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Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Grantmaking vs Fluxx

Blackbaud Grantmaking logo

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Nonprofits

Grants management for foundations and corporate givers inside the Blackbaud ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fluxx logo

Fluxx

Nonprofits

Configurable grants management for foundations that run complex, multi-stage funding programmes

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blackbaud Grantmaking no pricing is published at any tier, and Blackbaud contracts commonly run multiple years, so a foundation that finds the fit wrong is locked in past the point where switching is cheap.; Fluxx configuration flexibility means the system does very little until someone configures it, and foundations without a dedicated systems administrator end up paying the vendor or a partner for every change.
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Fluxx covers Configurable data model.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Grantmaking and Fluxx actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackbaud Grantmaking and Fluxx differ
AttributeBlackbaud GrantmakingFluxx

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blackbaud Grantmaking

  • Online application portal
  • Due diligence checks
  • Board dockets
  • Grantee reporting
  • Financial Edge integration
  • Reporting and dashboards

Only in Fluxx

  • Configurable data model
  • Card-based interface
  • Multi-programme workflows
  • Board and committee review
  • Applicant portal

Both cover

  • Payment scheduling

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blackbaud Grantmaking

  • A private foundation already running Blackbaud Financial Edge that wants grant liabilities to post to the ledger without manual journalsnot Fluxx
  • A community foundation managing hundreds of donor advised funds with separate grant recommendationsnot Fluxx
  • A corporate giving programme needing documented US charity status checks before every paymentnot Fluxx
  • A foundation whose board approves grants by docket and needs a repeatable, auditable packet processnot Fluxx

Fluxx

  • A foundation running six distinct funding programmes that each need their own application form, review panel and payment schedulenot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • A regranting intermediary administering funds for multiple donors who each require separate reportingnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • A public agency distributing grant funds with statutory eligibility rules that must be enforced before an application can be submittednot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • A funder moving off spreadsheets and email after grant volume made manual board packet preparation unworkablenot Blackbaud Grantmaking

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blackbaud Grantmaking

  • No pricing is published at any tier, and Blackbaud contracts commonly run multiple years, so a foundation that finds the fit wrong is locked in past the point where switching is cheap.
  • Implementation and data migration from a legacy GIFTS or Access database are separately priced professional services and regularly exceed the first year licence.
  • The interface carries a long lineage and feels dated next to newer grants platforms, which shows up as training time for programme staff and reluctance among occasional users.
  • Value depends heavily on being inside the Blackbaud stack; a foundation running Sage or NetSuite for accounting loses the integration that is the main commercial argument for the product.
  • Blackbaud disclosed a ransomware incident in 2020 affecting customer backups and later settled with US regulators, so due diligence teams at some funders now require additional security review before approving the vendor.

Fluxx

  • Configuration flexibility means the system does very little until someone configures it, and foundations without a dedicated systems administrator end up paying the vendor or a partner for every change.
  • Implementation commonly runs four to eight months and is priced separately from the subscription, so first-year cost is far above the annual licence figure.
  • No pricing is published and quotes scale with assets under management, which means two foundations making the same number of grants can be quoted very differently.
  • The card-based interface is unfamiliar to new users and reviewer adoption suffers without training, which matters because trustees use it a few times a year and forget between meetings.
  • Reporting is capable but the report builder is technical, and many foundations end up exporting to a spreadsheet or a BI tool for board-ready output.

Pricing, plan by plan

Blackbaud Grantmaking

On request
  • Blackbaud Grantmaking$undefined/year
    • Grant application, review and award management
    • Applicant and grantee portals
    • Payment scheduling and liability tracking

Fluxx

On request
  • Fluxx Grantmaker$undefined/year
    • Configurable grantmaking workflows
    • Applicant portal and reviewer access
    • Priced by assets under management and grant volume
  • Fluxx Grantseeker$undefined/year
    • Free portal for applicants submitting to Fluxx funders
    • Tracks submissions and requirements across funders

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Grantmaking if

  • You need online application portal.
  • You also want due diligence checks.
Blackbaud Grantmaking review

Choose Fluxx if

  • You need configurable data model.
  • You also want card-based interface.
Fluxx review

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Grantmaking or Fluxx better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and Fluxx at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Grantmaking or Fluxx?
Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and Fluxx at On request.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking or Fluxx run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Blackbaud Grantmaking best used for?
Blackbaud Grantmaking is most often used for a private foundation already running blackbaud financial edge that wants grant liabilities to post to the ledger without manual journals, a community foundation managing hundreds of donor advised funds with separate grant recommendations, a corporate giving programme needing documented us charity status checks before every payment, a foundation whose board approves grants by docket and needs a repeatable, auditable packet process. Of those, a private foundation already running blackbaud financial edge that wants grant liabilities to post to the ledger without manual journals and a community foundation managing hundreds of donor advised funds with separate grant recommendations are not what Fluxx is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Grantmaking do that Fluxx cannot?
Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Due diligence checks, Board dockets, Grantee reporting. Fluxx covers Configurable data model, Card-based interface, Multi-programme workflows, Board and committee review. Both handle Payment scheduling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blackbaud Grantmaking: Is this the same as GIFTS Online?

Yes, in lineage. It comes from MicroEdge GIFTS, which Blackbaud acquired in 2014, and has been rebranded and reworked since.

Fluxx: Is Fluxx Grantseeker really free?

Yes, for applicants. It is the submission portal, and funders pay for Grantmaker.

Blackbaud Grantmaking: What does it cost?

Blackbaud does not publish grantmaking pricing. Expect a quoted annual subscription plus a separate implementation and migration fee, and expect a multi-year term to be proposed.

Fluxx: How is Fluxx priced?

By quote, scaling with assets under management and grant volume. Implementation is a separate professional services fee.

Blackbaud Grantmaking: Do we need Financial Edge to get value?

No, but the general ledger integration is the strongest single reason to choose it. Without Financial Edge, compare it more carefully against Foundant and SmartSimple.

Fluxx: Can we configure Fluxx ourselves?

Yes, that is the point of it. But it requires a trained internal administrator; foundations that do not appoint one become dependent on paid services.

Blackbaud Grantmaking: Does it verify charity status automatically?

Yes for US grantees, using charity status data as part of due diligence screening before payment.

Fluxx: How long does implementation take?

Typically four to eight months for a multi-programme funder, driven mostly by how long the foundation takes to agree its own process.

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