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Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Grantmaking vs OneCause

Blackbaud Grantmaking logo

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Nonprofits

Grants management for foundations and corporate givers inside the Blackbaud ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
OneCause logo

OneCause

Nonprofits

Event management and auction fundraising platform, now part of Bonterra

From
On request
Rated
-

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.; OneCause no transparent pricing published; all plans require contacting sales at 888-475-5214 or online form for custom quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Blackbaud Grantmaking and OneCause differ
AttributeBlackbaud GrantmakingOneCause

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
  • Payment scheduling
  • Grantee reporting
  • Financial Edge integration
  • Reporting and dashboards

Only in OneCause

Nothing recorded that Blackbaud Grantmaking does not also cover.

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

OneCause

  • Managing ticketing, sponsorships, and registration for fundraising eventsnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Running silent and live auctions with mobile bidding capabilitiesnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Coordinating peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns like walks and runsnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Processing donations with gift matching and recurring contributionsnot 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.

OneCause

  • No transparent pricing published; all plans require contacting sales at 888-475-5214 or online form for custom quotes

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

OneCause

On request
  • Professional$undefined/mo
    • Foundational fundraising software
    • Ticketing, tables, sponsorships, auctions, donations
    • Suited for galas, luncheons, golf outings
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Large or multiple ticketed events
    • Event Ambassador Fundraising
    • Event Series
  • Nationals$undefined/mo
    • National organizations managing affiliate chapters
    • Organization Structure & Hierarchy
    • Event Templates

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Grantmaking if

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

Choose OneCause if

Nothing in the data separates OneCause from Blackbaud Grantmaking on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Grantmaking or OneCause better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and OneCause at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Grantmaking or OneCause?
Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and OneCause at On request.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking or OneCause 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 OneCause is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Grantmaking do that OneCause cannot?
Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Due diligence checks, Board dockets, 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.

OneCause: How much does OneCause cost?

OneCause does not publish pricing online. All plans require a custom quote. Contact OneCause at 888-475-5214 or submit a request through their website for pricing information.

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.

OneCause: What pricing tiers does OneCause offer?

OneCause offers three main tiers: Professional (foundational fundraising software), Enterprise (large/multiple event management), and Nationals (national organizations with affiliate chapters). All require custom quotes.

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.

OneCause: Is there a Pay As You Go option?

OneCause indicates Pay As You Go availability is offered within the Professional plan, but specific costs require contact with sales.

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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