Best grant management software: Compare top solutions for funders

Grantmaking is a complex process. It involves careful evaluation, efficient allocation of funds, rigorous tracking, and so much more. While some smaller organizations still rely on spreadsheets and word to track this critical work, many funders are turning to grant management software to streamline and speed up their work with automated tasks, centralized data, and actionable insights. In this article, we’ll walk you through the various benefits and features a grant management solution can offer and we’ll help you find the best grant management software for your foundation. 

What is grant management software?

Grant management software is a comprehensive platform that streamlines the grantmaking process. From initial application intake to final reporting and evaluation, the software helps streamline and simplify. When looking for grant management software, you’ll see they can encompass a wide variety of tools like applicant tracking, proposal review, award management, financial tracking, and reporting. By centralizing your organization’s grant data and automating time-consuming tasks, grant management software empowers funders like you to make data-driven decisions, increase operational efficiency, and most importantly, maximize the impact of your grants. 

Why grant management software is important for funders

Managing grants without specialized software, while technically possible, is a daunting task. Manual processes, scattered data, and mounds of paperwork are a few aspects that can hinder efficiency and increase the risk of errors. Grant management software helps by addressing these challenges and providing a centralized platform that enables funders to: 

• • Streamline workflows: Automate routine tasks and reduce paperwork.

  • Improve decision-making: Leverage data analytics to inform funding strategies.

  • Enhance collaboration: Facilitate communication and team among staff.

  • Strengthen compliance: Ensure adherence to grant regulations and reporting requirements. 

  • Maximize impact: allocate resources effectively and measure outcomes. 

  • Succession planning: maintain historical information

Investing in grant management software can allow funders to radically transform their operations and create a more sustainable and impactful grantmaking process. 

Key features to look for in grant management software

Creating and reviewing applications

• • Ability to create, update, and customize grant forms

  • Easily review applications

  • User-friendly interface for applicants

Data collection 

• • Grant performance

  • Application answers

  • Critical grant information

Reporting and analysis

• • Comprehensive reporting and analytics

  • Ability to report on all data collected. 

Communication tools

• • Ability to automate email communication to applicants, reviewers, admin reminders, etc.

Integrations

• • Integration with other industry tools and systems

Top grant management software solutions

Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager

Main features

• • Intuitive grants management software backed by responsive support 

  • Online applications/review

  • Custom forms and fields

  • Reporting/analytics

  • Communications

  • Industry integrations

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

Grant Lifecycle Manager is designed for any grantmaking organization, including private and family foundations, education and healthcare organizations, community foundations, and more.

Pricing

• • Ranges from $4,250-$9,500/year

Customer reviews/ratings 

Capterra (98)

• • • Ease of Use - 92

    • Customer Service - 98

    • Features - 92

    • Value for Money - 98 

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Main features

• • Application/Forms management, approval/review process control, due date tracking/reminders, email communication, payment tracking, reporting, role-based permissions, data import/export, collaboration tools

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

• • Wide array of funders of all sizes including foundations trusts, nonprofits, hospitals, educational institutions and corporations.

Pricing

Estimated Yearly Costs from 2024 Consumers Guide to GMS

Capterra (74)

• • Ease of Use - 70

  • Customer Service - 80

  • Features - 74

  • Value for Money - 66

Submittable

Main features

• • Application management/review, reporting, customizable fields, process/workflow automation, payment tracking/processing, communication tools, donor/donation management

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

• • Corporations, government, foundations, non-profits, and organizations of any size, anywhere in the world.

Pricing

• • Estimated Yearly Costs from 2024 Consumers Guide to GMS

Capterra (94)

• • Ease of Use - 92

  • Customer Service - 94

  • Features - 90

  • Value for Money - 90

WizeHive

Main features

Application intake and collaboration, review/decision making, awards and fund disbursement, progress management and reporting, compliance management, budget/financial management.

