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Nonprofits · head to head

Candid vs Facebook Fundraisers

Candid logo

Candid

Nonprofits

Funder and nonprofit data subscriptions from the organisation formed by Foundation Center and GuideStar

From
$219/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Facebook Fundraisers logo

Facebook Fundraisers

Nonprofits

Integrated fundraising on Facebook

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Candid grant records derive largely from Form 990 filings, which are published with a lag, so the database describes what a funder did up to eighteen months ago rather than what it intends to fund now.; Facebook Fundraisers no donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
  • They diverge on capability: Candid covers Foundation Directory, Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Candid and Facebook Fundraisers actually diverge.

Attributes where Candid and Facebook Fundraisers differ
AttributeCandidFacebook Fundraisers
Starting price$219/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per month by tierUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2004

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Candid

  • Foundation Directory
  • 990 based grant records
  • Nonprofit Profiles
  • Charity check
  • Data APIs and bulk feeds
  • Candid Learning
  • Funding Information Network

Only in Facebook Fundraisers

  • Campaign creation
  • Donation collection
  • Social sharing
  • Donation tracking
  • Team fundraising
  • Facebook Pages
  • Instagram
  • Messenger

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Candid

  • A development director building a list of foundations that have actually funded organisations of your size, sector and geography in the past three yearsnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • A funder verifying US tax exempt status before releasing a grant paymentnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • A software vendor embedding nonprofit organisation data and charity verification into its own productnot Facebook Fundraisers
  • A nonprofit maintaining a transparency seal on its public profile because institutional funders check it before givingnot Facebook Fundraisers

Facebook Fundraisers

  • Business operationsnot Candid
  • Productivitynot Candid
  • Automationnot Candid

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Candid

  • Grant records derive largely from Form 990 filings, which are published with a lag, so the database describes what a funder did up to eighteen months ago rather than what it intends to fund now.
  • Foundation Directory is a research database, not a pipeline tool: there is no proposal tracking, deadline management or task assignment, so most teams pay for a grants tracker alongside it.
  • Monthly pricing is high relative to the budget of a small nonprofit, and the same database is available free in person through partner libraries in the Funding Information Network, which makes the subscription hard to justify for occasional research.
  • Coverage is US-centric and built on the US tax filing system, so it is of limited use to organisations seeking funding from UK, EU or Commonwealth foundations.
  • Many funders do not accept unsolicited proposals at all, and the database cannot reliably tell you which, so prospect lists built from it still require manual qualification before outreach.

Facebook Fundraisers

  • No donor email collection unless donor explicitly opts in, limiting donor stewardship and relationship-building
  • Slow payouts of 15-45 days for enrolled nonprofits, up to 90 days for unenrolled organizations
  • No recurring giving option after discontinuation in 2023, limiting lifetime donor value
  • Limited customization and branding control compared to dedicated fundraising platforms
  • Not available in European Economic Area countries as of July 1, 2024

Pricing, plan by plan

Candid

$219/month
  • Foundation Directory Essential$219/month
    • Search US grantmakers and grant records
    • Saved searches and prospect lists
    • Single user
  • Foundation Directory Professional$1499/month
    • Full grantmaker, grant and recipient search
    • Trustee and key staff search
    • Advanced filters and larger exports
  • Data licensing$undefined/year
    • API and bulk data feeds
    • Charity check and organisation verification
    • Priced by volume and use case, quoted

Facebook Fundraisers

Free
  • Standard$undefined/mo
    • Donation collection
    • Birthday fundraisers
    • Matching donations on Instagram

Which should you pick?

Choose Candid if

  • You need foundation directory.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want 990 based grant records.
Candid review

Choose Facebook Fundraisers if

  • You need campaign creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want donation collection.
Facebook Fundraisers review

Questions people ask

Is Candid or Facebook Fundraisers better?
Neither clearly leads. Candid starts at $219/month and Facebook Fundraisers at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Candid or Facebook Fundraisers?
Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $219/month for Candid and Free for Facebook Fundraisers.
Does Candid or Facebook Fundraisers run on more platforms?
Candid runs on Web, API. Facebook Fundraisers runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Facebook Fundraisers for free?
Yes. Facebook Fundraisers has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Candid starts at $219/month.
What is Candid best used for?
Candid is most often used for a development director building a list of foundations that have actually funded organisations of your size, sector and geography in the past three years, a funder verifying us tax exempt status before releasing a grant payment, a software vendor embedding nonprofit organisation data and charity verification into its own product, a nonprofit maintaining a transparency seal on its public profile because institutional funders check it before giving. Of those, a development director building a list of foundations that have actually funded organisations of your size, sector and geography in the past three years and a funder verifying us tax exempt status before releasing a grant payment are not what Facebook Fundraisers is typically brought in for.
What can Candid do that Facebook Fundraisers cannot?
Candid covers Foundation Directory, 990 based grant records, Nonprofit Profiles, Charity check. Facebook Fundraisers covers Campaign creation, Donation collection, Social sharing, Donation tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Candid: Is Candid the same as GuideStar?

GuideStar is now part of Candid, merged with Foundation Center in 2019. GuideStar nonprofit profiles continue under the Candid brand.

Facebook Fundraisers: Are there any fees for Facebook Fundraisers for nonprofits?

Meta covers payment processing fees for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, PayPal Giving Fund, which processes all donations, applies 1.99% + $0.49 per donation in the US. For eligible nonprofits, Meta covers these fees, so the nonprofit keeps 100% of donations.

Source
Candid: Can I use Foundation Directory for free?

Yes, in person. Hundreds of partner libraries and nonprofit resource centres in the Funding Information Network provide free access, which is a genuine alternative to a subscription for occasional research.

Facebook Fundraisers: When will I receive my donations?

Enrolled nonprofits receive donations within 15-45 days. Unenrolled organizations wait up to 90 days. Payouts go through PayPal Giving Fund.

Source
Candid: How current is the grant data?

It is drawn largely from Form 990 filings and lags real time by roughly a year to eighteen months. Treat it as evidence of past funding behaviour, not current priorities.

Facebook Fundraisers: Can I collect donor email addresses?

No. Facebook only provides the donor's name and donation amount unless the donor explicitly opts in to share their email during the donation process.

Source
Candid: Does Candid help outside the United States?

Only marginally. The data model is built on US tax filings and US registered organisations.

Facebook Fundraisers: Does Facebook Fundraisers support recurring monthly donations?

No. Native recurring giving was discontinued in October 2023. Donors can only make one-time contributions.

Source
Facebook Fundraisers: What platforms can I use to fundraise on?

Facebook Fundraisers are available on Facebook Pages, Instagram, and WhatsApp for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Donors can contribute via donation buttons on posts, stories, live streams, and matching donation features on Instagram.

Source
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