SmarterSelect vs Grant Lifecycle Manager

Submittable

Volgistics

Fluxx Grantmaker

OpenWater

Blackbaud Award Management

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Compare SmarterSelect and Grant Lifecycle Manager based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Web-based software management system for recruiting, tracking and coordinating volunteers serving organizations of all types and sizes

OpenWater streamlines program management with its end-to-end solution for accepting and reviewing applications, awards, grants, scholarships, proposals, and abstracts.

Blackbaud Award Management (formerly AcademicWorks) is a web-based scholarship management & donor reporting solution which assists schools, colleges and universities with applicant tracking & communication. Key features include forms management, student portal, financial aid management & reporting.

Award More.
Work Less.

SmarterSelect is an online application management solution for scholarship, award, and grant providers to collect, analyze and evaluate online applications. We help organizations to award more and to work less.

Activity Tracking

Alerts/Notifications

Applicant Portal

Applicant Tracking

Application Management

Audit Management

Commenting/Notes

Communication Management

Compliance Management

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Questions

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Deadline Management

Document Review

Electronic Payments

Electronic Submission

Email Reminders

For Grantmakers

For Nonprofits

For Schools

Forms Management

Grant Application Management

Grant Award Tracking

Grant Management

Interview Management

Member Database

Multi-Currency

Preview Functionality

Progress Tracking

Ratings/Reviews

Recommendations

Reminders

Reporting & Statistics

Reviewer Management

Role-Based Permissions

Scoring

Search/Filter

Single Sign On

SSL Security

Status Tracking

Third-Party Integrations

Web Forms

White Label

SmarterSelect

Web-based

Fundraising & Program Specialist

Our evaluators are also happy with product's ability to be so user friendly. Their customer service is phenomenal, fast, friendly and useful.

Program Director

We really like to use smarter select, its very easy to maneuver  for all stakeholders involved in our process. There is always room for growth but overall we are able to accomplish what we need.

Marketing Assistant

What I like most about Smarter Select is its ease of use. As someone with minimal experience using this type of programming, I found it pretty user friendly.

scholarship director

I've used this for 5 years and the experience has been excellent. Unlike other programs, the price is terrific for the quality of the program and ease of use.

Program Coordinator

Now I am very comfortable resolving issues through e-mail because SmarterSelect's customer service is that good. I highly recommend both the product and the people behind it.

Development Manager

We've been using Smarter Select for probably 10 years and have been super happy with it. The team is always adding new features that make managing our scholarship program easier.

Executive Director

I liked the free trial to set up unique programs with the help of customer support. All free set up work was saved and usable after purchasing the product.

First, I have to say the service of SmarterSelect is wonderful. From day one they have responded quickly, solved our issue or educated us on how to do something.

Volunteer Relations Coordinator 

Overall we love using this software. It has made it so easy for us to send out surveys and applications to our nurses.

My only slight criticism would be that the evaluator questions can only be placed mid-application, not in their own separate form.

Whenever I have an issue with the platform, or unsure about the limitations of a feature I find it difficult to contact customer service or a specialist.

Vice President

I dislike having to receive an email in order to get a report. It's just one more step especially when we are running over 80 reports.

Finally, we are able to choose the level of program we need based on the price that works best for our size organization.

Trustee

I like that I was able to set up our application myself.

The application will go online within a week and it has been a positive experience in setting it up.

President

Strongly encourage integration with Salesforce.

Data Manager

It's fairly straight forward and integrates with Salesforce. The user interface is pretty.

Coordinator of Volunteer Services

Sometimes it's difficult to navigate and could use more sorting options.

