Blackbaud Grantmaking alternative: how Submit.com compares in 2026
A source-linked comparison of Submit.com and Blackbaud Grantmaking for teams running grant, scholarship, and awards programmes. Covers pricing, UK procurement credentials, implementation, ease of use, and security before you decide.
Quick take: Submit.com vs Blackbaud Grantmaking
Submit.com is a purpose-built grant, scholarship, and awards management platform designed for UK and Irish local authorities, universities, foundations, and nonprofits. It is UK G-Cloud 14 approved, Cyber Essentials certified, GDPR compliant, and starts from €5,995 per year. Programme teams configure and launch workflows themselves within days using a no-code builder.
Blackbaud Grantmaking (formerly MicroEdge GIFTS, acquired by Blackbaud in 2014) is a cloud-based grant management platform built for foundations, nonprofits, hospitals, corporations, and government agencies. Blackbaud is listed on the UK G-Cloud Digital Marketplace and has cloud environments in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. It is part of a broader Blackbaud ecosystem that includes Raiser’s Edge NXT for fundraising and Financial Edge NXT for finance. It is widely used by large foundations and grantmaking organisations worldwide.
Both platforms manage the full grant lifecycle. They differ most on pricing transparency, ease of use and implementation speed, UK compliance certifications beyond G-Cloud, programme scope beyond grants, and the size and complexity of organisation each tends to suit best.
Sources reviewed in this section
Submit.com and Blackbaud Grantmaking at a glance
Submit.com
- From €5,995 per year. Custom quote by programme volume and modules.
- Grants, scholarships, awards, permits, and broader submissions on one platform.
- UK G-Cloud 14 approved. Cyber Essentials certified. GDPR compliant. AWS UK and EU regions.
- No-code drag-and-drop workflow builder. Launch first programme within days.
- Multilingual applicant portals (per Submit.com homepage).
- Named customers: Suffolk County Council, Westminster City Council, Dublin City Council, Cork City Council, Enterprise Ireland, UCC.
- G2 Fall 2025: Easiest to Use, Best Support (Small Business), High Performer.
Blackbaud Grantmaking
- Pricing not publicly listed on blackbaud.com. G-Cloud listing: GBP £2,565.75 per licence per year (per UK Digital Marketplace). Third-party data suggests total cost often £15,000–£60,000+/year for mid-size organisations. Implementation typically separate.
- Cloud-based grant management with CRM, dashboards, 250+ built-in reports, reviewer portal, payment schedules. G-Cloud listed, UK cloud environment available.
- GDPR-supportive per blackbaud.co.uk. SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 1 Type 2 reports available via account manager (per G-Cloud listing). ISO27001 framework referenced. No Cyber Essentials certification found.
- Integrations with Financial Edge NXT, Raiser’s Edge NXT, Candid GuideStar Charity Check, CSI WatchDOG. SSO via Blackbaud ID.
- AI form translation into 30+ languages including Welsh (per Blackbaud press release, July 2024). New applicant portal released June 2024.
- Implementation typically 3–6 months with Blackbaud implementation consultants (per Plinth UK guide and Blackbaud.com).
- History note: Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack in February 2020 affecting thousands of nonprofits globally. The company has since invested significantly in security improvements.
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Faster review cycles reported by grantmakers using Submit.com
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Programmes streamlined on Submit.com globally
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Submit.com approved on UK Digital Marketplace
Sources reviewed in this section
Why Submit.com stands out against Blackbaud Grantmaking
For UK and Irish grantmakers evaluating both platforms, these are the differences that matter most. Every claim is sourced from public vendor materials or verified third-party directories.
Six things that set Submit.com apart
Submit.com publishes a starting price from €5,995 per year. Blackbaud does not list pricing on blackbaud.com. The G-Cloud listing shows £2,565.75 per licence, but implementation and total contract costs are typically much higher.
Submit.com is Cyber Essentials certified. No Cyber Essentials certification was found for Blackbaud Grantmaking on the G-Cloud listing or on blackbaud.com. Both are G-Cloud listed.
Submit.com advertises launch within days using pre-built templates and no-code configuration. Blackbaud Grantmaking implementation typically takes 3–6 months with Blackbaud implementation consultants, per Blackbaud.com and third-party guides.