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

Foundations, State & Local government agencies, grantmaking public charities, higher education, and corporations/CSR

Pricing

• • Estimated Yearly Costs from 2024 Consumers Guide to GMS

Customer reviews/ratings 

Capterra (96)

• • Ease of Use - 90

  • Customer Service - 98

  • Features - 92

  • Value for Money - 94

Fluxx.io

Main features

Application management, approval/review process control, customizable forms, custom fields, deadlines/reminders, collaboration tools, budgeting/forecasting, grantee engagement, reporting, third-party integration

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

• • Grantmakers of all sizes, from private foundations to governments, to public securities. Grantmaking foundations who need a solution that grows and scales as they do. 

Pricing

• • Estimated Yearly Costs from 2024 Consumers Guide to GMS

Customer reviews/ratings 

Capterra (84)

• • Ease of Use - 78

  • Customer Service - 78

  • Features - 82

  • Value for Money - 80

SurveyMonkey Apply

Main features

• • Application management, approval/review process control, payment tracking/processing, configurable workflows/automations, email communications, reporting/dashboards.

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

Grantmaking organizations of all shapes and sizes, including foundations, academic institutions, government agencies, and corporations. 

Pricing

• • Pricing not readily available

  • According to 2024 Consumers Guide to GMS, “SurveyMonkey did not respond to multiple attempts to include the SurveyMonkey Apply product.”

  • According to Smarter Select blog, annual plans begin at $7,000 for the scholarship management software. 

Customer reviews/ratings 

Capterra (92)

• • Ease of Use - 88

  • Customer Service - 94

  • Features - 90

  • Value for Money - 88

Smarter Select

Main features

• • Online application management solution for scholarships, grants, awards, fellowships, data collection, etc. Create, collect, analyze, and evaluate applications using the mobile-responsive user interface, text message notifications, inline calculations, dynamic application rules, online recommendations, file uploads, and more.

Pros and cons

Ideal user base

• • Grantmaking entities - Private foundations, education foundations, associations, higher education organizations, community foundations, corporations, etc. 

Pricing

Customer reviews/ratings 

Capterra (88)

• • Ease of Use - 82

  • Customer Service - 90

  • Features - 82

  • Value for Money - 90

How to choose the right grant management software

Assess your organization’s needs

• • Understand what your organization needs in grant management software

  • Prioritize functionality

  • Pick a solution that offers your high-priority functionality

Consider your budget

• • Solutions vary in pricing 

  • Pick a solution that falls within your budget

  • Ensure you are weighing the costs of time and other intangibles

Understand ease of use and training requirements

• • Anytime you bring on a new tool, your team will need to be trained on how to use it 

  • Depending on your team and who will be using the grant management software, select a solution that is easy for them to learn how to use 

  • You’ll also want to consider how easy it is for applicants to use

Evaluate Customer Support

• • Often, learning new software and ensuring you’re getting the most out of it can be a steep learning curve

  • Look for a solution that comes with the level of customer support your team needs 

Learn more about our grant management software for funders

Overview of key features and benefits of Grant Lifecycle Manager

• • Efficiently create or modify applications, with an online review system to streamline sorting and scoring documents for a smoother, collaborative experience.

• • Create specific questions and formats that align with the objectives of different grants to ensure the collection of relevant and comprehensive information.

• • Eliminate the need for manual follow-ups with automated emails and notifications to streamline communications. 

• • Group, sort, analyze, and visualize any data collected within GLM. 

• • Use DocuSign to gather secure signatures, Candid for reliable organization data, and streamline your grant payments with QuickBooks Online.

• • First in-class support and client services team. Our team strives to exceed client’s expectations whenever possible, and is 100% focused on supporting you and your mission. 

  • Online grant applications and review (unlimited users.)

  • Customizable forms with table and branching options for applications, LOI’s, grant agreements, and follow-up’s.

  • Automated communication

  • Reporting and analytics. 

  • Integrations

  • Customer experience. 

learn more about Grant Lifecycle Manager