10 Of The Best Grant Management Software Platforms For Foundations

The grant life cycle can be complicated. Thankfully, organizations can choose from several software solutions to streamline the process and drive higher accuracy, but this variety can make choosing the right one difficult. What is the best grant management software platforms for foundations?

The answer largely depends on your specific needs, budget, and goals. Still, a few platforms stand out from the rest as overall leaders. Here are the 10 best grant management software solutions to consider for your foundation.

1. IntelliGrants® IGX

IntelliGrants IGX from IGX Solutions is the best all-around grant management software solution. It provides a single, secure, and accessible place to access all your grant data and workflows. Most importantly, it adapts to your unique needs so you can drive efficiency and automate processes regardless of your IT stack, experience, organization size, or industry.

The platform is SOC 2 compliant, so you don’t have to worry about sensitive data leaking into unauthorized hands. It also complies with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, making it easy to use. An extensive range of automation capabilities amplifies these benefits to streamline workflows throughout the entire grant management life cycle.

2. Good Grants

Another popular solution is Good Grants, especially for foundations without much IT experience. The platform is famously user-friendly and intuitive, so your team can switch over without much disruption, even if they lack technical expertise. Similarly, its customizable workflows and automation features help you tailor it to your organization’s preferences.

Like IntelliGrants IGX, Good Grants is SOC 2 compliant. It also uses a virtual private cloud to keep your sensitive information safe from data breaches, which is particularly valuable for those in the government or education sectors. Beyond that, real-time reporting and analytics functions help all members stay on top of fast-moving developments.

3. Blackbaud Grantmaking

Alternatively, you could turn to Blackbaud’s Grantmaking solution for your grant management needs. Versatility is the key differentiator here, as the company’s massive suite of reporting and customization functions helps it serve foundations of virtually any size or industry.

Despite such a wide range of features, Grantmaking requires little to no setup, leading to fewer technical issues and a faster return on investment. It also has robust communication and scoring functions to foster a more collaborative workplace and maximize trust within your foundation. Configurable dashboards and transparent auditing tools further boost transparency.

4. Instrumentl

Some people consider Instrumentl to be the best grant management software for their foundations. Its strongest selling point is its grant discovery database, which substantially simplifies the process of searching for relevant grants for your organization. Spending less time in this area lets you focus on applying for and managing funds for real-world impacts.

Instrumentl has helped its users see a $1.1 million increase in annual income on average, thanks to this clarity. Its reporting and communication tools are also helpful when distributing this revenue, and its user interface is easy to use.

5. Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager

Grant Lifecycle Manager, formerly known as Grant Hub by Foundant, is a good alternative. It’s particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized foundations, thanks to its affordable pricing and simple interface. Factors like these help teams with less experience or resources find and manage grants in less time with less disruption.

Foundant’s solution offers several automations, including artificial intelligence (AI)-powered summaries to streamline communications and make complex documents easier to understand. Other automated features include emails, application reviews, and reporting reminders, all of which save your team time and ensure nothing goes overlooked.

6. Grantseeker

Another one of the best grant management software platforms is Grantseeker, especially because it offers a free plan. While many solutions offer complimentary trials, Grantseeker’s free tier never runs out, so you can use it as long as you need without ever paying a cent. However, you will need to pay for higher tiers to access all of its features.

Like Grant Lifecycle Manager, Grantseeker uses a stripped-down interface to make the grant management cycle easier to understand. Its reporting and communication tools are similarly easy to use, making it an excellent choice for teams without tech experience or facing heavy workloads.

7. AmpliFund

Euana Solutions’ AmpliFund may be more appropriate for larger operations with complex grant management needs. Its end-to-end platforms are tailored toward streamlining and consolidating workflows when balancing multiple grants or tracking funds over several years. This focus is evident in its clientele, which consists of several city and state governments.

AmpliFund stresses the importance of compliance and reporting, so many of its tools and automations revolve around boosting transparency and auditability. Its efficiency benefits are also impressive, with users reducing their time spent on tasks by 72% on average. It may be more challenging to implement than some others, though.

8. Submittable

Other teams prefer Submittable, which acquired another leading grant management solution, WizeHive, in 2024. This option is ideal for foundations applying for multiple types of grants, as it’s highly configurable and easy to extend to new operations. Creating custom workflows is as easy as dragging modules into place, so a lack of coding experience is no barrier to personalization.

Submittable has real-time communication, reporting, and tracking tools to ensure everyone remains productive and compliant. It also boasts a helpful support line, taking an average of just 12 minutes to respond to customer questions.

9. SmartSimple

Foundations with especially complicated needs may consider SmartSimple as their grant management software of choice. Flexibility is its most notable advantage, with virtually all features and workflows under the platform being fully configurable. The recent addition of AI tools takes these benefits even further.

SmartSimple’s AI assistant tailors its advice to your unique setup, and other AI features can auto-fill fields and adjust settings as necessary based on simple commands. The platform also complies with several cybersecurity standards to offer more trust in its ability to handle even the most sensitive data.

10. Bonterra Cybergrants

Cybergrants from Bonterra is another one of the best grant management software platforms for foundations. It focuses on simplicity and continual optimization, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking to implement something quickly and sustain ongoing improvements over time.

In addition to discovery and research tools, Cybergrants includes coaching to help you find new opportunities to grow your foundation’s reach. It also offers fundraising features to complement your grant management and inject more cash flow into operations. In-depth reporting and analytics tools help manage it all without adding significant time to your schedule.

Features to Look for in Grant Management Software

Regardless of your foundation’s size, budget, and workforce needs, the best grant management software always has a few common features. Once you understand these must-haves, you can make a more informed decision about which platform to use.

The most important function of grant management software is to provide a single place to access all related data and processes. Relatedly, the best solutions also offer significant levels of automation. Workers spend roughly 60% of their time on noncore functions that are either easily automatable or entirely unnecessary. Consolidating workflows and automating as much as possible helps your team focus on what matters.

Data reporting and compliance tracking are also crucial. Grants often carry stringent regulatory requirements, so anything to help comply with these rules or boost visibility for added trust will go a long way.

Finally, your grant management software must be secure. A worrying 41% of nonprofit organizations have been victims of a cyberattack, yet 56% don’t have a cybersecurity budget, and even more lack relevant skills and knowledge. Built-in security features like encryption, multifactor authentication, and virtualization, alongside certifications like SOC-2 compliance, are crucial amid that trend.

The Best Grant Management Software Depends on Your Needs

Once you know what to look for in a solution, finding the best grant management software for your foundation will be easier. The right choice depends on your unique situation, but you’ll likely discover a relevant option somewhere in this list. Start by determining your needs, and review these 10 platforms to find a grant management program that will work for your team.

Ankita Sharma

Ankita is the Senior SEO Analyst as well as Content Marketing enthusiast at The Next Tech. She uses her experience to guide the team and follow best practices in marketing and advertising space. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Science (Mathematics). She’s taken quite a few online certificate courses in digital marketing and pursuing more.

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