Frank van der Most
- @Frank_van_der_Most
- | He, him
RubberBootsData
This article is a growing list of all known databases relating to funding and finance. Leave a comment if there's a database not yet listed here!
Please note:
Each database contains different possibilities for searching or filtering.
- Some offer alert services and additional services, usually for a fee.
- Finding suitable funding opportunities within a given database may still constitute a substantial amount of work. This is because much depends on the particulars put in place by the sponsor/investor. Think of eligibility criteria, project requirements, review, granting and reporting processes. These particulars may differ per sponsor, per funding program and/or per call for applications. To get an idea, see Choosing a Grant Database Based on Your Needs and Budget.
- These are the databases that we know of. Their listing here does not constitute an endorsement or assessment of their quality.
- All information provided 'as is'. Investigate closely if the service will deliver what you are looking for.
- See also the list of crowdfunding platforms and similar marketplaces where you can present your project to potential funders or investors
Name and link | Access | Description | Size |
Free | A database with public and private funding opportunities that cover biodiversity conservation. It includes not just grants, but also loans, guarantees, equity and other types of finance. | 330 | |
Paid | A database of (mostly ) USA based funding sources. It is not specified but it probably covers all areas of grantmaking. | 306000 | |
| Environmental Funders Network, Funding opportunities database | Free | A spread sheet, ( published in October 2024 ) with opportunities about half for the UK, about half for the rest of the world. | 261 |
Partly free | World wide funding sources for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. The database covers many topics including agriculture, nature conservation, climate change, and science and technology. | ? | |
| Funds Online | Paid | Funding sources in the UK and EU, covering a range of topics including environment and research. | 8000 |
Free | A database of USA based funding sources, which can be used to view and write reviews of funding sources. Funding sources can be found primarily based on their name and state. | ? | |
Paid | Find grants from UK sources in environment, and R&D, but also arts & culture, transport, community development and much more. Possibly, most funding sources focus on the UK. | ? | |
| GrantsOnline | Paid | Grants for UK based entities, covering many topics including environment. | ? |
Paid | A database of (mostly ) USA and Canada based funding sources. It is not specified but it probably covers all areas of grantmaking. | ? | |
| GrantWatch | Paid | A database of (mostly ) USA and Canada based funding sources, covering many topics including environment and conservation. | ? |
| Inside Philanthropy | Partly free | A database of USA based funding sources, covering many topics, including animals & wildlife, climate & energy, environmental conservation, marine & freshwater, and sustainable agriculture. Searching for grants is a paid service, but each of the topics has a free overview page characterizing the topic and listing the main funders. | ? |
| Instrumentl | Paid | A database of USA based funding sources, covering many topics, including wildlife, preservation, organic farming and agriculture, marine, land conservation, environment, fisheries and climate change. | |
Free | Public and private sector funders and investors in wetlands conservation, wise use and restoration | 134 | |
| Restor | Partly free | Platform to show your restoration projects, find collaborators, funding and more. | 108 |
| Sustainable Finance Coalition Inventory | Free but signup required | Helps understanding the basics of sustainable finance for nature and the different types of finance solutions, provides examples and related organizations. | ? |
Partly free | A database on grants for projects in agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in developing countries. | 800 |
One may wonder why the USA and UK based funders are so well covered. Not only do these countries have many funders and fund seekers, but they also have public ( tax ) databases that, with some programming, can be mined.
5 September 2024 5:59pm
Restor has a funding opps page for nature restoration projects! You have to make an account to access it, but it's free to do so!
The list gets continuously updated, there are usually 200-300 in there at any given time.
Frank van der Most
RubberBootsData
5 September 2024 6:52pm
In reply to carlybatist
5 September 2024 5:59pm
Restor has a funding opps page for nature restoration projects! You have to make an account to access it, but it's free to do so!
The list gets continuously updated, there are usually 200-300 in there at any given time.
Read "Funding opportunities for nature restoration projects | Restor" on Restor
Thank you so much, @carlybatist !
I just added it to the list
22 August 2025 1:51pm
Hi WildLabs Funding and Financing Group. Great to see this initiative. The Sustainable Finance Coalition hosts an online knowledge hub called the Finance Solution Inventory, which may be helpful to the conservation community in understanding the basics of sustainable finance for nature and the different types of finance solutions (carbon and biodiv credits, outcomes funds, impact bonds etc). Data and information is so critical for verification and accountability for investors and I would be interested in learning more about how the community are thinking about this. @Frank_van_der_Most I noted you mentioning this in the webinar in May.
Frank van der Most
RubberBootsData
1 September 2025 2:52pm
22 August 2025 1:51pm
Hi WildLabs Funding and Financing Group. Great to see this initiative. The Sustainable Finance Coalition hosts an online knowledge hub called the Finance Solution Inventory, which may be helpful to the conservation community in understanding the basics of sustainable finance for nature and the different types of finance solutions (carbon and biodiv credits, outcomes funds, impact bonds etc). Data and information is so critical for verification and accountability for investors and I would be interested in learning more about how the community are thinking about this. @Frank_van_der_Most I noted you mentioning this in the webinar in May.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I just added it to the list and as another comment to another resource page. You should see a notification about it.
Sorry for my late reply. I have been on holidays.
Carly Batist