Funding search
Find who already funds work like yours.
Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
12 funders with a record of paying for “character”
Where the money went
Lilly EndowmentIndianapolis, IN
77 matching grants · $423.9M · through 2025Largest: $45.5M to AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION INC — fostering character in camp programs
Largest: $25,000 to NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM INC — history, heritage and unique local character
John Templeton FoundationWest Conshohocken, PA
75 matching grants · $23.7M · through 2024Largest: $1.4M to THE CHARACTER LAB — advancing the science and practice of character development
Largest: $1.6M to GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY — implement apdp; support to develop the gcu center for character education; embedding em institutionally; support to develop the gcu center for character education
United Way of St Johns CountySt Augustine, FLCharity · may take applications
34 matching grants · $1.2M · through 2024Largest: $218,000 to YOUTH CRISIS CENTER — character development
Largest: $75,000 to BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF OSHKOSH — to support character education programs: basic needs for club kids
Foundation for Jewish CampNew York, NYCharity · may take applications
12 matching grants · $829,720 · through 2024Largest: $399,120 to CAMP JCA SHALOM — israel response, rsj, mental health, character development, scholarships
Star Rock MinistriesSan Clemente, CACharity · may take applications
15 matching grants · $664,923 · through 2024Largest: $106,560 to San Onofre Elementary School — two grants were issued for 41 children of military families to join summer camp sessions. 24 children aged 5-10 attended two weeks of day camp in southern california, and 17 childr…
Prairie Meadows Race Track and CasinoAltoona, IACharity · may take applications
11 matching grants · $356,153 · through 2024Largest: $175,000 to DRAKE UNIVERSITY — character counts! for early childhood in polk county
Quad Cities Golf Classic CharitableEast Moline, ILCharity · may take applications
12 matching grants · $618,809 · through 2024Largest: $76,417 to GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN IAWESTERN IL — girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place
Largest: $12,500 to Salisbury School — general operating support to educate young men of character and promise who are prepared to meet the challenges of college and adulthood, and to make a difference in an entrepreneu…
Largest: $239,808 to SFFILM — to nurture, develop, and champion films that explore scientific or technological themes and characters
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →