Blackbaud Grantmaking

Score9 out of 10

38 Reviews and Ratings

What is Blackbaud Grantmaking?

Blackbaud Grantmaking (formally GIFTS Online) is part of Blackbaud’s extensive portfolio of software, services, data intelligence and expertise that powers social good. Blackbaud Grantmaking delivers grantmaking capabilities configured to meet the user's needs, and to improve efficiency with personalized online grant applications and report forms, personalized user dashboards, and simplified financial processing tools. By providing access to giving data, including standard, advanced, and ad hoc reporting tools, Blackbaud Grantmaking enables users to measure, understand, and improve results. In addition, Blackbaud Grantmaking allows funders to become actively involved in the Foundation Center’s Glasspockets initiative with Grant reporting capabilities, allowing for greater collaboration and more impactful giving. Blackbaud Grantmaking supports organizations whose goal is to provide guidance, transparency, and accountability throughout the grantmaking cycle.

Categories & Use Cases

Grant Management Software

Media

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Screenshot of Application Inbox

Nicole Hogrefe

Senior Accountant in Finance and Accounting at The Weld Trust (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

My organization utilizes the Blackbaud Grantmaking for the entire grant application and review process with all of the grant giving for the entire organization. The applications are submitted via the Blackbaud Grantmaking portal, the reviews are submitted via each respective reviewers within the portal, and the grant distributions are also recorded there as well.

Pros

Ability to customize the grantmaking process to fit the organization
One stop hub for the grant recipient, to update & submit required information & supporting documentation
Tracks disbursements and approvals

Cons

The customization can be tedious and pricey, but the finished product is well worth it.
The linked functionality between Blackbaud Financial Edge and Blackbaud Grantmaking is limited unless a complete custom built connection is made (also pricey).
Learning curve is intermediate to advanced.

Return on Investment

Grantmaking has streamlined the process of grant applications
Grantmaking has streamlined the database of grant recipients
Grantmaking has allowed grant employees to access all the data needed in an organized manner

Other Software Used

Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, Microsoft 365

Krista Patterson

Executive Director at West Kootenay Regional Arts Council / Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (1-10 employees employees)

Pros

Pulling information from the online application portal into the main database
Automating requirement and deadline reminders to grantees and relevant reports to specific staff members
Applications and reporting functions are highly customizable

Cons

Because it is so complex it is not very intuitive to learn at the beginning - trying to align our workflow with the modules was challenging at first because we didn't have a full understanding of the capabilities of the software.
When these is functionality we need which is not obvious, usually support can figure it out, but sometimes they say "no, but that is a great idea, post it to the community as a suggestion". If it is a great idea, why can they not just pass it along internally or post it? Taking the time to post to the community and / or search to see if my needs are already posted to the community so I can up-vote is not a good use of my time. Often I can't find the time to do it. I do appreciate that they are responsive and do make suggested changes, but this process is time consuming (reading through numerous posts) and unwieldy.
Support people are very good, but would like to have access to them until 6 pm pacific time.
The cost is prohibitive. We were hoping that the move from paper and multiple platforms into one online platform would lessen the time spent on admin (helping to offset the cost), but implementation has taken us longer than anticipated (we are a small org. with no dedicated IT staff). Some tasks are definitely more streamlined, and we definitely have a better overall handle on data management, tracking grant finances, deadlines and reporting, but sometimes it seems like some admin work has just been replaced with different work, such as: database management and providing support for the applicants / grantees. I think this may improve somewhat over time, but each year there will always be a certain amount of program changes to implement / program and new applicants to walk through the online portal submission process (including requirements and reporting) so time spent on this work will remain.

Return on Investment

Better data collection / security
Better access to relevant information through collection and reporting processes.
Better overall accountability.

Alternatives Considered

SmartSimple GMS360

Other Software Used

Sage 50 Accounting, Microsoft Access

Sheree Norton View profile

Grants Administrator at THE FRANCE-MERRICK FOUNDATION, INC. (1-10 employees employees)

Pros

Easy to export data into multiple applications for various reports and requests.
Mobile app for access to records in the field.
The help desk is responsive.

Cons

Would like to be able to print letters, envelopes, giving histories directly from the organization's record versus switching to reports, queries or creating a template...too many steps.
History of giving prints from first to last and this cannot be changed. I have to export to Excel and re-sort by most recent date.

Return on Investment

Other Software Used

QuickBooks Online

Felecia Clack View profile

Board and Executive Assistant/Grants Manager in Corporate at Flinn Foundation (11-50 employees employees)

Sue Fulton View profile

Chief Financial Officer in Finance and Accounting at Endowment for Health (1-10 employees employees)

Pros

Grant application information
Grant review and approval process
Grant monitoring
Grant payments
Track outcomes
Document manager
Contact management

Cons

Document manager needs folder structure
You must check out a document to update and then re-post the document to the document manager when completed. Often you mail merge a document using Blackbaud Grantmaking, but to tweak it you need to save it elsewhere and the upload to the document manager.
There is no notification given if 2 users are updating the same record except when the 2nd user tries to save their work.
Portal for grant seekers could be more user friendly.
Connecting the Blackbaud Grantmaking email to Outlook would help. Blackbaud has made improvements in this area. If I send an email from Blackbaud Grantmaking it does not show up in my Outlook sent messages.

Return on Investment

ROI has been positive, the cost has been offset by less staff time needed during the review process as well as better documentation and reporting options.
Our process flow has improved with the dashboards. As one staff member finishes an activity the dashboard provides a vehicle to move it to the next staff person.

Alternatives Considered

Gifts Classic

Other Software Used

QuickBooks Pro, Microsoft Office 2016, Adobe Acrobat DC

Usability

Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager

Bonterra CyberGrants

Fluxx Grantmaker

SmartSimple Cloud

Salesforce Agentforce 360 for Nonprofits

Blackbaud Grantmaking

What is Blackbaud Grantmaking?

Categories & Use Cases

Media

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