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Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Grantmaking vs Google Nonprofit Tools

Blackbaud Grantmaking logo

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Nonprofits

Grants management for foundations and corporate givers inside the Blackbaud ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Nonprofit Tools logo

Google Nonprofit Tools

Nonprofits

Free Google tools for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Google Nonprofit Tools governmental entities and organizations are not eligible
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blackbaud Grantmaking and Google Nonprofit Tools actually diverge.

Attributes where Blackbaud Grantmaking and Google Nonprofit Tools differ
AttributeBlackbaud GrantmakingGoogle Nonprofit Tools
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1998

Identical on both: 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
  • Payment scheduling
  • Grantee reporting
  • Financial Edge integration
  • Reporting and dashboards

Only in Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and collaboration
  • Cloud storage
  • Ad Grants
  • Analytics
  • YouTube
  • Search Console
  • Google Workspace apps
  • Zapier

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 Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A community foundation managing hundreds of donor advised funds with separate grant recommendationsnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A corporate giving programme needing documented US charity status checks before every paymentnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A foundation whose board approves grants by docket and needs a repeatable, auditable packet processnot Google Nonprofit Tools

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and productivity tools for nonprofits via Google Workspacenot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Online advertising credits through Google Ad Grantsnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • YouTube monetization for nonprofit contentnot 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.

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Governmental entities and organizations are not eligible
  • Hospitals and health care organizations are not eligible, although their associated charitable arms or foundations are
  • Schools, academic institutions and universities are not eligible, although the philanthropic arms of educational organizations are
  • The organization must be registered as a charitable organization in one of the specific countries or regions where Google for Nonprofits has launched
  • Eligibility requirements vary by country, and every account must pass verification before access is granted

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

Google Nonprofit Tools

Free
  • Nonprofit ProgramFree
    • Google Workspace
    • Gmail
    • Drive

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Grantmaking if

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

Choose Google Nonprofit Tools if

  • You need email and collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Google Nonprofit Tools review

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Grantmaking or Google Nonprofit Tools better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and Google Nonprofit Tools at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Grantmaking or Google Nonprofit Tools?
Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Blackbaud Grantmaking and Free for Google Nonprofit Tools.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking or Google Nonprofit Tools run on more platforms?
Blackbaud Grantmaking runs on Web. Google Nonprofit Tools runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Google Nonprofit Tools for free?
Yes. Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request.
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 Google Nonprofit Tools is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Grantmaking do that Google Nonprofit Tools cannot?
Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Due diligence checks, Board dockets, Payment scheduling. Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, Cloud storage, Ad Grants, Analytics.

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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: How much do Google Nonprofit Tools cost?

Google Nonprofit Tools are provided at no cost to eligible organizations. Eligible nonprofit organizations can access a suite of no-cost and discounted tools.

Source
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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What organizations qualify for free Google Nonprofit Tools?

Organizations must be registered as charitable entities in one of 180+ participating geographies and verified through Goodstack, Google's validation partner.

Source
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.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What tools are included in Google Nonprofit Tools?

Included tools are Google Workspace for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Maps Platform credits. Some Workspace editions also receive nonprofit-specific discounts.

Source
Blackbaud Grantmaking: Does it verify charity status automatically?

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

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