Is a Quiet Grants Management Revolution Underway?

Posted Fri, 03/25/2011 - 2:08am by Adin Miller

Philanthropy

One of the most interesting discussions during the Grants Managers Network (GMN) conference focused on the evolution of grants management software. Admittedly, this might not seem like the most exciting subject. But grants management software has a tremendous impact on how foundations review proposals and process their grant awards. And based on the discussions that took place at the GMN conference this week, a big change is about to happen – the only true question is whether this change will occur within two to three years or within five years.

The main discussion began when Scott Travasos, CFO for Blue Shield of California Foundation, asked on Twitter whether Fluxx and Saleforce would dominate the grants management software provider field within two to three years. (Sean Stannard-Stockton recently profiled Fluxx, an open source grants management platform developed by the Energy Foundation, on the Tactical Philanthropy blog.) I responded that I thought the barriers to shifting grants management systems were still too high.

Jason Ricci, the project lead for Fluxx, asked me to clarify my answer. I noted that the perception of cost (which may be very distinct from the actual cost), the need to re-train grants management and program staff, and data migration would challenge funders who might want to switch grants management systems. And I’ll add here that this assumes the funders would willingly walk away from significant sunken costs associated with their current systems.

Rebecca Van Sickle, Director of Grants Management at the Atlantic Philanthropies, responded that the pain points with existing grants management applications are high and that even large institutions are now willing to consider a shift. Others I spoke to informally during the conference reinforced this conclusion. The endless frustration funders have had with the existing major historical providers of grants management software – especially with MicroEdge, which dominates the field with its GIFTS platform – appears to be increasing. Disappointingly, the current major grants management software providers seemingly appear oblivious to the growing disenchantment with their products.

As Rebecca further explained, the grants management field only needs a few key foundation to make the transition, which should drop the high expenses associated with adopting a new system, staff training, and data migration I noted earlier. If that transition involves adoption of open source platforms, we could see “a community of developers building product features" that will accelerate adoption.

The GMN community has been demanding innovation for its grants management software vendors for some time. The need for innovation and new thinking that aligns with the evolution of the philanthropic sector (leveraged grantmaking; social impact investments; alignment of grants management, customer relationship management, and financial systems, etc.) is become even more pressing. But, there have been little notable innovations pushed forward since the grants management community began to use online application portals and review systems.

Conversely, Fluxx offers a range of innovations attractive to funders such as its open source architecture, system alerts to improve workflows and internal operations, and capability to better track length of time for the approval cycle. With greater adoption of Fluxx, market incentives might finally develop that will finally encourage the mainstream grants management software providers to innovate and compete. In turn, we could finally see product development that will substantially improve foundations' ability to work more efficiently.

And as Jason Ricci noted, that field-wide adoption will not take as long as five years to happen. Viva la Revolucion!

Tags: Grants Managers Network, Grants Management Software, Fluxx, Open Source, Philanthropy, GMN11

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Comments

Quick Read

by Anonymous - 05/20/2013 - 2:26am

I am looking for books of this nature from long back.. i was wondering mistakenly else unfortunately i found your one above interesting .. good analysis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.openwavecomp.com.my/ecommerce_solutions.html

Good post! Your post is an

by Anonymous - 05/19/2013 - 1:03pm

Good post! Your post is an excellent example of why I keep comming back to read your excellent quality content that is forever updated. Thank you!
atlanta roofing specialist

It feels like serendipity, I

by Anonymous - 05/19/2013 - 1:05am

It feels like serendipity, I like what I see to check out your web page repeatedly. Through this post, we know that your good knowledge in playing with all the pieces was very helpful
buy youtube views

Then came the gowns,

by Anonymous - 05/18/2013 - 9:46pm

Then came the gowns, breathtakingly beautiful - as they Karen Millen Dresses always are from Temperley - beaded, embellished, embroidered, sheer backs, sheer sleeves, flowing silk.

