MCP Tool Reference
What the FundingLandscape MCP tool can do, what each function does, and how to get the most out of it.
Overview
When you connect FundingLandscape to Claude (or another MCP-compatible assistant), it gets access to our database of 22k+ verified, currently-open funding opportunities from 166+ sources.
If you're seeing Claude call functions like search_grants_and_procurement or find_similar, this guide explains what's happening.
Search Functions
These query the database and count against your monthly search limit.
search_grants_and_procurement
Searches both government grants and federal contracts (SAM.gov) in one call. For focused searches, use batch_search_grantsplus (grants) or batch_search_procurement (contracts).
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| query | string | Natural language description |
| category | string | Grant, Contract, Research, Healthcare, Technology, etc. |
| organization_type | string | nonprofit, small_business, university, government |
| location | string | State code ("OH") or "nationwide" |
| deadline_within_days | number | Only show opportunities closing within X days |
| min_amount | number | Minimum award amount in dollars |
| max_amount | number | Maximum award amount in dollars |
| limit | number | Max results (default: 10) |
| compact | boolean | Return condensed results (default: true). Reduces tokens by ~78%. Use get_opportunity for full details. |
search_foundations
Searches private and philanthropic foundations based on their historical giving. Free tier: 1 result per search.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| query | string | What the foundation funds |
| states | array | Filter by state: ["CA", "NY"] |
| min_annual_giving | number | Minimum annual giving in dollars |
find_similar
Finds opportunities similar to one you've already found. Uses vector similarity to find related programs.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| opportunity_id | string | The ID of the opportunity to match against (required) |
| limit | number | Max results (default: 5) |
deadline_calendar
Returns opportunities organized by upcoming deadline. Good for seeing what's closing soon.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| weeks | number | How many weeks ahead to show (default: 4) |
| category | string | Filter by category |
batch_search_procurement
Plus/Pro onlyDeep-dive search for federal contracts (SAM.gov). Run 2-5 targeted searches in parallel, deduplicate results, and return ALL unique matches. Supports full SAM.gov filters including set-asides and place of performance. Counts as 1 search call.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| queries | array | 2-5 search queries to run in parallel |
| max_results | number | Results to return (default: 10, no cap) |
| offset | number | Skip N results for pagination (default: 0) |
| detail_level | string | minimal, compact (default), or full |
| user_context | object | organization_type, location, naics_codes |
| sam_filters | object | department, set_aside, pop_state, pop_city, etc. |
batch_search_grantsplus
Plus/Pro onlyDeep-dive search for grants and foundations. Run 2-5 targeted searches in parallel, deduplicate results, and return ALL unique matches. Optionally includes private foundation search. Counts as 1 search call.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| queries | array | 2-5 search queries to run in parallel |
| max_results | number | Results to return (default: 10, no cap) |
| offset | number | Skip N results for pagination (default: 0) |
| detail_level | string | minimal, compact (default), or full |
| include_foundations | boolean | Also search private foundations (default: false) |
| user_context | object | organization_type, location |
| grants_filters | object | agency_code, cfda (grants.gov filters) |
Utility Functions (Unlimited)
These don't count against your search limit. Use them as much as you want.
get_opportunity
Get full details for a specific opportunity by ID. Use this to dive deeper into any result.
get_categories
List all funding categories with counts. Useful for understanding what types of opportunities are available.
get_account_status
Check your plan, usage this period, and remaining searches. Always free.
get_foundation
Get complete details on a single foundation by EIN, including financials and grant history.
report_feedback
Report data issues, bugs, or suggestions. Actions: bug, data_issue, irrelevant, praise, feature_request.
check_connection
Verify the MCP server is reachable. No database calls, instant response. Use this first if experiencing connection errors.
get_tool_guide
Get comprehensive usage guide for all tools. Topics: overview, search, foundations, batch, filters, workflows, or all. Call this first to understand optimal workflows and best practices.
Saved Searches & Alerts
Save your searches and get notified when new matching opportunities are added. These tools don't count against your search quota.
Requires subscription: Plus plan includes 5 saved searches with weekly alerts. Pro plan includes 25 saved searches with daily or weekly alerts.
list_saved_searches
View all your saved searches and their alert settings.
save_search
Save a search to receive email alerts when new matching opportunities are found.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| query | string | The search query to save (required) |
| name | string | Optional friendly name |
| cadence | string | weekly (all plans), daily (Pro only), or never |
| filters | object | Advanced filtering (see below) |
| hidelow | boolean | Hide low-quality results from alerts |
Advanced Filter Options
Pass these inside the filters object to narrow alerts to specific criteria. All are optional.
update_saved_search
Change the name, alert frequency, or email settings for a saved search.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | number | ID of the saved search (required) |
| name | string | New name |
| cadence | string | New alert frequency |
| emailEnabled | boolean | Turn email alerts on/off |
delete_saved_search
Remove a saved search. Use this to free up a slot for a new search.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | number | ID of the saved search to delete |
How Usage Counting Works
What counts as a search?
