Submittable vs Grant Assistant for Nonprofits
Choosing between Submittable and Grant Assistant means understanding which side of the grant equation you're on. Submittable is an enterprise-grade platform for foundations and grantmakers to manage incoming applications, reviews, and fund distribution—trusted by 11,000+ organizations processing 25 million applications. Grant Assistant is an AI-powered writing tool that helps nonprofits seeking grants draft competitive proposals 70% faster, trained on 7,000+ winning applications. Your decision depends on whether you're giving grants or applying for them.
Quick Verdict
Choose based on your role in the grant ecosystem:
Choose Submittable if:
- •You're a foundation or grantmaker managing incoming applications and distributing funds
- •You need multi-stage review workflows with automated scoring, blind reviews, and configurable rubrics
- •Integration with Salesforce, Candid, SAM.gov, and accounting systems is critical
- •Compliance, audit trails, and enterprise security are essential requirements
- •You process 50+ applications annually and need team collaboration tools
Choose Grant Assistant if:
- •You're a nonprofit seeking grants and need help writing competitive proposals
- •You tackle complex federal or international development grants requiring RFP compliance
- •Data security is paramount—your information is never used for AI training
- •You want AI trained on 7,000+ winning proposals to improve writing quality
- •Your team is small and you need to compete for major grants without dedicated writers
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Feature | Submittable | Grant Assistant | Winner / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Grant management (receiving & reviewing) | Grant writing (proposal creation) | 🎯 Different use cases |
| Target User | Foundations, grantmakers, corporations | Nonprofits seeking grants | 🎯 Opposite sides of grants |
| Starting Price | ~$10,000/year (custom) | Custom pricing (demo required) | 💰 Grant Assistant more accessible |
| Free Trial | Demo only | Demo available | 🔄 Both require demos |
| AI Writing Assistance | None (review-focused AI) | Core feature (7,000+ proposals trained) | ✅ Grant Assistant for writing |
| Application Review | Advanced (blind review, scoring rubrics) | None | ✅ Submittable for reviewing |
| RFP Analysis | Applicant organization profiles | AI-powered compliance checking | ✅ Grant Assistant for RFP work |
| Integrations | Salesforce, Candid, SAM.gov, Zapier | Document exports (Word, PDF) | ✅ Submittable for ecosystem |
| Team Collaboration | Multi-user, reviewer assignments | Collaborative writing features | ✅ Submittable for large teams |
| Data Security | Enterprise-grade, audit trails | Closed system, no AI training on data | 🔐 Both strong, different focus |
| Best For | Managing grant programs | Writing grant proposals | 🎯 Depends on your role |
Last updated: January 22, 2026. Pricing and features subject to change; verify with vendors.
Understanding the Comparison
At first glance, comparing Submittable and Grant Assistant might seem like comparing apples and oranges—and in many ways, it is. These tools serve fundamentally different purposes in the nonprofit grant ecosystem, yet they're frequently mentioned together when organizations evaluate their grant technology stack. Understanding when each tool makes sense starts with recognizing your organization's role in the grant process.
Submittable sits on the grantmaker side of the equation. It's designed for foundations, corporations, government agencies, and any organization that distributes funding through application-based programs. When you log into Submittable as an administrator, you're building forms to receive applications, configuring review workflows with multiple stages and scorecards, assigning reviewers with conflict-of-interest checks, and ultimately managing the distribution of funds. The platform has processed over 25 million applications for more than 11,000 organizations, making it one of the most established players in the grant management space.
Grant Assistant, now part of the FreeWill suite of nonprofit tools, sits on the grant seeker side. It's built for nonprofits that need to write compelling proposals to win funding. The platform was developed by a team including former senior leaders from USAID and major international development organizations, and it's been trained on over 7,000 winning grant proposals. When you use Grant Assistant, you're drafting proposals, analyzing RFPs for compliance requirements, and leveraging AI to write faster without sacrificing quality.
The key question isn't "which is better?"—it's "which do you need?" Some organizations might need both: a community foundation that awards grants (Submittable) while also seeking federal funding for its own operations (Grant Assistant). But most nonprofits will clearly fall into one category or the other. Let's explore each tool's strengths to help you make the right decision for your organization.
What Is Submittable?