Acne is one of the most

by Anonymous - 05/16/2013 - 3:56am

Acne is one of the most common problems in adolescent teens affecting nearly seventeen million people in the United States. Acne is nothing but a disorder involving sebaceous glands and hair follicles. prediksi bola

This blog contains a lot of

by Anonymous - 05/16/2013 - 3:42am

This blog contains a lot of informative data and news which i first time read from here.I have been looking for books of this nature for a way too long.
I am just glad that,Thanks for writing about this important topic. www.paymentprocessingsolutions.org

It is great to have the

by Anonymous - 05/02/2013 - 11:13am

It is great to have the opportunity to read a good quality article with useful information on topics that plenty are interested on.keep posting.thanks
topes para estacionamiento

That’s eyes opening and

by Anonymous - 05/12/2013 - 11:22pm

That’s eyes opening and important. You clearly know so much about the subject, you’ve covered so many bases. Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog. ebrandz review

This is really wonderful that

by Anonymous - 05/02/2013 - 11:14am

This is really wonderful that I have found this website. I would really admire the efforts made here to make the content & the whole stuff more wonderful than others.
tapetes impresos

This is my first time i visit

by Anonymous - 05/02/2013 - 9:10pm

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work. I have been meaning to write something like this on my website and you have given me an idea. Just stumbled across your blog and was instantly amazed with all the useful information that is on it. - Menurunkan Kolesterol

This site is excellent and so

by Anonymous - 05/15/2013 - 9:33pm

This site is excellent and so is how the subject matter was explained. I also like some of the comments too.Waiting for next post. Your article is very exciting and informational. I am trying to decide on a career move and this has helped me with one aspect. Thank you so much! - Xamthone

I really liked it. Keep

by Anonymous - 05/01/2013 - 7:29pm

I really liked it. Keep sharing such excellent post like this in future too. Informative and good article.
jual rumah

Still working

by Anonymous - 04/24/2013 - 6:00am

This is true in some places which experts forecast will suffer greatest from growing temperatures, extended deficiencies and other exciting weather events. The variations by now underway are production vast parts of once productive land no longer fit for traditional agriculture. - Michael Courouleau

Klima Servisi

by Anonymous - 04/23/2013 - 4:20am

Fashion folks could have a pointy kombi servisi eye along with a sharp taste for depth that has a potent emphasis on layout and way of living Asics Discount Shoes.You can find practically nothing much better than vaillant kombi servisi Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mini Cooper White colored Darkblue Red for this approaching summer time days Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66.It use key white colored to accomplish the complete demirdöküm kombi servisi upper,while use blue and red to hightlight the signature asics stripes Asics Tiger.The light-weight style and design will make you practice make ideal after you are executing sports activities with baymak kombi servisi Onitsuka Tiger Mini Cooper footwear.They seem great once the 1st sequence arrives out Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Lauta.You will drop in like sports kombi servisi activities experience with it.

Parajumpers Kleidung mit interkontinentalen vogue Klima Flügel-geführten Personen beeindruckenden, einfallsreich neue life Parajumpers beylikdüzü kombi servisi Outlet.To parajumpers Steckdose aktualisiert das Ausma? der erfahrenen gute Qualit?t und Handel des Sektors Praktiker, kombi servisi Fortschritt industriellen Fortschritts, zeigen dies ein neuartiges vogue Struktur principles Parajumpers.Parajumpers als Mode zu sein Daunenjacke Marke heute weiterhin zum Trend in den Leben von zahlreichen folks. kadıköy kombi servisi Boston Crimson Sox T Stripe provides absolute visual appeal like its assorted hues, it truly is customized made, it’s accessible in altered sizes, it is woolen, it has bigger continued abiding grip. Boston Purple Sox T Stripe gives you a superior artefact and kombi servisleri has regularly annoyed the prospects. New era hats accommodate a arresting accumulating of hats in visual appeal apple and it’ll guidance to betrayal your character. It may be advised with abundant accomplishment to amuse our barter to ensure that there investment would not go to waste, from vaillant kombi servisi adolescence to produced these hats can get abundant satisfaction. It truly is fabricated up of best brand quality, abundant applicable and in altered colors and an affordable prize.

