Is Northstar Toolkit really free?
Yes. Funder search, grant management, 990 data, grants feed, news and events, and nonprofit profiles are all free — no credit card, no trial period, no feature limitations. The only paid features are AI-powered tools (grant writing assistance, funder matching, AI analysis) because those cost us real money to run. Everything else is free, forever.
What do I get for free vs. what costs money?
Free: Search hundreds of thousands of foundations, manage grant applications, browse 990 data and nonprofit profiles, access daily grants and news feeds from hundreds of sources, and collaborate with your team. Paid (Pro): AI-assisted grant writing and drafting, AI-powered funder matching and analysis, AI-generated outlines and evidence sourcing. Pro starts at $79/month and includes 1,000 AI credits.
What is Northstar Toolkit?
Northstar Toolkit is professional nonprofit software that brings together funder and nonprofit research data, grant opportunity discovery, sector news and events, and AI-assisted grant writing tools. It's designed to be the one place where nonprofits manage their fundraising — from researching funders to writing and tracking grant applications.
What data is available in the funder and nonprofit database?
Our database includes profiles on hundreds of thousands of foundations and nonprofit organizations. Funder profiles include giving history, focus areas, geographic priorities, grant amounts, and data sourced from IRS 990 filings. Nonprofit profiles include financial data, mission information, and organizational details. All of this is free to search and browse.
How does the Grants Feed work?
The Grants Feed aggregates grant opportunities from hundreds of sources including Grants.gov, foundation websites, and state portals, updated daily. You can filter by focus area, geographic region, funding amount, and deadline. Each listing includes key details and links to the original application. The Grants Feed is completely free.
How does the AI grant writing work?
Our AI analyzes your organization profile, uploaded grant requirements, and your responses to planning questions to generate tailored drafts. Every claim is linked to evidence from your organizational data — no fabricated statistics. You maintain full editorial control. AI features require a Pro subscription, but you can set up your grant workspace and organize your application for free.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. You can create an account and start using all free features immediately — no credit card required. You only need payment information if you decide to upgrade to Pro for AI features.
Is my organization's data secure?
Yes. All your organization's information is stored securely with encryption. We share data only as outlined in our Privacy Policy, and you maintain full ownership of all content.
How long does it take to get started?
Minutes. Create an account, and you can start searching funders, browsing grant opportunities, and exploring 990 data immediately. For best results with grant writing, spend some time building your organization profile — the AI uses this to generate more relevant drafts.