Submittable is an end-to-end grant management platform that helps organizations collect, review, and manage applications at scale. Originally founded in 2010 to help literary magazines manage submissions, it has evolved into a comprehensive solution used by foundations, government agencies, corporations, and higher education institutions to run competitive programs of all kinds—from grants and scholarships to awards and fellowship programs.
The platform excels at handling complex application workflows. Program administrators can build customizable forms with conditional logic, configure multi-stage review processes with weighted scoring rubrics, set up blind reviews to reduce bias, manage conflicts of interest automatically, and track applications through every stage from submission to award. Submittable's Organization Profiles feature integrates with Candid and SAM.gov to automatically verify nonprofit status and pull organizational data, reducing the administrative burden on both applicants and reviewers.
Key Submittable Features
Enterprise grant management capabilities
Application Management
- Drag-and-drop form builder with conditional logic
- File upload management and applicant portals
- Draft saving and collaborative applications
- Mobile-responsive design for applicants
Review & Evaluation
- Multi-stage workflows with automated routing
- Blind review and conflict-of-interest management
- Weighted scoring rubrics and collaborative evaluation
- Real-time dashboards and reporting
Submittable has invested significantly in AI capabilities on the review side, including automated scoring assistance, smart summaries that provide quick overviews of applications, and AI translation to help program teams work with international applicants. The platform also integrates with external data sources to verify information—for example, cross-checking applicant-provided financial data against IRS records.
For organizations managing funds distribution, Submittable handles the payment workflow with integrations to accounting systems like QuickBooks, SAP, and NetSuite. You can export payment files for your finance team or import completed payment records back into the system. DocuSign integration automates contract execution when grants are approved.
What Is Grant Assistant?
Grant Assistant is expert AI grant writing software designed to help nonprofits and international development organizations win more funding in less time. Acquired by FreeWill in late 2024, the platform was built by a team with deep nonprofit and grantwriting expertise—including former senior leaders at USAID, major UN agencies, and leading nonprofits. The AI has been trained on over 7,000 winning grant proposals, giving it sector-specific knowledge that general-purpose AI tools lack.
The platform addresses a critical pain point for nonprofits: grant writing is time-intensive, specialized work that many organizations struggle to resource adequately. Grant Assistant claims to reduce proposal writing time by up to 70%, letting teams complete proposals in one-third of the usual hours. For a small nonprofit where the executive director wears the grant writer hat alongside many others, that time savings can be transformative.
Key Grant Assistant Features
AI-powered grant writing capabilities
AI Writing Assistance
- Trained on 7,000+ winning grant proposals
- Automated draft generation from project inputs
- Organizational voice and context learning
- Templates for federal and international proposals
RFP & Compliance
- RFP analysis to extract requirements
- Compliance checking for funder guidelines
- Eligibility gap identification
- Word count and formatting verification
What sets Grant Assistant apart from general AI writing tools is its specialized training and security focus. The platform can analyze RFPs and funder documents to identify eligibility requirements, compliance gaps, and key criteria that proposals need to address. It provides structured templates specifically designed for government and large NGO applications, where formatting and section requirements are often strict and non-negotiable.
Security is a core differentiator. Grant Assistant operates in a fully closed system where your organizational data is never used to train AI models. This is particularly important for nonprofits working on sensitive programs or applying to government contracts where data handling requirements are stringent. The platform includes built-in compliance testing features designed for high-stakes proposals where precision and security matter most.
The platform also includes funder discovery features to help identify grant opportunities that align with your mission. However, this isn't its primary strength—for comprehensive funder research, tools like Instrumentl or OpenGrants offer more robust databases and matching algorithms. Grant Assistant's sweet spot is taking an identified opportunity and helping you write a winning proposal for it.
Head-to-Head Feature Breakdown
AI Capabilities
Submittable
- AI-powered review automation and scoring assistance
- Smart summaries providing application overviews
- Data verification with external databases (IRS, Candid)
- AI translation for multilingual accessibility
Grant Assistant
- AI trained on 7,000+ winning proposals for writing
- Automated draft generation from project details
- RFP analysis and compliance checking
- Funder matching and opportunity discovery
Verdict: Different AI focus—Submittable automates review, Grant Assistant automates writing. Choose based on your role.
Workflow Management
Submittable
- Multi-stage application and review workflows
- Automated stage routing based on criteria
- Reviewer assignment and workload balancing
- Payment processing and contract automation
Grant Assistant
- Proposal workflow from research to draft
- Project and grant opportunity organization
- Basic deadline tracking
Verdict: Submittable wins for complex workflows. Grant Assistant focuses on the writing process.