Submit.com’s drag-and-drop builder allows programme teams to configure and change workflows without IT support. Capterra and Software Advice reviews of Blackbaud Grantmaking consistently note a steep learning curve, many clicks for routine tasks, and reliance on multiple separate portals.
Submit.com covers grants, scholarships, awards, permits, and broader submission workflows in one platform. Blackbaud Grantmaking is purpose-built for grant management specifically.
Submit.com stores data on AWS UK and EU infrastructure with no publicly reported data breaches. Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack in February 2020 affecting thousands of organisations. Blackbaud has since invested in security; their G-Cloud listing confirms UK hosting is available.
We’ve got a slick, efficient grant process now. Happier team, way less paperwork. Going digital was not just a tech upgrade, it was a mindset shift, and it’s really made all the difference.
Beverley Davies, Grants & Programmes Manager, Suffolk County Council
Sources reviewed in this section
Submit.com vs Blackbaud Grantmaking: feature comparison
All claims are drawn from Blackbaud’s own website and UK G-Cloud listing, independent review directories (Capterra, G2, GetApp, Software Advice, SourceForge), and specialist UK grant management guides. Items not publicly confirmed are labelled accordingly.
| Dimension | Submit.com | Blackbaud Grantmaking |
|---|---|---|
| Core use case | Grant, scholarship, awards, permits, and submission management for public sector, universities, foundations, and nonprofits. | Grant management for foundations, nonprofits, hospitals, corporations, and government agencies. Full lifecycle: application to payment. |
| Starting price | From €5,995 per year. Custom quote by programme volume. | Not listed on blackbaud.com. G-Cloud licence: £2,565.75 per year. Third-party data (Vendr) suggests mid-size foundations pay £30,000–£60,000+/year including implementation. GetApp cites $325/month as a starting figure (unverified by Blackbaud). Contact Blackbaud for a full quote. |
| UK public sector procurement | Listed UK G-Cloud 14. Cyber Essentials certified. GDPR compliant. | Partial UK G-Cloud listed. GDPR-supportive. No Cyber Essentials certification found. |
| Data residency | AWS UK and EU regions confirmed (per Submit.com security page). | Cloud environments in UK, US, Australia, and Canada (per blackbaud.co.uk). UK environment available; verify which environment your data is stored in with Blackbaud before signing. |
| Cyber Essentials | Certified | Not found Not listed in G-Cloud entry or on blackbaud.com at time of review. |
| Security history | No publicly reported data breaches. AWS UK and EU infrastructure. | Ransomware attack February 2020 affecting thousands of nonprofits globally. Blackbaud has since invested significantly in security per G-Cloud listing and blackbaud.com. SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 1 Type 2 reports available via account manager. |
| Implementation speed | Days, using pre-built templates and no-code builder. Programme team configures without IT. | Typically 3–6 months with Blackbaud implementation consultants (per Plinth UK guide; Blackbaud.com references experienced implementation consultants). |
| Ease of use | G2 Fall 2025 “Easiest to Use” badge. No-code drag-and-drop builder. | Mixed reviews. Praised for data depth and reporting. Capterra and G2 reviews cite steep learning curve, too many clicks, fragmented portals, and complex navigation. Score 3.3 on Capterra (per Plinth UK guide). |
| Programme types covered | Grants, scholarships, awards, permits, and any application-based workflow. | Primarily grant management. Multi-grantmaking entity support. Not designed for scholarships or awards as distinct programme types. |
| Reporting and dashboards | Real-time dashboards, exportable reports, full audit trails in core platform. | 250+ built-in reports, configurable dashboards, one-click budget reports (per Blackbaud.com and TechImpact guide). |
| Language support | Multilingual applicant portals (per Submit.com homepage). | AI-powered form translation into 30+ languages including Welsh (per Blackbaud press release, July 2024). New capability added to applicant portal in 2024. Platform UI languages: English, Dutch, French, Spanish (per GetApp). |
