuals. 

• Candid - Information, resources, and training for members, with some free content. Funding opportunity database access at no cost through partner sites or by subscription.
• Center For Nonprofit Management - Dallas - Strategic consulting to build capacity, outcomes evaluation, and education for fundraising and building strong nonprofit organizations.
• Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy (The Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A&M University) - Support for high-quality research, professional outreach, and engaged learning for Texas's nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Newsletter and free virtual learning opportunities.
• Foundant Technologies - Newsletter, blog, podcast, and on-demand and live webinars focused on grants.
• Grant Station - Free and member-only trainings, webinars, and newsletter. Funding opportunity database access by subscription.
• Instrumentl - Learning center, blog, newsletter, webinars, and funding listings. Free and subscription-based content is available.
• MSU Center for Nonprofit Management & Leadership - Resources and support to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of the social sector in Wichita Falls and the surrounding communities.
• MyFedTrainer.com - Federal grant compliance resources including free webinars, blog, and email newsletter.
• Nonprofit Austin at ACC - Certificate programs in grant writing and nonprofit management, grant research center with free and membership options.
• Nonprofit Hub - Free nonprofit resources and education, including on demand webinars, helpful guides, podcasts, and newsletter.
• Nonprofit Learning Lab - Free trainings on fundraising, communications, and other resources to lead your organization.
• Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center - Quality management support services for nonprofits and funders. Services include workshops, consulting, board development, and library services.
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy - Low-cost live and on-demand webinars. Subscription-based access to funding database. Free newsletter with trends and opinion pieces about the nonprofit world.
• The Grantsmanship Center - Free and low-cost trainings, webinars, and grant writing resources.