Integration Ecosystem
Submittable
- Salesforce two-way sync for CRM integration
- Candid and SAM.gov organization verification
- DocuSign contract automation
- Zapier, Slack, Gmail, accounting systems
Grant Assistant
- Export to Word, PDF, Google Docs
- Part of FreeWill nonprofit suite
Verdict: Submittable wins with robust enterprise integrations. Grant Assistant focuses on document output.
Security & Compliance
Submittable
- Enterprise-grade security infrastructure
- Comprehensive audit trails for compliance
- Role-based access controls
- Custom reporting for regulatory needs
Grant Assistant
- Closed-system architecture (data never trains AI)
- Privacy-first design for sensitive proposals
- Built-in compliance testing features
Verdict: Both strong—Submittable for enterprise audit needs, Grant Assistant for AI data privacy.
Team Collaboration
Submittable
- Multi-user platform with role permissions
- Reviewer assignment and workload management
- Live collaboration on evaluations
- Communication templates and bulk messaging
Grant Assistant
- Collaborative writing and editing
- Shared project access
Verdict: Submittable wins for large teams with complex review needs.
Learning Curve
Submittable
- 4.6/5 ease of use rating on G2
- 2-4 weeks to full platform proficiency
- Comprehensive documentation and support
- Professional services for implementation
Grant Assistant
- Minutes to first AI-generated draft
- 1 week to proficiency with full features
- Demo videos and help center
Verdict: Grant Assistant is faster to start; Submittable has more features requiring training.
Pricing Breakdown
Submittable Pricing
Enterprise grant management
Starter Plan
~$399/month
Up to 5 users, essential features
Pro Plan
~$799/month
Up to 20 users, advanced features
Enterprise Plan
$1,499+/month
50+ users, premium support, custom setup
Note: Pricing starts at approximately $10,000/year. Implementation costs range from $3,000-$10,000+ depending on complexity.
Grant Assistant Pricing
AI-powered grant writing
Entry Access
Free / Low-cost
Reportedly accessible entry for nonprofits
Full Platform
Custom Pricing
Demo required for exact pricing
Note: Grant Assistant pricing is not publicly listed. Contact FreeWill for a demo and custom quote based on your organization's needs.
Important Pricing Context
These tools serve fundamentally different purposes, so cost comparisons require context. Submittable's $10,000+/year investment is for organizations distributing grants—the ROI comes from processing efficiency and reduced administrative burden on programs worth millions. Grant Assistant's cost is for organizations seeking grants—the ROI comes from winning funding that wouldn't otherwise be secured. Compare each tool's price against the value it generates for your specific use case.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Discounts & Special Pricing
Neither Submittable nor Grant Assistant advertises explicit nonprofit discounts, but both platforms are designed with nonprofits as a core audience and price accordingly.
Submittable
- Custom quotes based on program needs
- Pricing scales with application volume
- Flexibility in feature selection
- 11,000+ nonprofits already using platform
Grant Assistant
- Built specifically for nonprofit grant seekers
- Reportedly accessible entry-level pricing
- Part of FreeWill's nonprofit-focused suite
- Contact for mission-aligned pricing
For budget-conscious nonprofits seeking AI-powered grant writing, also consider alternatives like Grantable or Grantboost, which offer more transparent pricing starting at $24/month with free tiers available.
Ease of Use & Learning Curve
Both platforms are well-designed for their respective audiences, but they require different investments of time and expertise to master.
Submittable Timeline
Submittable offers professional services for implementation, which can significantly reduce the learning curve for complex deployments.
Grant Assistant Timeline
Grant Assistant's AI-guided workflow means you can start producing drafts almost immediately, then refine your approach over time.
Integration & Compatibility
Submittable's integration ecosystem is significantly more developed, which makes sense given its enterprise positioning and role as a central system of record for grant programs. Grant Assistant focuses on producing quality output rather than connecting to every system in your stack.
Submittable Integration Highlights
CRM & Data
- Salesforce two-way sync
- Candid organization profiles
- SAM.gov verification
- Custom API access
Automation
- Zapier (1,000+ apps)
- Slack notifications
- Gmail integration
- Google Drive storage
Finance & Docs
- DocuSign contracts
- QuickBooks, SAP, NetSuite
- Payment processing
- CSV import/export
Grant Assistant Output Options
Document Exports
- Microsoft Word (.docx)
- PDF format
- Google Docs compatible
- Copy/paste to any system
FreeWill Suite
- Part of broader FreeWill platform
- Potential future integrations
- Estate planning tools
- Donor management features
Which Tool Should You Choose?
