Top 5 Most Affordable Grant Management Software Solutions

Grants are critical to funding a nonprofit’s mission, offering nonrepayable financial resources for your operations, programs and initiatives. The funds help organizations create a bigger impact and build credibility with donors, ensuring they have more than one source of revenue. 

A cheap grant management software solution for nonprofits makes overseeing every aspect of submitting and tracking applications easier without incurring significant expenses. 

1. IGX Solutions

IGX Solutions provides specialized grant management solutions tailored to the diverse needs of nonprofits of all sizes. Its IntelliGrants program streamlines and automates the entire grant life cycle, ensuring that nonprofit organizations comply with regulations and maximize their impact.

Manage and analyze your data in a centralized system with a user-friendly interface. Whether you need help with fiscal reporting or time, application and contract management, this provider’s IntelliGrants can deliver.

Key features: 

• Tailored to nonprofit organizations
• 98% client retention rate
• Robust security with Systems and Organization Controls 2 compliance
• Scalable for nonprofit growth

2. SurveyMonkey Apply

SurveyMonkey Apply provides a centralized, intuitive grant management portal for simple application tracking, communication, post-award reporting and data export. It is highly configurable, allowing you to customize forms and logic, while automation tools handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on more important aspects of your mission.

Enhance collaboration across various devices and assign special access and permissions to team members. This program integrates enterprise-grade security and 24-hour monitoring to ensure data privacy compliance and peace of mind.

Key features:

• Pro, Enterprise and Enterprise Plus pricing available upon request
• Over 1,500 implementations
• Free setup and onboarding assistance
• Highly scalable for small and large nonprofit organizations

3. Submittable

Submittable is a cloud-based platform and end-to-end solution for nonprofit grant management. Use its drag-and-drop form builder to customize your workflow — no coding background necessary — and allow its reviewer tools to streamline the process from a straightforward dashboard.  

You can also track and monitor your budget in real time and share your progress with stakeholders using its built-in impact reporting features. Most organizations can establish new programs in two weeks or less.

Key features:

• Individual or bundle and save products
• Support for 165,000 programs
• Implementation and onboarding services
• 12-minute response times to support requests

4. Grantseeker

Grantseeker is an easy-to-use cloud-based platform that enables prospecting, application management and reporting. Track your funders and grants from a single dashboard and receive notifications of important deadlines. You can also avoid per-user pricing, allowing everyone to join and participate in the funding process. 

Although you can access several features with the Forever-Free plan, upgrading allows you to integrate your calendar and shared documents, visualize grant awards across various programs and customize fields tailored to your nonprofit. 

Key features:

• Monthly or annual pricing at Premium, Prospecting and Grantseeker Pro tiers
• Serves over 3,000 nonprofit organizations
• Access to essential tools at no cost

5. Instrumentl

Instrumentl makes grant management easier than ever by delivering research and management tools in one program. It is an ideal solution for nonprofits to discover grants and effectively manage their applications and funding opportunities.

Nonprofit teams will most appreciate the grant discovery database, which allows you to search for and apply to grants that match your mission. You can then track your application progress, stay ahead of deadlines and meet reporting requirements from one platform. 

Key features:

• Standard, Pro and Advanced pricing tiers, starting at $299 monthly
• Tailored grant recommendations
• Replaces an average of 2.1 tools
• 75% faster prospecting

Choosing a Cheap Grant Management Software for Nonprofits

Nonprofits must maximize their resources, which is why affordability is a top priority when selecting a grant management software solution. However, cost is not the only thing to consider. You should also take the following criteria into account:

Key Features and Functionality	The software should encompass all stages of grant life cycle management. Automation features should streamline repetitive tasks, while reporting and analytics tools allow for simplified pre- and post-award reporting.
Pricing Structure	Providers must deliver transparent pricing, including subscription costs, licensing and per-user fees. Plans should fit your budget, especially for smaller nonprofits with limited resources.
Integration and Compatibility	Ensure that each software solution is compatible with your existing systems, integrating seamlessly with accounting, customer relationship management and donor management programs. Also, consider cloud-based platforms for remote capabilities.
Compliance and Security	Platforms should include robust data security measures to protect sensitive applicant information and financial details.
Customization and Scalability	Software solutions should be adaptable to specific workflows, allowing you to manage multiple grants simultaneously. Additionally, it should allow you to scale to growth, including adding users, features and modules as needed.
Customer Support and Reputation	Providers should be responsive through various communication channels. Each should provide training on the platform to maximize its utilization. Check online reviews and testimonials from previous customers.

Is Affordable Grant Management Software Effective?

Just because a grant management software solution is on the lower end of the price spectrum does not mean it is ineffective. In fact, you can find an excellent platform that meets the needs of your nonprofit without spending all your resources. 

Even the most essential, basic features — including deadline reminders and simplified reporting — can significantly improve efficiency, especially for small- to medium-sized organizations. 

What Are the Benefits of Using Grant Management Software Solutions?

Even the cheapest grant management software for nonprofits offers several benefits that enhance efficiency and accuracy. These tools improve data analytics, transparency, compliance and decision-making, while ensuring all grant-related information remains accessible and organized. 

Although different providers deliver various features, nonprofits usually reap the following rewards:

• Streamlined tasks through automation, such as deadline tracking and application submission
• Fewer human errors by eliminating manual entry
• A single, secure database to house all grant-related information
• Better collaboration among team members with shared workspaces and communication tools
• Automated compliance checks with donor requirements
• Detailed reporting on spending and outcomes
• Performance monitoring to track progress and determine areas of improvement

Maximize Funding With Advanced Grant Management

A cost-effective grant management software solution can take your funding prospects to new heights. Maximize your opportunities with a platform that does the hard work for you and sets you up for success.