I’m extremely inspired

by Anonymous - 04/25/2013 - 8:53pm

I’m extremely inspired together with your writing talents and also with the format in your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to peer a great weblog like this one today..
Atlanta Roofers

health advice

by Anonymous - 05/09/2013 - 1:41am

Health is a factor that has universal recognition and importance. It is considered that with a good health it is possible to enjoy the life but the bad health doesn’t allow the people to stay happy in the life. I personally love to have the health tips because of the given reasons. There are other reasons that contribute for the health maintenance. http://www.cureacnemarks.com/

Kombi Servisi

by Anonymous - 04/23/2013 - 4:20am

As well as abounding hip-pop klima servisi stars and blur celebrities cutting New Era hats, the cast has currently beyond the sports activities ascendancy and turn out to be a cast which arçelik klima servisi real accepted a a part of humans who like artery actualization and sports activities. New Era is now the latest in the hip-hop world. When apropos to new era caps, the a lot of accepted accounts in NYC now should be the anew seem BLACK OUT. In contempo vestel klima servisi a long time, and in about the many American studios for hip-pop songs, there are consistently some pop stars who abrasion New Era Cap. In 2004,YMCMB Snapbacks red balderdash webmaster forumları hats entered China current market, bringing the most recent tendencies of New Era hats. Hat has regularly been an accent within the autumn and winter months. Having said that, hat modifications its stance and become ascendant actualization accent nowadays. It’s extra alluring and accomplish the achieved bathrobe additional webmaster forumu eye-catching. Let abandoned the faculty of air-conditioned and unique. Displaying altered kinds, cap is not alone a apparatus for aegis adjoin the dogalgaz soba servisi algid and hot but aswell a capacity as well as a style, Enable cutting hat become a technique to actualization your character.

But, there have been little

by Anonymous - 04/18/2013 - 10:22pm

But, there have been little notable innovations pushed forward since the grants management community began to use online application portals and review systems. ITILF2011 || JK0-018 || JN0-332 || JN0-343 || JN0-355 || JN0-360 || JN0-530 || LOT-402 || LOT-441 || LOT-951

This website has very good

by Anonymous - 04/21/2013 - 8:46pm

This website has very good content.So I am sure this website will form the well-known in the future.My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to exploring your web page repeatedly. - selimut

This is very interesting.

by Anonymous - 04/18/2013 - 7:00am

This is very interesting. thanks for that. we need more sites like this.
sito incontri

This is the way I like to see

by Anonymous - 04/17/2013 - 4:53am

This is the way I like to see informational content written. This post is different from what I read on most blog. Click here

helpful Article

by Anonymous - 04/16/2013 - 1:06am

Express gratitude you for this blog. That's all I can say. You most decisively have made this blog into certain thing that's eye unfastening and important. You apparently understand so much about the subject, you've enclosed so many bases. large stuff from this part of the internet. afresh, express gratitude you for this blog.Thanks.

Just Visit = click here , click here , click here , click here , click here

You completed a few fine

by Anonymous - 04/13/2013 - 11:51am

You completed a few fine points there. I did a search on the subject and found nearly all persons will go along with with your blog.
tapetes personalizados

Web Application Security Assessment

by Anonymous - 05/15/2013 - 9:47pm

Break Security specialized in security functions and application assessments like penetration testing, code review, client-side and mobile penetration testing. Unlike many other security consulting companies, we are professional, experienced, and prepared to deliver high-quality services for a demanding and ever-changing business world
Web Application Security Assessment

This is the way I like to see

by Anonymous - 04/13/2013 - 11:50am

This is the way I like to see informational content written. This post is different from what I read on most blog.
topes de estacionamiento

Conversely, Fluxx offers a

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:48am

On the net shopping possesses

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 9:17pm

On the net shopping possesses come to be a welcome break for many people. Shopping is usually both fulfilling and tedious based on the situation that you be with. It is usually excruciatingly painful to search shopping for anyone who is one of the people ever chaotic urban vip's. www.buyonlineguru.com