The decision between Submittable and Grant Assistant comes down to a simple question: Are you giving grants or seeking them? Here's a decision framework to clarify your choice:
Choose Submittable If You're a Grantmaker
- You're a foundation, corporate giving program, or government agency distributing funds
- You need to collect, organize, and review applications from multiple applicants
- Multi-stage review workflows, blind reviews, and scoring rubrics are essential
- You need to integrate with Salesforce, verify with Candid/SAM.gov, or automate contracts
- Compliance, audit trails, and enterprise security are requirements
- You have budget for $10,000+/year enterprise software
Choose Grant Assistant If You're a Grant Seeker
- You're a nonprofit that applies for grants from foundations, corporations, or government
- Writing competitive proposals is your challenge, not reviewing applications
- You need help with complex federal or international development RFPs
- Data privacy and security are paramount (closed AI system)
- Your team is small and you lack dedicated grant writers
- You want AI trained on 7,000+ winning proposals to improve your writing
Consider Both If...
Some organizations operate on both sides of the grant equation. A community foundation might use Submittable to manage its giving programs while using Grant Assistant to apply for federal capacity-building grants. If you're in this situation:
- Evaluate each tool for its specific purpose separately
- Note that they don't integrate with each other directly
- Budget accordingly—both are significant investments
Getting Started with Your Choice
Getting Started with Submittable
- 1Request a demo through submittable.com to see the platform
- 2Discuss your grant program requirements and get custom pricing
- 3Work with their team on implementation and form setup
- 4Configure integrations with your CRM and accounting systems
- 5Train reviewers and launch your first grant cycle
Getting Started with Grant Assistant
- 1Visit nonprofits.freewill.com and request a demo
- 2Discuss your grant writing needs and get a custom quote
- 3Input your organization's information and mission
- 4Upload an RFP or funder opportunity to test the platform
- 5Generate your first AI-assisted proposal draft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Submittable and Grant Assistant?
Submittable is a grant management platform designed for foundations and grantmakers to receive, review, and manage applications. Grant Assistant is an AI-powered writing tool designed for nonprofits to write competitive grant proposals faster. They serve opposite sides of the grant equation.
Can a nonprofit use both Submittable and Grant Assistant?
Yes, they serve complementary purposes. If you're both a grantmaker (distributing funds) and a grant seeker (applying for funds), you might use Submittable to manage your giving programs and Grant Assistant to write proposals for external funding.
How much does Submittable cost compared to Grant Assistant?
Submittable starts at approximately $10,000/year with enterprise pricing based on program complexity and user count. Grant Assistant offers custom pricing with reportedly more accessible entry points for grant-seeking nonprofits. Both require demos for exact pricing.
Is Grant Assistant good for federal grant applications?
Yes, Grant Assistant was built by former USAID and UN senior leaders specifically for complex federal and international development proposals. It includes RFP analysis, compliance checking, and features designed for high-stakes government applications.
Does Submittable have AI writing features like Grant Assistant?
Submittable has AI features focused on the review side—automated scoring, smart summaries, data verification, and AI translation. It does not have AI proposal writing capabilities. Grant Assistant specializes in AI-powered proposal drafting, which Submittable does not offer.
Which tool is better for small nonprofits?
For small nonprofits seeking grants, Grant Assistant is typically more appropriate and affordable. It helps small teams compete for major grants without dedicated grant writers. Submittable's pricing and feature set are designed for organizations managing grant programs, not applying for them.
Is my data secure with Grant Assistant?
Yes, Grant Assistant emphasizes security with a closed-system architecture where your organizational data is never used to train AI models. This is particularly important for nonprofits handling sensitive program data or government applications.
Need Help Deciding?
The choice between Submittable and Grant Assistant depends on your role in the grant ecosystem. If you're still unsure which tool is right for your organization, we can help you evaluate your options.
Related Comparisons
- GrantAI vs Instrumentl - AI writing vs funder matching
- Grantable vs Grantboost - Budget-friendly AI grant writing
- Instrumentl vs OpenGrants - Grant discovery platforms