How we collect and explain public grant data.

Our data pipeline at a glance

We use a combination of automation (n8n), modern language models (Gemini), and a structured database (Supabase/PostgreSQL) to keep the directory current and readable:

1. Ingestion with n8n: we regularly fetch grant listings, notices, and updates from official sources, with a focus on trusted domains such as .gov and .org.
2. Plain-English summaries with Gemini: we use Gemini to rephrase dense program descriptions into clear, concise summaries written in everyday language.
3. Storage in Supabase: final records—including title, agency, amount, deadline, eligibility, purpose, and official URL—are stored in a structured Supabase database that powers the GrantPlain interface.

Source quality and integrity

We prioritize official and authoritative sources over secondary blogs or aggregator sites. In practice, that means:

• Pulling data from federal, state, and local .gov portals whenever possible.
• Including select .org or foundation sites when they are the official administrators of a program.
• Storing the official URL for every grant so you can always click through to the original source.

Our summaries never replace the official record. Instead, they sit on top of it, pointing you back to the underlying documentation for final decisions.

Refresh and archive strategy

Grant programs open, close, and re-open in cycles. To reflect that, our system:

• Checks for new or updated opportunities on a scheduled basis using n8n workflows.
• Marks grants as expired when their published deadline passes, while keeping the page online as a historical reference.
• Surfaces current, active opportunities first in search and browse results, with an option to include archived programs when you need a benchmark.

This approach preserves SEO value and institutional memory without confusing users who are primarily looking for what is open right now.

Human oversight and corrections

Although we rely on automation to keep pace with changing programs, we take user feedback seriously. If you see an outdated link, a missing detail, or a summary that feels misleading, we want to know about it.

You can use the contact page to report issues or suggest improvements—and when we adjust a listing, those changes flow back into our data pipeline so future visitors benefit as well.