| CRM capability | Programme and applicant relationship management within Submit.com. No external CRM required. | Built-in CRM: manages relationships, stores contact and giving history, integrates with Raiser’s Edge NXT for broader fundraising data (per blackbaud.com). |
| Integrations | Stripe payments. API available. HubSpot referenced in Submit.com content. Full catalogue on Submit.com platform page. | Financial Edge NXT, Raiser’s Edge NXT, Candid GuideStar Charity Check, CSI WatchDOG. SKY API. Planned: DocuSign, Microsoft Power BI (per Blackbaud blog, 2024). SSO: Azure AD, SAML 2.0, ADFS, Okta. |
| Mobile access | Mobile-friendly browser-based. Native apps not publicly confirmed. | SKY view works across mobile devices and browsers (per G-Cloud listing). |
| Typical organisation size | Councils, universities, foundations, and nonprofits of all sizes. Configurable for small to large programmes. | Best suited to medium-to-large foundations managing 10+ grants per year (per SoftwareConnect). Small foundations can access a Basic implementation. |
| Typical customer base | UK and Irish public sector, higher education, foundations, and nonprofits. Named: Suffolk CC, Westminster CC, Dublin City Council, Cork City Council, Enterprise Ireland, UCC. | Global foundations, US and international nonprofits, hospitals, corporations, and government agencies. UK presence confirmed (UK cloud environment, G-Cloud listed, Buzzacott Services Ltd as UK delivery partner per G-Cloud listing). |
| API | API available (per Submit.com platform page). | SKY API (REST) available. Payment, organisation, request, activity, contact, and requirements endpoints (per TechImpact guide). |
Sources reviewed in this section
Submit.com vs Blackbaud Grantmaking: best fit by team
Select the team type closest to yours to see where each platform tends to suit best.
UK or Irish local authority
Submit.com is the stronger fit for UK and Irish local authorities. It is UK G-Cloud 14 approved, Cyber Essentials certified, and GDPR compliant with confirmed UK and EU data residency. It is already live with Suffolk County Council, Westminster City Council, Dublin City Council, and Cork City Council. Blackbaud Grantmaking is also G-Cloud listed, but no Cyber Essentials certification was found. Blackbaud’s implementation typically requires 3–6 months and experienced consultants, which adds time and cost for council procurement teams. Submit.com launches within days using pre-built templates.
Foundation or philanthropic funder
Both platforms serve foundations, but with different strengths. Blackbaud Grantmaking is used by large global foundations and has 250+ built-in reports, deep CRM functionality, and Financial Edge NXT integration for complex financial management. If your foundation already uses Raiser’s Edge NXT or Financial Edge NXT, the ecosystem integration is a genuine advantage. Submit.com suits foundations that want fast deployment, transparent pricing from €5,995 per year, multilingual portals, and a single platform covering grants, scholarships, and awards without a lengthy implementation project.
University or higher education institution
Submit.com is a strong fit for universities managing scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, and research grants on one platform. Customers include UCC. Blackbaud Grantmaking is primarily a grant management tool and is not marketed for scholarships or awards as distinct programme types. For HE institutions requiring UK G-Cloud and Cyber Essentials for procurement, Submit.com is the more complete option.
Nonprofit or charity
Both platforms work for nonprofits that run grant programmes. Blackbaud Grantmaking is widely used across the global nonprofit sector and offers deep reporting and a broad ecosystem. However, user reviews consistently flag high cost, steep learning curve, and complex navigation. Submit.com offers transparent starting pricing from €5,995 per year, Cyber Essentials certification, GDPR compliance, multilingual portals, and a no-code builder that smaller charity teams can manage without dedicated technical staff.
Sources reviewed in this section
Submit.com or Blackbaud Grantmaking? A 3-question check
Answer three questions for a general steer. Always request a scoped demo from both vendors before committing.
