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Nonprofits · head to head

Candid vs Google Nonprofit Tools

Candid logo

Candid

Nonprofits

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

From
$219/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Nonprofit Tools logo

Google Nonprofit Tools

Nonprofits

Free Google tools for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Nonprofit Tools 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.; Google Nonprofit Tools governmental entities and organizations are not eligible
  • They diverge on capability: Candid covers Foundation Directory, Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Candid and Google Nonprofit Tools actually diverge.

Attributes where Candid and Google Nonprofit Tools differ
AttributeCandidGoogle Nonprofit Tools
Starting price$219/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per month by tierfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1998

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 Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and collaboration
  • Cloud storage
  • Ad Grants
  • Analytics
  • YouTube
  • Search Console
  • Google Workspace apps
  • Zapier

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 Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A funder verifying US tax exempt status before releasing a grant paymentnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A software vendor embedding nonprofit organisation data and charity verification into its own productnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A nonprofit maintaining a transparency seal on its public profile because institutional funders check it before givingnot Google Nonprofit Tools

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and productivity tools for nonprofits via Google Workspacenot Candid
  • Online advertising credits through Google Ad Grantsnot Candid
  • YouTube monetization for nonprofit contentnot 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.

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Governmental entities and organizations are not eligible
  • Hospitals and health care organizations are not eligible, although their associated charitable arms or foundations are
  • Schools, academic institutions and universities are not eligible, although the philanthropic arms of educational organizations are
  • The organization must be registered as a charitable organization in one of the specific countries or regions where Google for Nonprofits has launched
  • Eligibility requirements vary by country, and every account must pass verification before access is granted

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

Google Nonprofit Tools

Free
  • Nonprofit ProgramFree
    • Google Workspace
    • Gmail
    • Drive

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 Google Nonprofit Tools if

  • You need email and collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Google Nonprofit Tools review

Questions people ask

Is Candid or Google Nonprofit Tools better?
Neither clearly leads. Candid starts at $219/month and Google Nonprofit Tools at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Candid or Google Nonprofit Tools?
Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $219/month for Candid and Free for Google Nonprofit Tools.
Does Candid or Google Nonprofit Tools run on more platforms?
Candid runs on Web, API. Google Nonprofit Tools runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Google Nonprofit Tools for free?
Yes. Google Nonprofit Tools 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 Google Nonprofit Tools is typically brought in for.
What can Candid do that Google Nonprofit Tools cannot?
Candid covers Foundation Directory, 990 based grant records, Nonprofit Profiles, Charity check. Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, Cloud storage, Ad Grants, Analytics.

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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: How much do Google Nonprofit Tools cost?

Google Nonprofit Tools are provided at no cost to eligible organizations. Eligible nonprofit organizations can access a suite of no-cost and discounted tools.

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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What organizations qualify for free Google Nonprofit Tools?

Organizations must be registered as charitable entities in one of 180+ participating geographies and verified through Goodstack, Google's validation partner.

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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What tools are included in Google Nonprofit Tools?

Included tools are Google Workspace for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Maps Platform credits. Some Workspace editions also receive nonprofit-specific discounts.

Source
Candid: Does Candid help outside the United States?

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

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