Understanding the Categories and Filter Options in the Database of Funders

Funders employ a wide variety of terms to describe their eligibility requirements and funding priorities. To efficiently use this database, review the filter options within each of the database’s categories. You may select one or more options in each of the categories, or you may select all options:

Filter by State

You may select one state, multiple states, or all states. If you select a single state or any other limited number of states, funders that are open to applications from all states will appear, along with any funders that focus only on the selected state(s).

Funding Range Categories

• $250-$10,000
• $10,000-$25,000
• $25,000-$50,000
• $50,000-$100,000
• $100,000-$250,000
• $250,000-$500,000
• Over $500,000
• In-kind Services/Products/Other

These funding ranges are broad categories. Funding ranges as specified by a particular funder may be listed in the “Additional Information” section of the funder profile.

Funding Type

• Capacity Building – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: capacity building, consultant services, staff training, strategic planning, and technical assistance.

• Capital Projects – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: capital funds, capital needs, and infrastructure. The category also includes priorities that specify or suggest construction (or major repairs) of community centers, housing multi-purpose buildings, playgrounds, and senior centers. Note: The Funding Priority Housing option covers housing access and other non-capital housing projects.

• In-kind Services/Products/Other – This category includes noncash donations, typically of goods which either the program or kinship families may need, and professional services. 

• Programs/Projects – Most non-governmental funders prefer to fund programs or time-limited projects. Few provide general operating funds. This category is used when any of these three types of funding is specified.

Funding Priorities Categories

• Abuse Prevention/Support – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: adverse childhood experiences; child abuse prevention, support, or treatment; child neglect; children protected by juvenile court; elder abuse prevention or support; services for survivors of violence or domestic violence; and trauma-related services.

• Aging in Place – This category is used when this term is specified on a funder’s website.

• Alaska Natives – This category is used when a funder’s website specifies this population.
• American Indians – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: Native American and Indigenous. The categories Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians are used when funders specifically identify these populations.

• Basic Needs – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: basic needs, basic services, essential services, human needs, poverty, and safety net services. Specific categories like Food Security or Housing are also used when specified on a funder’s website.

• Children And Families – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: services for children or children and families, women and children services, parenting education, youth development, and youth opportunities. Child care is categorized under Out-Of-School Time.

• Clothing – This category covers clothing programs for children and adults.

• Community Development – This category covers initiatives that support economic development, workforce growth, better access to services in the community, etc.

• Community Needs – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: community improvement, community initiatives, community issues, community needs, community opportunities, community problems, and community-led projects.

• Cultural/Recreational Activities – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: arts and culture, cultural activities, cultural enrichment, cultural institution access, play, and recreation. The category does not cover activities not typically associated with kinship services (e.g., professional artist development).

• Diapers – This category includes the term baby wipes.

• Education – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: early childhood education, education, preschool, social and emotional learning, and tutoring. The category does not cover adult education, higher education, lifelong learning, or educational activities not typically associated with kinship services (e.g., STEM education). Afterschool and summer programs are categorized under Out-Of-School Time.

• Energy Assistance – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: electricity, energy assistance, heating, utility assistance, and water.

• Financial Security – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: economic assistance, economic livelihood, economic mobility, economic security, economic self-sufficiency, economic stability, economic wellness, financial assistance, financial hardship, financial health, financial security, financial stability, income assistance, and public benefits access or assistance.

• Food Security – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: baby formula, food, food access, food delivery, hunger, meals, and nutrition. Nutrition Education is a separate category.

• Foster Care – This category covers children and youth in foster care.

• Health And Wellness – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: assistive devices, health, health promotion, health screenings, health care, health care access, health activities, health behaviors, healthy lifestyles, Medicaid (or health insurance) education or enrollment, medical equipment, wellbeing, and wellness. Mental Health (including behavioral health) and Social Drivers of Health are separate categories.

• Holiday Gifts – This category includes toys.

• Housing – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: home modification/repairs, homelessness, housing, housing access, rental assistance, and shelter. Construction and/or major housing repairs are categorized under Capital Projects.

• Human Services – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: human services, humanitarian agencies, social services, and social welfare.

• Intergenerational Services – This category also includes the term multigenerational services.

• Kinship Care – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: grandfamily services, grandparents raising grandchildren, kinship care, and kinship services.

• Legal Services – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: civil legal aid, assistance, and services; legal aid, assistance, and services; legal education for the public; and self-help legal clinics.

• Mental Health – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: behavioral health, bereavement, grief, mental health, mental health access, and support groups. Physical health is categorized under Health And Wellness.

• Mentoring – This category covers child and youth mentoring. It does not cover the mentoring of adults.

• Native Hawaiians – The database uses this category when funder websites use the terms Indigenous or Native when referring to priority populations on the Hawaiian Islands.

• Nutrition Education – This category covers nutrition education classes and literature.

• Older Adults – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: aging, older adults, older persons, and senior citizens.

• Organizational Collaborations – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: organizational coalitions, consortiums, and partnerships.

• Out-Of-School Time – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: before-/after- school programs, child care, extracurricular activities, and summer camps.

• People With Disabilities – This category is used when funder websites specify this population as a funding priority.

• Quality Of Life –This category is used when the term appears on a funder’s website. The terms wellbeing and wellness, though similar, are categorized as Health and Wellness. The term social wellbeing is categorized as Socialization.

• Respite – This category is only used when a funder identifies respite for kin caregivers as a priority. It does not include respite for caregivers of older adults nor respite for older caregivers who do not provide primary care for children. The database uses the category Out-Of-School Time for specific respite activities like child care and summer camp.

• Rural Populations – This category is used when funder websites specify this population as a funding priority or when funders specify rural areas as a priority.

• Social Drivers Of Health – This category covers both the terms “determinants” and “drivers.” Specific categories such as Food Security or Housing are also used when specified on a funder’s website.

• Socialization – This term covers the following descriptors from funder websites: belonging, community participation, human relationships, social connection, social wellbeing, and socialization.

• Substance Use Prevention/Support – This term covers the following descriptors from funder websites: harm reduction; substance abuse, use, or misuse awareness, care, education, prevention, programs, recovery, support, or treatment; and substance-related challenges.

• Temporary Housing – This category covers support for temporary housing such as emergency shelters and safe houses.

• Transportation – This term includes general transportation and transportation to and from specific destinations (e.g., medical appointments, human services, etc.). It also includes transportation access.

Occasionally, when funders’ websites are very specific about their priorities, additional descriptors have been added in the “Additional Information” section (e.g. nature-based out-of-school time). A few listings include unique funding priority terms that don’t neatly fit into other categories (e.g., access to fresh foods from local farms).

Eligible Applicants

• Educational Institutions – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: academic institutions, colleges, universities, higher education institutions, K-12, public schools, charter schools, school districts, school systems, and schools. Note: This database categorizes Native American schools as Tribal Entities.

• Faith Communities – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: churches, faith communities, faith-based organizations, religious institutions, and religious organizations.

• Fiscally Sponsored Organizations – Some funders permit government agencies and other organizations lacking nonprofit status to apply for funding reserved for nonprofits if they are fiscally sponsored by one. A fiscal sponsor is an organization (often a nonprofit) that applies for funding on behalf of an organization that does not meet a funder’s applicant eligibility requirements. The fiscal sponsor assumes responsibility for the management of the grant/donation. Some fiscal sponsors may charge fees. Learn more about fiscal sponsorships here. Note: Not all funders accept requests from fiscally sponsored organizations.

• Governments – This category covers the following terms found on funder websites: state, county, city, or municipal governments; government units; public agencies, entities, institutions, or units; political subdivisions; elected officials; and town managers. Some funders’ use of these terms may imply the inclusion of Tribal governments; contacting the funder for clarification may be worth the effort. Note: This database uses the category Tribal Governments when funder websites explicitly identify Tribal governments or Tribal nations as eligible applicants.

• Nonprofits – Most funder websites use this term to refer to 501(c)3 nonprofits. A few also use this term to refer to other types of tax-exempt organizations, as specified on their websites.

• Organizational Collaborations – This refers to what some funders call organizational coalitions, consortiums, or partnerships.

• Other Organizations – This category is used when funders do not specifically define eligible applicants, or when they use the terms “charitable organizations,” “community-based organizations,” “organizations,” or “social enterprises.”

• Tribal Entities – This category covers the following terms from funder websites: Native American schools and organizations, Tribal consortiums, Tribal health organizations, and Tribal groups.

• Tribal Governments – This category is used when a funder’s website specifically identifies Tribal governments or Tribal nations as eligible applicants. Some funders may intend Tribal governments to be included in terms listed in the Government category (see above); contacting the funder for clarification may be worth the effort.