Candid
Candid publishes data on U.S. nonprofits and funders. Nonprofits use it for a free profile and Seal of Transparency, and for paid funder research through Candid search (formerly Foundation Directory and GuideStar).
- Type
- Directory
- Cost model
- Free profile, paid research plans
- Nonprofit terms
- U.S. 501(c) organizations
- Last reviewed
- October 7, 2026
Quick answers
- What is Candid?
- Candid is a nonprofit that publishes data on U.S. nonprofits, funders and grants. It was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged. Source
- Is Candid free for nonprofits?
- Claiming your profile and earning a Seal of Transparency are free. Funder and grant research needs a paid plan. At Candid's nonprofit price, Premium starts at $1,199 a year, or $219 a month billed monthly; Ultimate, which adds compliance reports, starts at $1,699 a year. Source
- How do we earn a Seal of Transparency?
- Claim your organization's profile, then add information. Seals are earned in order: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. A Seal expires if two years pass since you last published changes, so update at least that often. Source
From the official pages, checked October 7, 2026. Terms change; confirm before you sign up.
What is Candid?
Candid is a nonprofit that publishes data on U.S. nonprofits and the foundations that fund them. It was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged, so the nonprofit profiles people know from GuideStar and the funder research people know from Foundation Directory now sit under one name.
Most nonprofits meet Candid in two ways. The first is the free nonprofit profile: Candid automatically lists 501(c) organizations registered with the IRS, and an organization can claim its profile, add programs, finances and leadership, and earn a Seal of Transparency (Bronze, Silver, Gold, then Platinum). Funders and donors look at these profiles when they vet an organization.
The second is funder research. Candid search combines the Foundation Directory and GuideStar data, and paid plans add fuller search results, an AI fundraising assistant, a letter-of-inquiry writer and funding-trend charts. The free plan allows limited searches, which is often enough to test whether the data covers your funders before you pay.
Getting started
Create a Candid account and verify your email (an organization email verifies instantly; otherwise you upload an EIN or IRS letter), search for your organization by name or EIN, claim the profile, then complete it section by section to earn Seals. Organizations the IRS recognized recently may need to email their determination letter before they appear.
Best For
Best for U.S. nonprofits that want a credible public profile funders can check, and for grant seekers who need to research which foundations fund work like theirs. The free profile suits every 501(c) organization; the paid research plans suit teams that apply for foundation grants regularly.
How It Fits
- Learning curve
- Profile work is guided by the Seal levels. Funder search takes practice to filter well, which is why testing the free searches first helps.
- Setup timeShort to moderate
- Claiming a profile takes minutes once your email is verified; reaching Gold or Platinum means adding programs, finances, leadership and outcome data.
- Organization sizeAny size
- Every IRS-registered 501(c) is listed. The Go for Gold offer is aimed at organizations under $1 million in revenue or expenses.
- Technical skillLow
- Profile editing is form-based. The work is gathering accurate program and financial information, not technical setup.
Before You Sign Up
Cost and access
The nonprofit profile and Seals of Transparency are free. Paid research plans have a nonprofit price for verified non-funding organizations: Premium is $1,199 a year (standard $2,199) and Ultimate is $1,699 a year (standard $2,499), checked October 7, 2026. Through its Go for Gold offer, a 501(c)(3) with revenue or expenses under $1 million that earns a 2026 Gold Seal by December 31, 2026 gets a free year of Candid Premium for two seats.
Eligibility and availability
Candid lists 501(c) organizations registered with the IRS automatically. Newly recognized organizations may need to send an IRS determination letter issued within the last six months. Organizations outside the U.S. need IRS 501(c) status through a U.S. branch. Fiscally sponsored projects are in a pilot program.