General Operating Grants: How to Find Them Fast

General Operating Support (GOS) grants are the lifeblood of nonprofit sustainability. Unlike restricted funding, which is tied to specific programs or initiatives, GOS grants allow nonprofits to allocate funds where they’re needed most.

This could include expenses like:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Infrastructure
• Salaries
• Launching new initiatives
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“If you’re part of a nonprofit organization, you know how important it is to secure funding for your overall operations rather than just specific projects. General operating grants provide the stability and flexibility necessary to allocate funds where needed. — Rachel Grusin, Project Coordinator for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego

These unrestricted funds are critical for advancing equity and strengthening nonprofits. General operating support enables organizations to address systemic challenges, respond quickly to emerging needs, and focus on achieving long-term goals.

While program-specific grants dominate the funding landscape, over 13,000 general operating grants are available in the United States.

Now that you know what GOS grants are and why they’re essential for nonprofits, we’ll share how you can find these unicorn grants.

Finding general operating grants can feel overwhelming at first, but using the right tools and strategies can simplify the process. Below, we’ll break down the steps you need to take to discover the best general operating grants for your nonprofit.

Step 1: Set Up a Search With a Focus on General Operating Support

To start finding general operating support grants, begin by signing up for Instrumentl’s 14-day free trial. Head to the Instrumentl website, click “Try 14 Days Free”, and complete the sign-up form.

Good news: there’s no credit card required!

Once you’re signed into the platform, you’ll be asked to create a new project, which is essentially just a saved search that will help match you with the most relevant grants.

In the Organization section, you’ll provide details about your nonprofit, including your organization’s location and fiscal year.

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In addition to selecting the state in which your nonprofit is located, you can also select the specific counties that your nonprofit serves. This will ensure that Instrumentl filters out grants that are not relevant to your service territory.

Next, you’ll provide Instrumentl with an overview of your project. Choose a title for your project relevant to your search—for example, General Operating Support Grants.

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Make sure to select “Matches & Tracking” so that Instrumentl sets you up with both a grant tracker and active funding opportunity matches.

Finally, in the last section, Matches Setup, you’ll tell Instrumentl what types of grants you’re looking for. This is the most important step when you’re searching for general operating support grants!

You’ll be prompted to specify:

• What type of organization you represent.
• Your geographic location based on your organization’s service territory.
• The minimum or maximum size for the grants you’d like to be matched with.
• Your organization’s focus area or field of work to make sure that you get grant matches aligned with your mission. (Pro Tip: We recommend choosing 2-5 fields of work to ensure a broad yet targeted approach for finding good-fit funding matches.)
• What you will use the grant funds for.

When selecting what you will use the grant funds for, make sure to check the box that says “General Operating Expense”.

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This will ensure you’re matched with unrestricted grants that allow you the flexibility to use funds for the things your nonprofit needs.

When you’re done, click “Save and Exit”. Voila! Instrumentl will then search its database to match you with a list of general operating grants that align with your search criteria.

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Step 2: Review Your Matches for Good-Fit General Operating Support Grants

Once you’ve followed the above steps to set up your search in Instrumentl, you’ll receive a curated list of funders and opportunities offering general operating support.

The next step is to review these matches to identify the most promising options for your nonprofit. Instrumentl’s dashboard simplifies this process by displaying detailed information for each opportunity.

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Review and Understand Your Matches

Instrumentl’s grant matches resemble an email inbox. Matches are on the left, and when you click on one, the details will appear on the right.

On the left side, you’ll see two kinds of matches:

• Funding Opportunity Matches are individual active grants.
• Funder Matches are funders who match your search criteria.

Evaluate Opportunities

Not all matches in your list will be 100% relevant to your nonprofit. You can review the details of each opportunity to determine if it’s a good fit, and you can also sort and filter your results.

To view more information about an opportunity, simply click on a match, and you’ll be able to see details such as:

• Grant amount
• Deadlines
• Funder priorities.

You can also use the “View 990 Report” feature to see insights into the funder’s financial history, past recipients, and openness to new grantees.

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Refine Your List

To further narrow things down, you can filter your results by:

• Field of Work
• Funding Use
• Location of Project
• Past Giving

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This will help you focus on funders and grants that align closely with your nonprofit's needs.

By strategically reviewing and refining your matches, you’ll create a prioritized list of funders and opportunities that best suit what your organization is looking for.

Step 3: Save Your General Operating Grants

Once you’ve identified the best general operating support grants for your nonprofit, the next step is to save and track these opportunities in Instrumentl. This will help you:

• Stay organized,
• Monitor deadlines,
• And manage your grant applications efficiently.

Here’s how to save and track your grants with Instrumentl:

Save Grants From Your Matches‍

As you review opportunities in your dashboard, click the “Save” button to add a grant to your tracker. This keeps all your potential funding opportunities in one place for easy access.

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Pro Tip: Use the “Opportunity Notes” section to record important details you want your team to see, such as “This may be a great fit for GOS” or “This looks promising but needs more research.”

Organize Saved Grants in the Tracker‍

You can access all of your saved grants through Instrumentl’s grant tracker. This tool allows you to categorize opportunities by status, such as “Research,” “Submitted,” or “Awarded.” Keeping everything updated ensures you always know where you stand with each opportunity and nothing falls through the cracks.

