Unfunded List
Unfunded List is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides twice-yearly expert feedback reviews of unfunded grant proposals through a global committee of 1,500+ volunteer evaluators, serving small and mid-sized nonprofits, social impact startups, and grantseekers across 80+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Unfunded List does
Unfunded List is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Dave Moss and headquartered in Waterville, Maine. Its core service is a twice-yearly grant proposal review cycle, in which organizations submit unfunded proposals online and receive comprehensive, multi-perspective written feedback reports from a global evaluation committee of more than 1,500 volunteer grants professionals, nonprofit executives, funders, and subject-matter experts. Selected proposals are spotlighted in the semi-annual "Unfunded List" publication, which is shared with foundations and philanthropists to facilitate funding introductions. The organization also operates the Open Door Philanthropy and Wine Grants podcasts, hosts evaluator summits and symposia (including the Symposium for Inclusive Philanthropy and Unfunded University), and maintains an educational content library.
The underlying platform is a proprietary evaluation and feedback system designed to assign multiple reviewers per proposal, aggregate structured feedback, and generate applicant-facing reports. The review model has produced documented outcomes: more than 1,500 proposals reviewed across 80+ countries since inception, with 87% of reviewed groups raising additional funds within five years and an average 215% increase in funds raised. Partnerships with George Washington University, MIT Solve, Spur Local, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, Maine Association of Nonprofits, Nexus Global, and KujaLink extend evaluator reach and pipeline diversity.
Revenue mechanics are deliberately low-friction to maximize accessibility. Organizations pay a one-time $100 administrative fee for their first submission; subsequent submissions are free. Fees cover only a portion of review cost, with the balance funded by donations accepted year-round. The organization operates with 1–10 paid staff, supplemented by the unpaid evaluator volunteer base. It is governed by a board chaired by Margaret Chapman, with Dave Moss serving as Founder/Ex Officio. Distribution is entirely self-serve through the website submission portal, with no sales motion; demand generation is content-led via podcasts, articles, social media, and events.
Unfunded List firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unfunded List
- Legal name
- Unfunded List, Inc.
- Website
- https://unfundedlist.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Unfunded List is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides twice-yearly expert feedback reviews of unfunded grant proposals through a global committee of 1,500+ volunteer evaluators, serving small and mid-sized nonprofits, social impact startups, and grantseekers across 80+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unfunded List industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropy Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where Unfunded List is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unfunded List business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Administrative Fees: One-time $100 administrative fee for first proposal submission. Future submissions are free of charge for returning organizations.
- Donations: Unfunded List is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies on donations from supporters to fund operations. Donations are accepted year-round.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | First Proposal Review |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Unfunded List product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unfunded List is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides rigorous, multi-reviewer feedback on grant proposals that have been rejected or unfunded. Organizations submit proposals during twice-yearly review cycles (typically March and September deadlines) and receive detailed written feedback reports from a committee of 1,500+ volunteer grants professionals. A $100 one-time administrative fee is charged for the first proposal; subsequent submissions are free, with the remainder of review costs funded by donations.
Product overview
Unfunded List is a nonprofit organization operating as a single integrated service rather than a platform architecture. Its core offering is a grant proposal review and feedback service, supplemented by the semi-annual "Unfunded List" publication that spotlights top unfunded proposals. The organization also produces the Open Door Philanthropy and Wine Grants podcasts, hosts educational events and symposia, and maintains a global evaluator committee of over 1,500 philanthropy professionals. All offerings support the mission of educating the public about philanthropy and providing feedback to unfunded grant proposals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Open Door Philanthropy: A podcast featuring long-form conversations with influential philanthropists about giving, funding trends, and nonprofit innovation.
- Wine Grants
Products and services
- Grant Proposal Review and Feedback Service Twice-yearly independent review of grant proposals by a committee of 1,500+ philanthropy professionals, providing detailed written feedback reports with multiple reviewer perspectives. A $100 one-time administrative fee is charged for an organization's first proposal; future submissions are free. Designed for nonprofits, NGOs, and social impact organizations seeking feedback on rejected or unfunded proposals.
- The Unfunded List (Semi-Annual Publication) Semi-annual publication spotlighting the best unfunded grant proposals, shared with a network of foundations and philanthropists to facilitate funding connections for reviewed organizations.
- Open Door Philanthropy Podcast Long-form interview podcast featuring conversations with influential philanthropists and nonprofit leaders about giving, funding trends, and nonprofit innovation. Hosted by Margaret Chapman.
- Wine Grants Podcast Podcast series gathering philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for discussions about philanthropy and social impact.
Quantifiable outcome
- 87% of reviewed groups raising more money within five years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Unfunded List
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Unfunded List technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Unfunded List partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dental Trade Alliance FoundationcoreExpanded partnership with Dental Trade Alliance Foundation recognized as critical for improving sectoral impact, administrative efficiency, and quality of feedback. Collaboration increases diversity and volume of proposals and evaluators.
- Maine Association of NonprofitsminorPartnership expanded to increase diversity and volume of proposals and evaluators in the nonprofit sector.
- KujaLinkminorProduced grant proposal training sessions with KujaLink partners, enhancing educational content for grantseekers.
- Spur LocalcorePartnership with Spur Local (formerly Catalogue for Philanthropy DC), a DMV-based nonprofit focused on building equitable communities by connecting organizations with donors and providing nonprofit management trainings. Co-hosted Reviewers United training event in March 2025.
- George Washington UniversitycoreAcademic partnership for events including Evaluator Summit 2018 and Unfunded University. Faculty members serve on evaluation committee.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreMIT Solve partnership including co-reviewing program to create more inclusive philanthropy. Evaluation committee includes MIT-affiliated experts.
- Nexus GlobalminorPartnership with Nexus Global for youth philanthropy summits and Giving Stories content. Several evaluation committee members are Nexus alumni.
- Next Gen Giving CircleminorPartnership for opportunities to improve philanthropy through feedback to funders and proposal authors.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Unfunded List competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Unfunded List social profiles
Digital presenceUnfunded List financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unfunded List leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Unfunded List funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unfunded List M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unfunded List
What does Unfunded List do?
Unfunded List is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides rigorous, multi-reviewer feedback on grant proposals that have been rejected or unfunded. Organizations submit proposals during twice-yearly review cycles (typically March and September deadlines) and receive detailed written feedback reports from a committee of 1,500+ volunteer grants professionals. A $100 one-time administrative fee is charged for the first proposal; subsequent submissions are free, with the remainder of review costs funded by donations.
Is Unfunded List a public or private company?
Unfunded List is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Unfunded List founded?
Unfunded List was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Unfunded List based?
Unfunded List is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Unfunded List make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Administrative Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations.
Does Unfunded List have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unfunded List.
What industry is Unfunded List in?
Unfunded List's product category is Philanthropy Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 81321.