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Nonprofits · head to head

Blackbaud Grantmaking vs VolunteerHub

Blackbaud Grantmaking logo

Blackbaud Grantmaking

Nonprofits

Grants management for foundations and corporate givers inside the Blackbaud ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VolunteerHub logo

VolunteerHub

Nonprofits

Volunteer management platform for nonprofits

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.; VolunteerHub both published plans are billed annually and carry a set up fee on top of the monthly figure
  • They diverge on capability: Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, VolunteerHub covers Volunteer database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Blackbaud Grantmaking and VolunteerHub differ
AttributeBlackbaud GrantmakingVolunteerHub
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 VolunteerHub

  • Volunteer database
  • Scheduling
  • Task management
  • Communication tools
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Google Calendar
  • Slack

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

VolunteerHub

  • Scheduling and self-registration for volunteer shifts and eventsnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Tracking volunteer hours and generating custom reportsnot Blackbaud Grantmaking
  • Recruiting volunteers through branded opportunity landing pagesnot 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.

VolunteerHub

  • Both published plans are billed annually and carry a set up fee on top of the monthly figure
  • The entry Plus plan starts at $143 per month and Pro at $288 per month, both quoted as starting prices
  • Plans carry a user limit; only volunteers inactive for a full twelve months stop counting against it
  • Single Sign-On is an optional paid add-on on every tier including Enterprise, not an included feature
  • Background check integrations with Sterling Volunteers and PeopleFacts are optional paid add-ons on every tier
  • CRM integrations such as Raiser's Edge are optional add-ons rather than included
  • Volunteer fundraising is optional on Plus and Pro and carries a processing fee when used
  • The Enterprise tier has no published price and requires contacting sales

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

VolunteerHub

On request
  • Starter$75/month
    • Volunteer database
    • Scheduling
  • Professional$150/month
    • Advanced reporting
    • Mobile app
    • Integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Blackbaud Grantmaking if

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

Choose VolunteerHub if

  • You need volunteer database.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want scheduling.
VolunteerHub review

Questions people ask

Is Blackbaud Grantmaking or VolunteerHub better?
Neither clearly leads. Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and VolunteerHub at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blackbaud Grantmaking or VolunteerHub?
Blackbaud Grantmaking starts at On request and VolunteerHub at On request.
Does Blackbaud Grantmaking or VolunteerHub run on more platforms?
Blackbaud Grantmaking runs on Web. VolunteerHub runs on Web, IOS, Android.
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 VolunteerHub is typically brought in for.
What can Blackbaud Grantmaking do that VolunteerHub cannot?
Blackbaud Grantmaking covers Online application portal, Due diligence checks, Board dockets, Payment scheduling. VolunteerHub covers Volunteer database, Scheduling, Task management, Communication tools.

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.

VolunteerHub: What is VolunteerHub's least expensive plan?

The Plus plan starts at $143 per month when billed annually, plus a setup fee.

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.

VolunteerHub: What additional costs might apply with VolunteerHub's Pro plan?

The Pro plan starting at $288/month includes most core features, but advanced features are marked as optional, suggesting additional costs may apply for add-ons like group management and data import/export.

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.

VolunteerHub: Are there any limitations on users or reports with VolunteerHub?

No, all three VolunteerHub tiers (Plus, Pro, and Enterprise) include unlimited users and unlimited event configuration.

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.

VolunteerHub: What integrations does VolunteerHub support?

All VolunteerHub plans include integration with Zapier and access to CRM and background check integrations.

Source
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