How to Find and Review Funding Opportunities

Learn how to find and assess funding opportunities.

Finding and reviewing opportunities

Step 1: Access the page

Click on ‘Find Funding’ in the main navigation. Here you’ll see a list of all the funding requests you’ve created.

Step 2: Run a scan

Next to a funding request, click ‘Find Matches’ for our system to begin scanning the database. The process can take a few minutes depending on the funding request.

If you've added a file or website to the funding request but haven't uploaded it yet, we'll check before starting: "You have a file or website that hasn't been uploaded yet. Matching won't include it until it's uploaded." Upload it first if you want it included in your matches.

When your results are out of date

If you edit a funding request after it's been scanned, or its last scan is more than 30 days old, the button changes to 'Re-find Matches'. A warning icon also appears on the row, explaining which applies:

Edited since the last scan: "This funding request has been edited since the last scan. Re-find matches to get up-to-date results."
More than 30 days old: "Scan results are 34 days old. Consider re-scanning for up-to-date matches."

Click 'Re-find Matches' to run a fresh scan so your results reflect the current version of your request.

Step 3: View results

When the scan is complete, click on ‘View Results’. The funding opportunity matches will usually appear in three groups:

Open Now
Opening In the Next 3 Months
Relational Opportunities
Future planning: Annual subscribers get a 12-month matching view, so results include rounds opening further ahead for longer-term planning.

If your results are out of date, 'View Results' appears greyed out with the message "Please click Re-find Matches button to see latest matches". Run a fresh scan first.

If your organisation can't re-scan right now — because the subscription is paused, or you've used all your scans — 'View Results' stays available so you can still open your existing matches.

Step 4: Analyse each match

You can explore why the system identified each match. Click 'See how we matched' to learn about the suitability of the match, funding round dates, and things to consider on your application.

Click 'View Funder Information' to learn who the Funder is, and what the purpose of the opportunity is. You'll also find criteria, exclusions, and useful information in this section, along with a website link for the Funder, or opportunity.

The icons on each row perform the following functions:

Star: Favourite an opportunity to pin it to the top of your results list and to get email updates when its funding rounds open or close. These arrive as a weekly round-up of everything you've favourited that's opening or closing in the week ahead, rather than one email per opportunity. You can turn these off for your account under Notifications in your settings.
'Closing Soon': This tag appears when the grant application window is closing soon. This is to help you prioritise which applications to work on first (if the opportunity is of interest).
Thumbs down: Remove the match from your results. A pop-up will appear for you to submit additional details. Please provide feedback so we can explore improvements to the system.
If you remove a match with the thumbs-down, you can bring it back with "Show Previously Hidden Matches" on the results page. Hidden matches, favourites and introduction letters all stay when you re-find matches.
Thumbs up: Let us know it was a good match. A pop-up will appear for you to submit additional details. This helps us improve our database and recommendations for future matches.
Information: The (i) icon appears next to "Estimate Only" when a round's dates are estimated rather than confirmed. Hover over it to read "These round dates are estimated. They will be confirmed when more information is available." Check with the funder before you plan around estimated dates. Email [email protected] if you experience any issues.

Occasionally the system will display 'No application questions' next to an opportunity. Please email [email protected] for us to look into this for you.

Step 5: Generate an application

When you find a good match, click 'Draft My Application'. Trial users receive one free draft to test the system; subscribers have access to this feature as part of their paid plan.

Once clicked, the system will begin generating your funding application. This process can take a few minutes depending on the application form. When your draft is ready, you'll find the funder's Application link in the Application Information section near the bottom of the drafting page — that's how you get to their portal to submit.

Step 6: Generate a Draft Introduction Letter

For relational matches, click the 'Draft Introduction Letter' button. A window will open which includes:

Match Context: An outline of the alignment between your organisation and the funder.
The Drafted Letter: An introduction letter created from your Organisation Profile and Funding Request that aligns to the funder’s areas of interest.

Actions you can take:

Regenerate draft: Have the system try a new version based on the same context.
Directly edit & Save: Modify the text and click 'Save draft'.
Copy letter: Copy the text to use in your own email system.
Mark as done: Select this once the letter has been sent to the funder.

Tips for Success

Use reminders

Click the star on any match to favourite it. Each week we email a round-up of your favourited opportunities that are opening or closing in the week ahead, so you don't have to keep track of funder dates yourself. You can turn the emails off under Notifications in your settings. See Opportunity alerts & notification settings.

Explore relational funders

Some funders don't take open applications. They respond to an introduction letter instead, or describe how they would like to be approached. You'll find them under Relational Opportunities in your results, with a "Draft introduction letter" button. See Drafting Introduction Letters for Relational Opportunities.

Learn from our articles

Our blog has tips on framing a funding request and on applying for operational costs, as well as wider funding strategy. Find it at fundsorter.com/blog.

Can’t see a funding opportunity you were expecting?

It might be that the funders grant rounds aren’t open right now, that the system doesn’t think it’s a good match, or that we don’t have that funder in our system yet. It's also worth checking your locations and other hard filters — they decide which opportunities you're eligible to see at all. If you're expecting to match with an opportunity that you don't see, please send us an email, and we'll look into it; [email protected]