SmarterSelect screenshot: Create any type of program, award, scholarship, etc. and define application deadlines

SmarterSelect screenshot: Link to the application from any website and start accepting online applications immediately

SmarterSelect screenshot: Select the desired dates and times for application deadlines

SmarterSelect screenshot: Specify the unique contact for each specific program

SmarterSelect screenshot: Create program application forms easily

SmarterSelect screenshot: Change the flow of questions depending on the applicant's answers

SmarterSelect screenshot: Pre-qualify candidates with SmarterSelect's initial screening tools

SmarterSelect screenshot: Enable applicants to provide referee contact information

SmarterSelect screenshot: Automatically calculate totals, scores, and formulas

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

Submittable provides grant management and corporate social responsibility software for foundations, governments, and corporations. The platform enables organizations to build customizable application forms, manage review processes, and track program budgets in real time without technical expertise. It includes features for fraud prevention, impact reporting, and automated workflows that help streamline administrative tasks.

Fluxx Grantmaker provides the most complete set of features designed solely for grantmaking - collaboration tools, budgeting and forecasting, grantee engagement, reporting, storytelling, and more - all out of the box to help  drive impact for funders and their grantees.

Blackbaud Grantmaking is a grant management solution that allows nonprofit organizations to manage application requests, documents, detailed records and payments, among other administrative processes. It allows supervisors to create workflows to streamline program-related communications with internal and external stakeholders on a centralized dashboard.

Foundant for Grantmakers is a grant lifecycle manager (GLM) system that serves a wide variety of funder organizations offering a user configurable workflow

Activity Dashboard

Administrative Reporting

Approval Process Control

Audit Trail

Budgeting/Forecasting

Categorization/Grouping

Collaboration Tools

Configurable Workflow

Contact Management

Document Management

Due Date Tracking

Impact Measurement

Monitoring

Payment Tracking

Workflow Management

Grant Lifecycle Manager

Grants & Operations Manager

The customer service is always top notch. When I have questions I am always met with help by friendly kind people who walk me through the specifics.

This is such a great solution for organizations looking to easily collect, evaluate, award, and track grant applications.

Grants Administrator

Because it is online, you can access the system from anywhere and work anytime. Their customer support is consistently outstanding, always friendly and happy to help.

Our overall experience has been very positive. Its ease of use is very attractive.

I am so pleased with Grant Lifecycle Management. It has made my Grant process so much easier as everything is online (we came from a PDF/paper application).

Deputy Director

I really enjoy the interface and customer support has always been excellent.

Grants Administration Associate

This software is very user friendly. We surveyed our grantees after implementing GLM and received all positive reviews.

My work at GreaterGood as the Grants Administrator requires me to work in Foundant all day. I find it to be easy to navigate and user friendly for our applicants and partners.

Program Officer

This software has helped automate and streamline our discretionary grant processes. It has saved us a lot of time on manually executing our grant processes.

Research/Administrative Assistant

I have had a very positive experience with Foundant from the beginning.

This system made our grant process so simple for our users, both applicants and evaluators. We went from the stone age of paper to the simplicity of a completely integrated system.

The system has saved us so much time and paper. I would never go back and look forward to the day when we can fully integrate with CommunitySuite as well.

Programs Manager

I don't like that applicants can create duplicate submissions for one application. This makes reviewing applications difficult and creates more work for our staff on the back end.

Director, Cultural Affairs

I miss her now that our regular sessions are done.

I really have very little that I don't like. A minor drawback is that the system cannot fully integrate our board meeting process, because we have a very set process.

Data and Grants Manager

Application process - to complete/approve applications is a little tricky. I am only a year into utilizing the software for reporting.

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: Upon login, applicants can view both past and current applications, their status, as well as any reports or follow-up documentation

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: All forms and stages have automated reminders including past due, assignment, and submission confirmation

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: The copy feature allows users to copy answers from previous applications, over to a new one

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: View the status of all current application evaluations and to whom they are assigned

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: The side-by-side evaluation format shows the review form on the left, and the application request or LOI on the right

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: Give board members access to search the entire database

Grant Lifecycle Manager screenshot: Administrators can manage grant programs and scholarship funds from a centralized dashboard and review applications that have been submitted

SmarterSelect vs Grant Lifecycle Manager Comparison (2026)

SmarterSelect

Grant Lifecycle Manager

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives