Does Foundation Directory Online Still Exist? The 2026 Status
Foundation Directory Online is gone as a live product. This guide gives the dated 2026 timeline, what replaced it, and what former subscribers can still open for free.
Last updated: October 2026
Foundation Directory Online does not still exist as a product. If you used it to find funders, the bookmark you saved now opens a Candid page, Candid's own terms list the service as discontinued, and the search you used carries a new name, Candid search.
The switch happened in steps, and each step left a dated record in a Candid announcement or a library notice. A former subscriber still has free ways to read funder data while deciding whether a current plan is worth paying for.
Quick Answer: Does Foundation Directory Online Still Exist?
No. Foundation Directory Online is no longer a live product. Candid launched its replacement, Candid search, on January 15, 2026 (Candid press release, January 15, 2026), and the old platform was retired during 2026. Candid's subscriber terms now list Foundation Directory Online as discontinued, and its old web address opens a Candid page pointing to Candid search.
Does Foundation Directory Online Still Exist for Former Subscribers
No. Foundation Directory Online does not exist as a product you can log in to or buy. Candid lists "Foundation Directory Online (discontinued)" among the services covered by its terms (Candid Subscriber License Agreement, read September 2026). The old platform was retired during 2026 (Rutgers University Libraries, July 20, 2026), and Candid search took its place (Candid press release, January 15, 2026).
Foundation Directory Online was the subscription database grant seekers used to research funders and their grants. Candid search is a unified platform that combines nonprofit and funder data in one place. Candid describes the launch as "Marking the culmination of the 2019 merger that created Candid" (Candid press release, January 15, 2026). Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged (Candid press release, January 15, 2026).
That distinction decides what you can expect. A discontinued product has no current tiers and no support queue that treats it as live, while the replacement carries its own accounts, plans and limits.
What Happened to Foundation Directory Online During 2026
Candid moved Foundation Directory users to one platform in dated steps. After the January 15 launch, Candid's January 20, 2026 blog post announced "the full launch of Candid search" bringing GuideStar and Foundation Directory capabilities onto one platform (Candid blog, January 20, 2026). In the same post Candid said it "will begin transitioning legacy Foundation Directory users", including Foundation Maps and 990 Finder users, "to Candid search" (Candid blog, January 20, 2026).
The old product's siblings went with it. Candid's Subscriber License Agreement lists Foundation Directory Online Quick Start, Grants to Individuals, Foundation Maps, GuideStar Pro and Charity Check as discontinued alongside Foundation Directory Online (Candid Subscriber License Agreement, read September 2026). A login to any of them is a login to a retired service.
For prospect research, the practical point is that every current login and plan now belongs to Candid search. If your team is rebuilding its method as well as its tools, the guide to researching grant funders sets out the research process that the tool change sits inside.
Why the Old Name Still Shows Up
Old guides, course slides and library pages still name the old product. Some pages were updated. Some were not. Villanova's Falvey Library wrote on May 6, 2026 that "The previously available filters in Guidestar and Foundation Directory have been folded into Candid" and that "Online help documentation has not yet been updated" (Villanova University Falvey Library, May 6, 2026).
Old pages can outlive a product in search results, so a result with the old name does not mean the old login works. Check the date on any page that tells you to sign in to the old system.
When Foundation Directory Online Stopped Working
The shutdown came in stages, and the dates that survive come from Candid and from library notices. Candid search was released to library and partner users effective April 21, 2026, according to the Texas A&M University-Texarkana library guide, which states "Foundation Directory and GuideStar have transitioned to Candid Search, effective April 21, 2026" (Texas A&M University-Texarkana Libraries, August 31, 2026). The Dauphin County Library System wrote that "On April 21, 2026, Candid completed this work and released Candid search," combining FDO and GuideStar into a single resource (Dauphin County Library System, June 1, 2026).
Rutgers University Libraries posted that "The old platform, Foundation Directory, remains available but will be fully retired as of July 20, 2026" (Rutgers University Libraries, July 20, 2026). That is one institution's notice, not a Candid statement.
Library records from the summer show the new name in place. The University of Delaware library catalog records the database title change as "Foundation Directory Online - Professional (TITLE CHANGED TO 'CANDID,' JUNE 2026)" (University of Delaware Library, read September 2026). Hedberg Public Library announced on July 30, 2026 that "Foundation Directory & Guidestar Are Now Candid" and that the databases are "Now combined into one database" (Hedberg Public Library, July 30, 2026).
