OpenWater Grant Management

OpenWater Grant Management is software for grantmakers to manage applications, reviews, awards, and program data. It is best suited to administrators at foundations, government agencies, associations, and higher education institutions. Its connected workflow reaches from intake through post-award tracking, but recommendation requests need another process.

Overview

OpenWater is designed for the grantmaking side of the process, not for grant recipients. That focus makes it a strong fit for organizations coordinating structured application and review programs, particularly those that also need to track awards and reporting. It is less compelling when recommendation requests must be handled within the same platform.

Key features

The drag-and-drop form builder supports conditional logic and attachments of any size. Administrators can shape intake around different program requirements without a file-size ceiling, though the platform does not cover every application component: recommendation requests are not supported directly.

Reviewers access submissions assigned to them and submit scores through a multi-round workflow. This suits programs with staged evaluations, while dashboards track decisions and reports after review. Fund tracking covers funding amounts, payment dates, and program budgets, and reporting and analytics help teams examine program data and monitor outreach and follow-ups. Together, these tools keep evaluation and post-award administration connected.

OpenWater says it integrates with more than 65 AMS, CRM, directory, and payment gateway solutions, including iMIS, Salesforce, Higher Logic, Stripe, and PayPal. Its safeguards include SSO, app encryption, two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, password-strength requirements, and GDPR support options. Integrated payment gateways must be PCI-compliant. Mobile-responsive submission landing pages, administrative and review functions in the OpenWater app, and WCAG compliance support access across devices and accessibility needs.

Implementation includes a dedicated representative. OpenWater says support queries average a 10-minute response and guarantees an answer within one business day. The brand launched in 2014 and was acquired by Advanced Solutions International in 2022.

Pricing

Custom subscription

OpenWater is paid software with custom pricing based on usage needs; the subscription is billed on a subscription basis. Application intake is custom, while award management and reporting and compliance are advanced, and the grantee portal is full. This structure can fit organizations that need a tailored intake setup and substantial post-award capabilities, but the absence of a published price makes budgeting less straightforward before requesting a quote. No lower-priced plan or free tier is described.

Platforms

OpenWater is available on Android and the web. Its mobile-responsive submission pages and app-based administrative and review functions make it relevant to teams working across devices; WCAG compliance is also supported.

Who it's for

Foundations, public agencies, associations, and higher education institutions should consider OpenWater when they need to coordinate grant intake, multi-round scoring, awards, funds, and program reporting. Grant recipients are not its primary audience. Teams that depend on in-platform recommendation requests should look elsewhere or plan a separate process.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Conditional forms and attachments of any size accommodate varied applications without a file-size ceiling.
• Pros: Multi-round scoring, decision dashboards, and fund tracking connect evaluation with award administration.
• Pros: More than 65 integrations and stated support response commitments can suit organizations coordinating with existing systems and staff.
• Cons: Recommendation requests are not supported directly, leaving a gap for programs that collect them.
• Cons: Custom pricing requires a quote, so organizations cannot compare a published plan price upfront.

Alternatives

For a broader grant-management category comparison, see Grant Management Software; for award-focused options, see Awards Management Software. Programs centered on abstract review can compare Event Abstract Management Software.

AIMS Grant Management Software may suit buyers seeking a Foundation plan priced at £43,000 a year, billed £43,000 annually (from), for single or low-complexity schemes with limited configuration; it has no free plan or trial. NonProfit+ is another paid option, with pricing by quote and unlimited users. Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT offers personalized custom pricing, with implementation, training, and ongoing support potentially included. Bonterra Penelope uses unpublished pricing available on request. Euna Budget has Professional and Enterprise plans with unpublished pricing. Benevity Employee Groups is custom-scoped and quoted to the organization. CommunityForce directs buyers to request pricing or speak with an expert. Foundant CommunitySuite provides pricing after learning about an organization’s needs.

Verdict

OpenWater is a strong choice for grantmaking teams that want one system for configurable applications, staged review, award tracking, and reporting. Its main drawbacks are the missing in-platform recommendation workflow and custom pricing; choose it when the connected grant workflow outweighs those trade-offs, and look elsewhere when either is a deal-breaker.