For decades, managing grants was bogged down by paperwork, spreadsheets, and endless back-and-forth emails, draining time that could have been spent building relationships and amplifying impact. Flexigrant, developed by Fluent Technology, has changed that. With its user-friendly interface and customizable workflows, Flexigrant simplifies grant management, scaling easily whether handling a dozen applications or thousands, and offering tools for everything from online application portals and budget tables to real-time reporting and tracking. It’s also the ideal upgrade for organisations already using a grant management system but wanting better functionality, smoother data migration, and excellent support.
Designed for funders awarding over £400,000 per year, Flexigrant delivers the flexibility and performance needed to streamline operations and focus on impact. “We've been using Flexigrant since 2019, and we're a group of three grant-making charities under one organisational umbrella. I joined the organisation in 2022, and at that time, we weren’t using online forms—application forms were sent out in the post,” says Sandra McAfee, Grants Manager at Norwich Charitable Trusts. “When COVID came, we transitioned to emailing applications, which were then uploaded by the grant officers. It wasn’t until last year that we became fully online, and it has saved us so much time. It's been brilliant.”
What is Grant Management?
Grant management is essential for private philanthropy, charities, non-profits, councils, and government bodies that distribute or receive funding for philanthropy or research initiatives. It ensures funds are used effectively by overseeing the full lifecycle—from application and allocation to monitoring and reporting.
The Importance of Grant Management Software
Managing grants manually is a complex and time-consuming process. Grant management software simplifies and streamlines this process by centralising administration and supporting smarter, faster ways of working. Key benefits include:
Efficiency and Time Savings - Grant management software simplifies key administrative tasks like application submission, budget tracking, and reporting. By moving the process online, it helps grantmakers manage high volumes of applications more efficiently. Platforms like Flexigrant offer time-saving features such as reusable application templates, a question bank, automated offer letter generation, email templates, and built-in shortlisting tools—reducing manual work and accelerating the entire process.
Enhanced Collaboration - The centralisation provided by Flexigrant improves collaboration among team members – and between internal and external stakeholders. From enhancing communication to enabling convenient document sharing, it ensures that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information, and can work together more effectively.
Better Decision Making - With Flexigrant’s data reporting options, organisations can easily access and analyse information related to their grant-funded projects. These tools provide valuable visibility into project performance and financial management, supporting better decision-making and more effective resource allocation in the future.
Choosing the Right Grant Management Software Provider
As more organisations turn to digital solutions like Flexigrant, selecting the right platform becomes mission-critical. Here are five essential qualities to look for when evaluating your options:
Functionality That Delivers - Your software should cover the entire grant lifecycle—from application to reporting. Robust features like scoring, workflow tracking, and budget management are must-haves to support efficient and transparent processes.
Intuitive User Experience - No one wants to wrestle with clunky software. Look for a platform with a clean interface, simple navigation, and visual dashboards that make critical data easy to access and interpret.
Support You Can Count On - A great provider goes beyond the tech. “Brilliant support – timely and accurate advice. Thank you” – Grants Support Officer, Local Authority. Look for providers offering comprehensive onboarding, training, and a peer user community; like the Flexigrant Community—are vital for long-term success.
Effective grant management empowers funders to direct resources more efficiently by cutting down on administrative burden. Features like reusable application templates, integrated financial tools, and secure cloud storage all contribute to smoother operations.
“We've been using Flexigrant since 2019... in 2022 we weren’t using online forms—application forms were sent out in the post,... It wasn’t until last year that we became fully online, and it has saved us so much time. It's been brilliant.”
- Sandra McAfee, Grants Manager at Norwich Charitable Trusts