The dated points run in this order, each in the wording of the notice that recorded it.
| Period | What Candid or a library recorded | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Candid launched Candid search as the culmination of the 2019 merger that created Candid | Candid press release |
| January 2026 | Candid announced the full launch bringing GuideStar and Foundation Directory capabilities onto one platform | Candid blog |
| February 2026 | The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported a major reorganization, 42 layoffs (about one-fifth of the work force) and the end of a newsletter and a job site | Chronicle of Philanthropy |
| April 2026 | Candid search was released to library and partner users effective April 21, 2026 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana Libraries |
| June 2026 | Candid leadership wrote that integration work culminated in January with the new unified flagship product | Candid blog |
| June 2026 | A university library catalog recorded the title change to Candid | University of Delaware Library |
| July 2026 | Candid announced free access through over 2,180 locations across the United States | Candid blog |
| July 2026 | One university library said the old platform would be fully retired as of July 20, 2026 | Rutgers University Libraries |
Source: Candid press release, January 15, 2026; Candid blog, January 20, June 10 and July 15, 2026; Chronicle of Philanthropy, February 12, 2026; Texas A&M University-Texarkana Libraries, August 31, 2026; University of Delaware Library, read September 2026; Rutgers University Libraries, July 20, 2026.
Grant writers on Reddit said "I miss FDO" and "Foundation Directory was incredible. Operative word: was" across four separate threads (Reddit threads 1wcw9yl, 1vb5ctu, 1ur2eou and 1sewng0, read September 2026). Those are user reports, not vendor statements, and they show how some former users took the change.
What Replaced Foundation Directory Online
Candid search replaced it. Candid search holds the Foundation Directory's funder and grants data and GuideStar's nonprofit data behind a single login (Candid blog, January 20, 2026), so the funder research that used to sit in its own product now shares a search with nonprofit profiles.
The new product merges two histories. GuideStar held nonprofit profiles and transparency seals. The directory held funder profiles and grants records. The launch press release states the platform consolidates "data on 1.9 million organizations, 3 million annual grant transactions, and $180 billion in annual grant dollars" (Candid press release, January 15, 2026). Candid's own product page states Candid search covers "1.9M+ nonprofit profiles", "304k+ funder profiles" and "29M+ grants" (Candid search product page, read September 2026).
Paid access now sits under two plan names. Candid's help center states "Candid search offers two paid subscription plans: Candid Premium and Candid Ultimate" (Candid Learning, read September 2026). The retired paid ladder had four tiers, Essential, Professional, Premium and Ultimate (independent Substack write-up, December 15, 2025). Essential and Professional are gone, and the Premium and Ultimate names now belong to the new plans, at new prices.
Candid describes the fundraiser tools in Candid search as identifying grantmakers "based on funding priorities, geographic focus, issue areas, and populations served using one tool", plus peer benchmarking (Candid blog, January 20, 2026).
What Did Not Carry Over
Do not assume an old account came across intact. Candid said it would transition legacy Foundation Directory users to Candid search (Candid blog, January 20, 2026), but saved searches, alerts and exports from the old system are safest treated as gone unless you can see them inside your Candid account. If they are missing, rebuild the short list from current records.
What Happens When You Try an Old Foundation Directory Login Now
The old web address now opens a Candid page that points you to Candid search. The address fconline.foundationcenter.org serves a page reading "Check out the new Candid search to power your fundraising" (Candid, fconline.foundationcenter.org, read September 2026).
What you see depends on where the link starts. A bookmark to the old domain opens that Candid page. A link from a library or campus page either points to Candid search or sits beside a catalog note recording the title change to Candid, as the University of Delaware record does.
If the old password fails, use the current Candid login or password reset, or ask the library or colleague who holds the current subscription how access is issued now. Keep a record of what you tried. One grant writer reported on a public Facebook group in March 2026 that a December renewal "did not register to my profile", that premium features disappeared and that customer support was unreachable (Public Facebook group post, March 22, 2026). That is one user's account of one renewal, not a measure of support today.
If the link came from a course or a PDF, replace it. Material written before the switch names the retired ladder, and any price it quotes for a tier is a retired figure, even where the tier name, Premium or Ultimate, is still in use. Check the date on any price attached to a tier name before you budget from it.
Teams that share logins can store the current access path with their proposal files, the way a grant proposal library keeps reusable material in one place. One record names the tool, the login holder and the fallback route if the tool changes again.
What a Former Subscriber Can Still Open for Free
A former subscriber still has real options without paying. They are narrower than a full subscription.
Candid's free registered search covers single lookups. Candid states "Candid search is free for anyone who registers at candid.org" (Candid press release, January 15, 2026). Its free tier gives "One per Month" full profile views, limited search results, limited personalized dashboards, the ability to claim and update an organization profile and the ability to earn a Seal of Transparency (Candid pricing page, read September 2026). Candid also says core information, such as nonprofit profiles and IRS Forms 990, "remains accessible without registration or subscription" (Candid blog, January 20, 2026).
