There are 4 primary types of nonprofits: Public Charities, Social Advocacy Groups, Private Foundations, and Trade/Professional Organizations (such as cooperatives). All are eligible for varying grants; however, nonprofits registered as public charities are most commonly eligible. To find out if a specific nonprofit type is eligible for a grant, you must read the eligibility requirements for the grant you plan to pursue. You can find this information in the grant’s RFP and other instruction materials published by the funder. Local government and tribes can also be classified by funders as “not-for-profit” due to their governmental “public service” and taxation status.
