6 Tried-and-true methods to modernise your grantmaking

Modernising the grantmaking process at your organisation might seem like a Herculean task. Perhaps you’re dealing with a clunky or patchwork system of online forms and spreadsheets. Maybe the sky-high price tag for enterprise grantmaking software is out of reach. Or maybe you just don’t know where to start when it comes to making incremental changes.

Modern grantmaking requires modern solutions. And there are steps you can take to start updating your processes today.

Here are some proven ways you can modernise your program and processes—without breaking your budget or losing your way.

1. Bulk up your security

According to Gartner’s 2024 global software buying trends, the #1 sought-after feature in software procurement is security. But prioritising security is not just a trend; it’s become mission critical.

Software systems with poor security can expose your grantmaking and funding to attacks that can disrupt vital operations, damage your reputation and decrease your program’s impact.

How to modernise your security credentials

Protect your grantmaking by learning how to comply with global data protection and security regulations, including:

• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Australian Privacy Principles (APP)

Need help? Learn how Good Grants can protect your grantmaking.

2. Globalise your grantmaking process

If your grantmaking reaches beyond borders, it can be beneficial to globalise your grantmaking processes, improving accessibility and ease for your grantees and applicants—no matter where they are in the world.

How internationalisation can help modernise your grantmaking:

• Speak their language. Offer your application and communications in multiple languages to improve accessibility and increase application submissions.
• Store program data in your region. Store your program’s digital data in your region, making it easier to comply with data residency legislation.
• Provide funding in multiple currencies. Whether it’s dollars, pesos or yen, manage your funding in the currency your grantees use.

Learn how Good Grants can help internationalise your grantmaking.

3. Invest in a SaaS grant management system

The easiest and most effective way to modernise is to invest in a SaaS (software as a service) grant management system, which can do all the heavy lifting for you.

The benefits of using a SaaS product are abundant. Your grant management system will be available from anywhere, at any time. There are regular new features and improvements. And you have a team of people backing up your program.

How Good Grants can modernise your grantmaking:

• Fast implementation. Gone are the days when software took months to implement. Good Grants has a proven process designed to help you get started, fast. No expertise or dedicated IT teams required.
• Built-in security. Enjoy peace of mind with your grantmaking data; Good Grants has everything you need to operate a grant program in today’s risk climate.
• Global support. We’re radically dedicated to ensuring your success with good software and service. See why we’re consistently rated the best client support in the industry.

And that’s only the start. Learn how Good Grants can help.

4. Automate manual tasks to save time

Modern grantmaking requires you to do more—with less. And that means using automations and integrations to reduce the busy work in your daily operations. It’s all about reducing time-consuming and repetitive manual tasks so you can spend your time on more important aspects of your grantmaking.

The good news is that you don’t have to possess coding or engineering skills to get started. By using popular process automation tools like Zapier and Make, you can effortlessly make the most of the data you have. These tools facilitate data exchange between your grant management software and other systems that meet your business needs.

How to modernise your grantmaking with automations:

• Set up automated communications. Connect your software with your communications system, or set up automated notifications tied to triggers in the grantmaking process to save time and keep stakeholders in the know.
• Create automated workflows to streamline the review process. Create review stages so applications progress through the review process automatically.
• Automate and schedule grant reports in advance. Create workflows where grant reports are scheduled in advance, and take out the busy work of one-off emails every time a report is due.

By putting regular tasks on autopilot, they free up much time for you to attend to other grant management concerns.

Learn about Good Grants integration and automation options.

5. Build transparency and equity in the review process

Modern grantmaking demands equitable outcomes, and that means you need a fair and transparent review process.

It’s important to have a system in place that reviews all applications fairly, through varying assessment methods and rounds.

How to modernise your review process

• Provide an accessible and intuitive application. It’s important to provide a user-friendly application form that is easy for grantseekers and conclusive for your review panel.
• Offer recusal and abstention tools. These helpful options allow reviewers to abstain or managers to recuse reviewers from scoring or deciding on any applications where there may be a potential conflict of interest.
• Allow for anonymous review. Subjectivity can also be compromised by including personal information about an applicant, such as name, gender, education or location. Show reviewers only the information they need to assess each application, reducing the risk of bias.

Good Grants offers easy, powerful and flexible review tools to help you assess applications and make sound funding decisions. Learn more about the review suite.

6. Encourage community involvement

Modern grantmaking means embracing the community you serve and better addressing the challenges and opportunities within the community. Over the last decade, participatory grantmaking has become an increasingly popular approach to grantmaking, creating a way for communities to engage with the organisations that foster positive change and growth in their world.

How to modernise your community grantmaking approach

• Create a community needs assessment to better understand what’s needed, using surveys, interviews, focus groups and existing statistics.
• Engage in community listening, actively seeking and considering the perspectives, needs, experiences and ideas of potential grantees, community members and experts.
• Invite as many community members as possible to participate in the grantmaking process.

Learn how Good Grants can help modernise your community grantmaking approach.

Grantmaking in today’s world

Modern grantmaking challenges require new and inventive approaches. From better grantmaking security and global access to automation, equity in the review process and community involvement, you can rise to today’s challenges with ease and agility.

Learn how Good Grants can help along the way.