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Monitor Deadlines and Plan Ahead

Use the tracker to stay on top of application deadlines and submission dates. Instrumentl’s system makes it easy to schedule reminders, assign tasks, and avoid missing important deadlines.

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Here’s the best part—if a funder changes a deadline or a focus area, Instrumentl will notify you via email to ensure you always have the most up-to-date information!

By saving and organizing your grants within Instrumentl, you’ll ensure no opportunity is overlooked so you can streamline the entire grant application process. Once your grants are saved and tracked, you can confidently prepare winning proposals.

Securing GOS grants can be highly competitive, but expert advice can help give your proposals an edge. Here are some key strategies from seasoned professionals to help you win these vital funding opportunities.

Show Your Path to Sustainability

Funders want assurance that their support will help your organization thrive, not create dependence on their contributions. Nonprofit.Courses CEO Matt Hugg emphasizes the importance of demonstrating how their grant will enable you to diversify your revenue streams and build a more sustainable model:
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“Show your path to non-dependency on them, or any single funding source. Let them see that in parallel with carrying out the program they’re funding, you’ll be building funding programs and relationships that will ween you off their grant and diversify your revenue.” —Matt Hugg

Emphasize Flexibility and Adaptability

GOS grants are intended to provide nonprofits with the flexibility to respond to challenges and seize opportunities. Jacob Chase, CEO at Chase Consulting Solutions, encourages nonprofits to highlight specific examples where their organization could use unrestricted funding to address changing circumstances or emerging needs.
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“Demonstrate to the grantmaker how general operating support allows your organization the flexibility to respond to changing needs and opportunities. Showcase adaptability and the ability to address emerging challenges.” —Jacob Chase

Build Strong Relationships With Funders

As with most grant funding, trust is the foundation of general operating support grants. It’s important to engage with funders proactively, keep them informed about your progress, and keep the lines of communication open. Rachel Grusin, Grant Writer for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, shares her advice:
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“First off, building strong relationships with your funders is key. These grants usually come from funders who trust the organizations they support. So, engage with them, understand their interests, and keep them updated on your organization’s effectiveness. Funders need to know that their support is going to a capable team.” —Rachel Grusin

Navigating general operating support grants can be challenging. Don’t worry! We’re here to help.

Keep reading for the answers to five commonly asked questions to help you better understand and pursue these funding opportunities.

1. Is General Operating Support Unrestricted?

Yes!

General operating support is unrestricted funding. Unlike program or project-specific grants, GOS grants allow nonprofits to allocate funds where they’re needed most. This could include covering salaries, rent, utilities, or other essential expenses that help ensure your organization’s overall sustainability.

2. Why Do Funders Prefer Program Grants?

Many funders prefer program grants because they allow for easier measurement of outcomes and impact.

Restricted grants are tied to specific projects or programs, making it straightforward to track how funds are used and the results achieved. However, this preference can sometimes limit a nonprofit’s ability to address broader operational needs.

3. What Are Examples of General Operating Support?

General operating support grants provide unrestricted funding to nonprofits that can be used for the following:

• Staff salaries and benefits
• Rent
• Utilities
• Technology upgrades
• Training and professional development
• Capital expenses, such as building renovations or upgrades
• Day-to-day operational expenses

General operating support grants provide the resources that nonprofits need to thrive and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring they can focus on their mission without financial constraints.

4. How Do You Ask for General Operating Support?

When requesting general operating support, emphasize how the funding will enable your nonprofit to achieve its mission more effectively. Highlight your organization’s impact, share specific examples of how unrestricted funding has helped in the past, and communicate your plans for sustainability. Building trust with funders through transparency and strong relationships is also critical.

For more tips, check out our resource: How to Win General Operating Support According To 7 Grant Consultants.

5. What Is the Difference Between GOS, Project Support, Capacity-Building Support, and Capital Support?

We get it—all the different types of ‘support’ can be confusing! Here’s a breakdown of the differences.

• General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding that can be used for any organizational need.
• Project Support: Restricted funding tied to a specific program or initiative.
• Capacity-Building Support: Funding that helps strengthen the organization’s infrastructure, such as training and leadership development or technology improvements.
• Capital Support: Funding for physical assets, such as buildings, renovations, or major equipment purchases.

Understanding these distinctions will help your nonprofit better align its funding needs with the right opportunities.

General operating grants are a game-changer for nonprofits, offering flexible, unrestricted funding that can be used to cover essential expenses and sustain your mission. While these grants are highly sought after, finding the right opportunities doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be equipped to identify and secure general operating support grants efficiently:

1. Get Matched With Only GOS Grants: Use Instrumentl to narrow your search to focus exclusively on unrestricted funding opportunities.
2. Review Good-Fit Funding Matches: Evaluate potential grants and funders and prioritize opportunities that align with your mission and needs.
3. Save and Track Your GOS Grants: Organize your shortlisted grants in Instrumentl’s grant tracker to stay on top of deadlines and manage applications seamlessly.

Sign up for your 14-day free trial of Instrumentl today to get started on your search for unrestricted funding!