Foundation Research
Foundation Research: From IRS Filings to Funder Fit
Good foundation research turns a fundraising plan into a real prospect list. CIFIS makes that work faster. We pull IRS records, giving history, and geographic fit into one workspace. Grant writers, development staff, consultants, and researchers can build a defensible list in a single sitting.
What foundation research should look like in 2026
For years, foundation research meant 990 PDFs, paid directories, and homemade spreadsheets. That workflow is slow. It does not scale. And it leaves teams unable to explain why a funder made the list. Good research today starts with clean data and ends with a clear, documented match. Every step in between should be visible.
- Structured IRS BMF and 990 data, not PDFs
- Clean NTEE and program classifications
- Geographic alignment with your service area
- Strategic Partner Score with documented inputs
- Saved research and exportable shortlists
How CIFIS structures foundation research
Open any foundation profile. You see identity (EIN, ruling date, headquarters), program (NTEE codes, tags), money (asset class, recent giving), history (recent grants where 990 data shows them), and partnership signals (operating model, community foundation status, MDI flags). Every section cites its source. You can compare profiles side by side, save them to a collection, and export a shortlist for your board or program team.
Built for grant writers and prospect researchers
Prospect researchers and grant writers need to qualify a funder in under five minutes. They need to defend that call to a development director. And they need notes that survive across hundreds of prospects. CIFIS treats these needs as core. Every profile is quick to read. Every claim is sourced. Every research action is saved so the work can be picked up later or handed off.
Ask CIFIS for foundation questions
Ask CIFIS is a read-only research helper. It is grounded in our foundation catalog. Ask why a foundation came up for your work. Ask what their recent giving looks like. Ask how their focus area compares to yours. Ask what is missing from your readiness profile. Every answer cites the records it used. CIFIS does not invent foundations, write proposals, or guess past the data.
Frequently asked questions
Where does CIFIS foundation data come from?
Mostly the IRS Exempt Organization Business Master File and 990 filings, plus our own classifications and partnership signals.
How current is the data?
Records are checked against IRS sources on an ongoing basis. Every profile shows when it was last verified.
Can I see a foundation's grant history?
Yes, where 990 filings show grant detail. CIFIS structures that history so you can compare it across foundations.
Does foundation research include community foundations?
Yes. Community foundations are tagged as their own type and also have a dedicated browse path.
Can I save and export research?
Yes. Save prospects into collections, add notes, and export shortlists for internal review.
Is there a research assistant?
Yes. Ask CIFIS answers questions from the foundation catalog and cites the records it used.
See CIFIS for your organization
CIFIS is the funding intelligence platform connecting nonprofits, community foundations, CDFIs, and consultants to grants, funders, and verified opportunities, with explainable matching and readiness scoring.