Definitions for All of the Different Types of Grants

If you are researching or are about to research (or prospect) for possible grant opportunities for a nonprofit, but you are not sure what each different type of grant is or what each is used for (i.e. capital campaign, general operating, etc.); then the following list will help you out.

The Foundation Center is a tremendous resource to nonprofits, world wide.  It not only provides one of the most complete databases of currently available grants (to fund any specific combination of: cause, for different types of programs or projects, for services provided in different regions all over the world).  They also provide a great deal of very good grant writing (including prospecting) instruction: both for free: and for fee, paid: books, conferences, and online classes.

To see what all different types of grants are offered by various different grant donors and what each different type is used for, click on The Foundation Center's list called, Grants Classifications.  The list shows the names and definitions for all of the different types of grants that exist, by name, and what they are used for.  The information on their list is good for any grant donor and the definition of any grant being offered most anywhere (not just those offered in the Foundation Center database). The different types of grants, listed, are not unique to The Foundation Center, but rather common terms in American philanthropy and beyond, in general.  The Foundation Center's grants classifications list is intended for use, by them, when anyone is researching The Foundation Center's grants (and grant donors) database, but again, is good information, in general.

By the way, the Foundation Center does offer their current grants database, called the Cooperating Collection, for free in public libraries across the United States.  Click on cooperating collection to see where the nearest free grants database is available closest to you.