Submittable

Submittable is grant-management and corporate social responsibility software for organizations running funding or employee-giving programs. It suits teams that need to coordinate applications, reviews, funds, and reporting in one system. Its broad lifecycle coverage is compelling, but custom pricing makes it harder to weigh against alternatives before speaking with the company.

Overview

Submittable supports grant programs from launch through closeout, alongside corporate social responsibility work such as employee giving and community investment. Its value is in bringing program administration, applicant workflows, financial tracking, and impact reporting together; organizations seeking only a lightweight form or review tool may find that scope more than they need.

The company was founded in 2010 in Missoula, Montana, and is a public benefit corporation. It offers API and web access. Applicants can use a mobile-friendly experience to apply by phone, which removes the need for a desktop at the application stage.

Key features

Applications and reviews

A drag-and-drop form builder supports custom logic, while automated and multi-stage reviews help teams handle programs with more than one decision step. Scoring, rubrics, reviewer collaboration, workflow automation, and an applicant portal support structured evaluation and coordination. That combination is useful when applications need consistent assessment; organizations with simple, low-volume intake may not need this depth.

Coordination and financial oversight

Real-time collaboration, in-app communication, and an organization portal give program teams ways to coordinate inside the platform. Financial tracking follows drawdowns and categorizes disbursements, while reporting and analytics span programs. Payment collection is also supported. Together, these tools suit administrators who need to connect review outcomes to funds and program reporting rather than manage each stage separately.

Integrations, security, and support

A two-way API plus pre-built and custom integrations can connect Submittable with systems such as Candid, PeopleSoft, DocuSign, Salesforce, and ERP software. The company says it completes annual third-party SOC 2 Type 2 and HIPAA audits and complies with FERPA and GDPR. It says data is hosted in AWS US East (N. Virginia), encrypted at rest with AES-256, and backed up automatically for 35 days. Stated uptime is 99.0% or higher. Support serves both administrators and applicants, with an average response time of 12 minutes, according to the company.

Pricing

Submittable is paid software with custom pricing; there is no free plan. Organizations must contact the company for plan costs, so comparing budgets before a sales conversation is difficult.

Grant & Application Management Software

This plan covers the core grant lifecycle: a form builder and application portal, automated and multi-stage review, financial tracking and management, fraud prevention and security, dynamic reporting, and lifecycle oversight. It is the clearest fit for grantmakers that need end-to-end administration rather than a standalone application process.

Corporate Social Responsibility Platform

This plan brings together employee giving, resource groups, impact reporting, volunteering, corporate grants, and community investment programs. It is aimed at organizations managing both employee participation and external giving, rather than grant administrators alone.

Enterprise

Enterprise adds funds distribution, custom branding and integrations, project management and professional services, premium support, and implementation. It is suited to organizations that need tailored deployment or expanded service; those needs should be weighed against the custom-price model.

Platforms

Submittable is available on the web and through an API. Its mobile-friendly applicant experience supports phone-based applications, while the platform’s administrative and review capabilities are presented as part of the broader web-based service.

Who it's for

Submittable is best for grantmaking and CSR teams with multi-stage review, financial administration, and reporting needs, especially when applicants, reviewers, and internal staff must coordinate around the same program. Smaller organizations running a single uncomplicated intake may prefer a narrower tool or one with clearly stated entry pricing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Full-lifecycle grant coverage connects application intake, review, financial tracking, and reporting.
• Pros: Rubrics, multi-stage review, collaboration, and workflow automation support structured decisions across teams.
• Pros: API and pre-built or custom integrations can link program work with systems including Salesforce and DocuSign.
• Cons: Custom pricing and no free plan make it difficult for smaller teams to assess affordability upfront.
• Cons: Enterprise-specific services such as implementation and professional services may be unnecessary for organizations with straightforward programs.

Alternatives

For application and grant workflows, compare application management software, grant management software, and scholarship management software by the type of program you run.

OpenWater, Reviewr, and CommunityForce are paid, web-based alternatives to consider alongside Submittable.

Flexi-Grant is another paid option, with a free trial and API and web access. Its Flexigrant One plan is billed as an indicative annual subscription, with implementation quoted separately, and supports up to 500 applications per year and two admin seats; that defined capacity may suit a smaller program that can work within those limits.

RQ Platform offers API and web access, with its Starter plan starting at $2,500 a year and including unlimited users, submissions, and reviewers. That stated starting price and user allowance may appeal to teams prioritizing predictable entry costs.

Optimy has a Start plan from €650 a month, including end-to-end program management, industry data and templates, a dedicated account manager, and top security standards. It is worth considering when those included services match the program’s needs.

SmartSimple Cloud for Grants Management uses a one-time implementation fee plus recurring subscription fees, with pricing depending on organizational needs; it may suit buyers prepared to request a tailored proposal.

Submit.com has a Starter plan at €5,995 a year for up to 1,000 applicants, 20 reviewers, five admins, and one program. That explicit capacity and annual price give teams a concrete basis for comparison.

Verdict

Choose Submittable if your organization needs one platform for grant applications, structured review, financial tracking, and program reporting, or wants to combine grantmaking with employee and community-giving work. Its breadth and integration options are the strongest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if upfront price clarity or a free entry tier is essential, since Submittable has neither.