Tell us about your programme
1. How quickly do you need to go live?
2. Do you need Cyber Essentials certification for procurement?
3. Are you already using other Blackbaud products (Raiser’s Edge NXT, Financial Edge NXT)?
Your steer
Security and compliance
Submit.com
- Cyber Essentials certified
- GDPR compliant
- AWS UK and EU regions confirmed
- UK G-Cloud 14 approved supplier
- No publicly reported data breaches
Blackbaud Grantmaking (per G-Cloud listing and blackbaud.co.uk)
- UK G-Cloud listed
- GDPR-supportive per blackbaud.co.uk
- SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 1 Type 2 reports available via account manager or Blackbaud Compliance Portal
- ISO27001, NIST CSF, PCI DSS frameworks referenced in G-Cloud security statement
- Annual penetration tests and periodic vulnerability scans (per G-Cloud listing)
- CSA STAR Registry listed (per G-Cloud listing)
- SSO: Blackbaud ID supports Azure AD, SAML 2.0, ADFS, Okta
- Cloud environments: UK, US, Australia, Canada
- No Cyber Essentials certification found at time of review
- February 2020 ransomware breach: acknowledged; Blackbaud has invested in security improvements since
Sources reviewed in this section
Integrations
Submit.com integrations
Stripe for online payments and fee collection. API available. HubSpot integration referenced in Submit.com content. Full catalogue on Submit.com’s API and Integrations page.
Blackbaud Grantmaking integrations
Pre-built integrations: Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT (accounting and finance), Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT (fundraising CRM), Candid GuideStar Charity Check (tax status verification), CSI WatchDOG (watchlist screening). Planned integrations include DocuSign and Microsoft Power BI (per Blackbaud blog, 2024). SKY API available with REST endpoints for payments, organisations, requests, activities, contacts, and requirements. SSO via Blackbaud ID connects Azure AD, SAML 2.0, ADFS, and Okta.
Note: Blackbaud’s integrations are strongest for organisations already using the Blackbaud ecosystem. API-built custom integrations are possible but require developer resource.
Sources reviewed in this section
Implementation and onboarding
Submit.com advertises that most organisations launch their first programme within days using pre-built templates and the no-code builder. Programme teams configure workflows without IT support or additional professional services fees.
Blackbaud Grantmaking is delivered with experienced implementation consultants (per blackbaud.com). Third-party specialist guides (including Plinth’s UK grant management software guide) cite typical implementation of 3–6 months for Blackbaud. The G-Cloud listing confirms onboarding can be undertaken via on-site or off-site training. For small teams or first-time buyers, Capterra and Software Advice reviews note that configuration without consultants is difficult and ongoing changes can require expensive additional help.
Sources reviewed in this section
Submit.com pricing vs Blackbaud Grantmaking pricing
Submit.com publishes a starting price. Blackbaud does not.
- Submit.com: from €5,995 per year. Custom quote by programme volume and modules. Request a quote here.
- Blackbaud Grantmaking: pricing not published on blackbaud.com. The UK G-Cloud Digital Marketplace listing shows £2,565.75 per licence per year. Third-party procurement data (Vendr) based on anonymised contract transactions suggests foundations with 50–200 grants per year commonly pay $30,000–$60,000 (approximately £25,000–£50,000) annually. Larger foundations pay $75,000–$150,000+. Implementation costs are typically a separate line item. GetApp lists $325/month as a starting figure but this is a third-party estimate not confirmed by Blackbaud. User reviews on Capterra and Software Advice repeatedly cite high and increasing annual costs.
When to choose Submit.com over Blackbaud Grantmaking
Submit.com is the stronger choice when:
- You need Cyber Essentials certification as a procurement requirement (Submit.com holds it; no Blackbaud Cyber Essentials listing found).
- You want to go live in days without a 3–6 month implementation project or consultant fees.
- You need transparent starting pricing from €5,995 per year for budget planning and procurement approval.
- You want no-code configuration your programme team controls without IT dependency.
- You need a single platform covering grants, scholarships, awards, and permits rather than a grants-only tool.
- You want multilingual portals without manual translation file preparation.
- You are a UK or Irish local authority, university, or charity looking for a vendor with an established UK and Ireland public sector customer base.
- You prefer a vendor with a clean security history and confirmed UK and EU data residency.
When Blackbaud Grantmaking may fit better
To be fair and transparent, Blackbaud Grantmaking is likely the better fit when:
- You are a large foundation or grantmaking organisation already invested in the Blackbaud ecosystem (Raiser’s Edge NXT, Financial Edge NXT) and want CRM and finance integration in one vendor relationship.
- You need deep CRM functionality to manage relationships, giving history, and constituent records alongside grant management.
- You want access to 250+ built-in reports and configurable dashboards for complex, multi-entity grantmaking portfolios.