Counts against limit
- ●search_grants_and_procurement
- ●search_foundations
- ●find_similar
- ●deadline_calendar
- ●batch_search_procurement *
- ●batch_search_grantsplus *
* Plus/Pro only (counts as 1 call for all parallel searches)
Always unlimited
- ●get_opportunity
- ●get_categories
- ●get_account_status
- ●get_foundation
- ●report_feedback
- ●check_connection
- ●save_search *
- ●list_saved_searches *
* Requires Plus or Pro subscription
Why this distinction? Searches hit the database and compute relevance scores. Viewing details just fetches one record. We want you to explore freely once you've found something interesting.
Monthly limits by plan
| Plan | Searches/month | Results per search |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Unlimited | 1 (closest deadline) |
| Plus ($29/mo) | 50 | Up to 100 |
| Pro ($79/mo) | 1,000 | Up to 100 |
Search Packs: Need more searches? Buy a pack for $5 = 50 searches. They never expire and work with any paid plan.
Tips for Better Results
- Be specific with your query. Instead of "grants", try "grants for environmental education nonprofits in rural areas."
- Use the filters. If you only want grants over $50k, say so. If you need something closing soon, mention "within 30 days."
- Ask follow-up questions. The AI remembers context. After your first search, you can say "show me more like #2" or "filter to just the ones for nonprofits."
- Check your usage anytime. Ask Claude "check my FundingLandscape account status" to see your remaining searches.
See How the AI Approaches Complex Searches
A behind-the-scenes look at how Claude or ChatGPT thinks through your funding requests
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See How the AI Approaches Complex Searches
A behind-the-scenes look at how Claude or ChatGPT thinks through your funding requests
Example prompt:
"We manufacture commercial HVAC systems and are looking for R&D funding opportunities to develop next-gen heat pump technology. We're a small business in Massachusetts."
The AI's thinking process:
Multi-angle search strategy
"I'll search for 'heat pump R&D grants', but also think about related terms like 'energy efficiency', 'HVAC innovation', and 'decarbonization' since funders might use different terminology."
Exclusion logic
"I need to filter out generic equipment procurement contracts — those are for buying HVAC, not developing it. The user wants R&D funding, not sales opportunities."
Eligibility awareness
"They're a Massachusetts small business, so I'll look for federal programs with small business set-asides, plus state programs from MassCEC and other regional energy authorities."
Source awareness
"For clean energy R&D, I know the best sources are likely DOE, ARPA-E, and state energy offices. I should check if there are relevant FOAs or BAAs from these agencies."
Quality filtering
"I'll prioritize currently-open opportunities with clear deadlines, and flag any forecasted opportunities that might be worth watching."
Result: The AI runs targeted searches, filters out irrelevant procurement contracts, and returns a curated list of actual R&D funding opportunities — not just keyword matches.
Common Issues
"No results found"
- • Try broader search terms
- • Remove filters one at a time
- • Check if your organization type is too restrictive
"Search limit reached"
- • Buy a Search Pack ($5 = 50 searches) from pricing
- • Or upgrade your plan for more monthly searches
- • You can still view opportunity details and browse categories
"Data seems wrong"
- • Tell Claude "report this as a data issue" with details
- • We review all feedback and fix data problems
"Resource not found" or connection errors
If you see errors like "Resource not found", "Connection failed", or the AI says it can't access FundingLandscape, try these steps:
- Ask the AI to run check_connection - This confirms the server is reachable without hitting the database
- If check_connection fails: The server may be temporarily down. Wait a minute and try again.
- If check_connection works but searches fail: Ask the AI to try a simple search like "search for technology grants"
- Still not working? Disconnect and reconnect the FundingLandscape integration in your AI's settings
Self-healing prompt:
"Run check_connection to verify the FundingLandscape server is reachable, then try a simple search."
"Authentication required" or sign-in loops
- • Ask the AI to run
sign_in- this triggers the OAuth flow - • If you keep getting prompted, check that you completed the sign-in in your browser
- • Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration
Questions? [email protected]