A small nonprofit can get a paid plan free for a year. Candid's Go for Gold promotion offers "a free year of access to 2 seats of Candid Premium" to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with annual revenue or expenses under $1M that earns a Gold Seal of Transparency or higher between January 5 and December 31, 2026, with the offer claimed by December 31, 2026 (Candid Learning, read September 2026). Candid says coupons "are for new subscribers only" and that a credit card is required to redeem them (Candid Learning, read September 2026), so a team that already holds a Candid subscription should not count on it. Partner locations are the in-person route: Candid said in July 2026 that its free access runs "through over 2,180 locations across the United States" (Candid blog, July 15, 2026).
Public tax filings cover much of the underlying data. Grantmakers.io is free and states "Research any US foundation in seconds. See their complete giving history, who they fund, and how much they give. Built from public 990s. Forever free." (Grantmakers.io, read September 2026). It covers Form 990-PF only, so community foundations, which file Form 990, do not appear there, and it applies an hourly search limit as a free community service (Grantmakers.io, read September 2026).
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer is free and "includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats", last updated August 20, 2026 (ProPublica, August 20, 2026). Candid's own free 990 route remains: "It's free to register for and try Candid search", and 990s "are available as far back as 2000" (Candid Learning, read September 2026). The guide to free substitutes for Foundation Directory compares these sources before you decide whether to buy.
Each common check has a free starting point and a limit to expect.
| Check | Free starting point | Limit to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Read a private foundation's 990-PF | Grantmakers.io | 990-PF filers only, with an hourly search limit |
| Read any nonprofit's full Form 990 | ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer | Data as of its last update, August 20, 2026 |
| Look up one funder or nonprofit profile | Candid search, free registration | One full profile view per month |
| Pull an older 990 through Candid | Candid search, free registration | 990s go back as far as 2000 |
| Get a year of Candid Premium | Go for Gold promotion | Under $1M revenue or expenses, a 2026 Gold Seal, new subscribers only |
Source: Grantmakers.io, read September 2026; ProPublica, August 20, 2026; Candid pricing page and Candid Learning, read September 2026.
For a former subscriber, the quickest rebuild starts from profiles that already exist. GrantCue publishes profile pages for more than 10,000 private foundations built from IRS 990-PF public filings, alongside live federal and state grant listings with AI fit scoring and a kanban pipeline (grantcue.com, September 2026). Look up the funders from your last Foundation Directory export on GrantCue's foundation pages before you pay for a new plan.
FAQ
Does Foundation Directory Online Still Exist?
No. Candid lists Foundation Directory Online as discontinued in its own terms (Candid Subscriber License Agreement, read September 2026), and Candid search, launched January 15, 2026, replaced it (Candid press release, January 15, 2026). The old web address opens a Candid page pointing to the new search. Former subscribers need a current Candid account or a free public-records route.
Is Foundation Directory Online Gone for Good?
Yes. Candid announced in January 2026 that it would move legacy Foundation Directory users to Candid search (Candid blog, January 20, 2026), and Rutgers University Libraries posted that the old platform would be fully retired as of July 20, 2026 (Rutgers University Libraries, July 20, 2026). A university library catalog records the title change to Candid, and the old domain now points visitors to the new search.
Can I Still Log In to Foundation Directory Online?
No. Foundation Directory Online is discontinued, and its old address, fconline.foundationcenter.org, now shows a Candid page pointing to Candid search (Candid, read September 2026). Sign in at candid.org instead. If an old password fails there, use Candid's password reset, or ask the colleague or library that holds your organization's current subscription how access is issued.
What Happened to My Foundation Directory Online Account?
The product it belonged to is discontinued (Candid Subscriber License Agreement, read September 2026). Candid said it would transition legacy Foundation Directory users to Candid search (Candid blog, January 20, 2026), so sign in there and check what came across. Treat any saved search or export you cannot see in the new account as gone, and rebuild the short list from current records.
Where Do I Go Now That Foundation Directory Online Is Gone?
Start with Candid's free registered search for single lookups, which allows one full profile view a month (Candid pricing page, read September 2026). Read 990-PF filings on Grantmakers.io (Grantmakers.io, read September 2026) and full 990 files on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (ProPublica, August 20, 2026). For paid prospecting, compare Candid's current plans on its pricing page instead of relying on old tier names.
How to Replace a Dead Foundation Directory Bookmark This Week
Delete the old bookmark first. Save the current Candid search login in its place. Keep one free filing source beside it for checks, such as ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (ProPublica, August 20, 2026).
Pull the last export you saved from the old system and put its date in the file name. Rebuild the active short list from current sources and drop funders whose guidelines no longer fit. Then set the rebuilt list beside the grants accepting applications now to see which of those funders have calls open now.