- You have the budget, timeline, and internal capacity for a services-led, 3–6 month implementation with Blackbaud implementation consultants.
- You need watchlist screening and tax-status verification via built-in Candid and CSI WatchDOG integrations without additional API work.
Sources reviewed in this section
Frequently asked questions: Submit.com vs Blackbaud Grantmaking
Is Submit.com a good alternative to Blackbaud Grantmaking?
Yes, particularly for UK and Irish grantmakers that want fast deployment, transparent pricing, Cyber Essentials certification, and a no-code platform covering grants, scholarships, and awards. Submit.com starts from €5,995 per year and launches within days. Blackbaud Grantmaking is stronger for large foundations needing deep CRM integration, complex multi-entity reporting, and an existing Blackbaud ecosystem, but typically costs significantly more and requires a 3–6 month implementation.
How does Submit.com’s pricing compare to Blackbaud Grantmaking?
Submit.com publishes a starting price from €5,995 per year. Blackbaud does not publish pricing on its website. The UK G-Cloud listing shows £2,565.75 per licence per year, but third-party procurement data (Vendr) suggests mid-size foundations commonly pay £25,000–£50,000+ per year including implementation. User reviews on Capterra frequently cite high and increasing annual costs as a concern with Blackbaud. Request a full written quote from both vendors including all implementation, training, and support costs.
Is Blackbaud Grantmaking available on the UK G-Cloud Digital Marketplace?
Yes. Blackbaud Grantmaking is listed on the UK G-Cloud Digital Marketplace (G-Cloud 14). Submit.com is also listed on UK G-Cloud 14. Both can therefore be procured directly by UK public sector organisations using the Digital Marketplace framework.
Is Blackbaud Grantmaking Cyber Essentials certified?
No Cyber Essentials certification was found for Blackbaud Grantmaking in its G-Cloud listing or on blackbaud.com at the time of this review. Submit.com is Cyber Essentials certified. If Cyber Essentials is a hard procurement requirement for your organisation, verify Blackbaud’s current status directly with Blackbaud before proceeding.
What happened with the Blackbaud data breach?
In February 2020, Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack that affected data from thousands of nonprofit organisations and charities globally, including many UK universities and charities. Blackbaud paid the ransom and has since invested significantly in security. The company’s G-Cloud listing now references SOC 2 Type 2 audits, annual penetration tests, and ISO27001 frameworks. Whether this history is disqualifying depends on your organisation’s risk assessment and due diligence process.
How long does it take to implement Blackbaud Grantmaking?
Blackbaud Grantmaking typically takes 3–6 months to implement, according to Blackbaud.com (which references experienced implementation consultants) and independent UK grant management software guides. Small organisations can access a Basic implementation with fewer configurations. Submit.com advertises launch within days using pre-built templates and a no-code builder, without IT support or professional services fees.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking support multiple languages?
Yes. Blackbaud Grantmaking added AI-powered form translation into 30+ languages including Welsh, French, and Spanish in July 2024 (per Blackbaud press release). This is an AI translation capability added to the applicant portal. The platform UI is listed as English, Dutch, French, and Spanish on GetApp. Submit.com supports native multilingual applicant portals (per Submit.com homepage).
Can Submit.com cover scholarships and awards as well as grants?
Yes. Submit.com covers grants, scholarships, awards, permits, and broader application-based workflows on one platform. Blackbaud Grantmaking is purpose-built for grant management specifically and is not marketed as a scholarship or awards management tool.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking integrate with Financial Edge NXT?
Yes. Blackbaud Grantmaking has a pre-built integration with Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT for grant accounting and reimbursements, and with Raiser’s Edge NXT for fundraising and CRM. This Blackbaud ecosystem integration is one of its strongest differentiators for organisations already using those products.
See Submit.com in action
Book a 15-minute demo and see how Submit.com handles your specific grant, scholarship, or awards programme, from applicant intake to post-award reporting. Pricing from €5,995 per year.
Sources reviewed
All Blackbaud claims on this page are drawn from publicly available materials published by Blackbaud Inc., the UK G-Cloud Digital Marketplace listing, independent third-party review directories, or specialist UK grant management guides. All Submit.com claims are from submit.com.