Thinking about what, as soon

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 9:17pm

Thinking about what, as soon as, how in addition to why consumed will streamline your ways of eating. Mindful eating means that you can tap in your intrinsic hunger cues, helping you to evaluate when to commence eating in addition to, perhaps most importantly, when to quit. www.thenutritiontips.com

Decide what quantity of money

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 9:16pm

Decide what quantity of money you would like to spend and try to find gifts in line with cost. www.photographymagazines.eu

An infected nail is largely

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 9:16pm

An infected nail is largely detected by way of progressive discoloration of this root nail in addition to later some sort of yellow or maybe dark colour. Then, the nails might take a incredibly unpleasant feature, and it is difficult to live on with. www.aboutmeandfamily.eu

That had been an useful read.

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 9:15pm

That had been an useful read. While I go along with you you can travel on less money, like people said it might be kinda tedious. I realize its a superior solution in my opinion to purely plan available what I’m about to do in addition to what it should cost then just preserve enough money to try and do what I'd prefer and thought out. www.thecruiseweddings.com

I would like to say thank for

by Anonymous - 04/12/2013 - 9:41pm

I would like to say thank for sharing this great article. We can’t get this kind of information from www.aworldwide-travel.com

As Rebecca further explained,

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:47am

abcd

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:46am

Conversely, Fluxx offers a range of innovations attractive to funders such as its open source architecture, system alerts to improve workflows and internal operations, and capability to better track length of time for the http://www.king-exam.com/ approval cycle. With greater adoption of Fluxx, market incentives might finally develop that will finally encourage the mainstream grants management software providers to innovate and compete. In turn, we could finally see product development that will substantially improve foundations' ability to work more efficiently.

RandyRKO

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:45am

Paper Cram || Paper Dumps || Pass Cram || Pass Dumps || Practice Dumps

But grants management

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:44am

But grants management software has a tremendous impact on how foundations review proposals and process their grant awards. And based on the discussions that took place at the GMN conference this week, a big change is about to happen – the only true question is whether this change will occur within two to three years or within five years. And I’ll add here that this http://www.it-certificationtraining.com/ assumes the funders would willingly walk away from significant sunken costs associated http://www.brain-dumbs.com/ with their current systems.

Scaling growth, whether in

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:41am

Scaling growth, whether in nonprofits or social benefit Visual Exams enterprises, continues to generate attention and buzz. The underlying concepts behind scaling growth are not new. But scaling growth has gained further traction in recent years as the philanthropic and social investment sectors have increased their focus on improving and http://www.it-practicetest.com/ documenting organizational effectiveness,

I just found this blog and

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:39am

I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up Test Papers the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. http://www.it-testquestions.com/ And the concept of Thank You

Jason Ricci, the project lead

by Anonymous - 04/11/2013 - 12:36am

Jason Ricci, the project lead for Fluxx, asked me to clarify my answer. http://www.it-test4pass.com/ I noted that the perception of cost (which may be very distinct from the actual cost), the need to re-train grants management and program staff, and data migration would challenge funders who might want to switch grants management systems. And I’ll add here that this assumes the funders would willingly walk away from significant sunken costs associated with their current systems.

best blog

by Anonymous - 04/10/2013 - 8:08am

I believe this really is excellent information. Most of men and women will concur with you and I ought to thank you about it.
ads dating.

Outstanding blog post!

by Anonymous - 04/07/2013 - 9:00am

Outstanding blog post! I have bookmarked your site so ideally I’ll see much more on this subject in the foreseeable future.

esgesee.com
boxingsfinest.com
facebookeverywhere.com
haas-ea.com
harmonicemundi.com
kaaad.com
mkchildcare.net
shutterphotobooths.com
theblackboxstudio.com
uncommonclarity.mobi

As a marketing student I am

by Anonymous - 04/04/2013 - 7:48am

As a marketing student I am so grateful for the existence of Twitter and Facebook. I learned so much using them, I managed to get in contact with important people and I feel so confident now in my skills. My latest writing assignment was great because I used resources like yours or like BestCustomWriting.com and I could compile a lot of information into a single paper.