What type of software is Submittable?

Submittable is Grant Management Software (GMS), also called Awards Management or Social Impact Management software. It serves organizations distributing funding, managing scholarships, administering awards, or overseeing application-driven processes requiring structured evaluation workflows.

What is the typical price range for Submittable?

Submittable pricing typically begins around $5,000-$8,000 annually for smaller programs under 500 submissions and scales based on volume and functionality needs. Enterprise pricing for large, complex grant portfolios ranges from $20,000-$40,000+ annually. Contact Submittable directly for current pricing specific to your requirements.

How does Submittable compare to SmartSimple for association grant management?

Submittable emphasizes accessibility and user experience with faster implementation, serving associations with straightforward to moderately complex programs. SmartSimple offers enterprise-grade configurability for highly complex, multi-layered programs requiring extensive customization. The choice depends on organizational complexity, technical resources, and program sophistication.

What do peer reviews say about Submittable's strengths and weaknesses?

Users consistently praise Submittable's intuitive interface, flexible workflow configuration, and responsive customer support. Common concerns include limitations in complex custom reporting, challenges with very advanced conditional logic, and variable integration depth with specialized AMS platforms. Overall ratings average 4.6-4.7 out of 5 stars across major review platforms.

Submittable Software Review for Association Grant Management

Q: How does Submittable integrate with association management systems?

Submittable functions as a best-of-breed complement to AMS platforms. The AMS maintains member profiles and determines eligibility, while Submittable manages the entire grant lifecycle from application through evaluation to distribution and impact measurement. Integration occurs through API connections or data synchronization.

Nov 13
10 min read

Comprehensive Submittable review for association executives managing grants, scholarships, and awards. Expert analysis of features, pricing, and fit beyond your AMS.

Streamlined Grant Management Beyond Your AMS

Association executives face mounting pressure to demonstrate impact while managing increasingly complex grant portfolios. Whether you're distributing scholarships, managing research awards, or administering community grants, the question isn't whether you need specialized software—it's whether your current AMS can handle the sophisticated workflows that modern grant management demands.

Most association management systems offer basic application forms, but few provide the robust evaluation, compliance tracking, and reporting capabilities that grant-making organizations require. This review examines Submittable as a specialized solution that may fill critical gaps in your association's technology ecosystem.

What category is Submittable Grant Software found in?

Submittable operates in the GMS (Grant Management Software) category, also referred to as Awards Management Software or Social Impact Management platforms. This category serves organizations that distribute funding, manage scholarship programs, administer awards, or oversee application-driven processes requiring structured evaluation workflows and compliance documentation.

Summary of Submittable Software

Submittable, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, provides cloud-based social impact management software serving grant-makers, scholarship administrators, and organizations managing application-driven workflows. According to LinkedIn, the company employs approximately 150-200 people [1]. The platform has processed over $2 billion in funding decisions and serves more than 13,000 organizations globally [2].

Submittable's CEO, Michael FitzGerald, describes the platform's evolution: "We started as a submission management tool for literary magazines, but we've grown into a comprehensive social impact platform that helps organizations distribute funding, manage programs, and measure outcomes across their entire social impact portfolio" [3].

The Purpose Statement of the Submittable Software

Submittable's core mission centers on "empowering organizations to launch, manage, and measure their social impact programs through streamlined workflows and data-driven insights" [4]. The company positions itself as a bridge between applicants seeking support and organizations distributing resources, focusing on reducing administrative burden while increasing transparency and measurable impact.

What Makes Submittable a Fit for the Association Market?

Associations managing grant programs, scholarships, awards, or fellowship applications face unique challenges that typical AMS platforms struggle to address. Consider an engineering association distributing $2 million annually across 150 research grants—this requires blind review workflows, conflict-of-interest tracking, multi-stage evaluation with weighted scoring rubrics, automatic notifications to applicants and reviewers, compliance documentation, and comprehensive reporting for board oversight. Most AMS platforms offer basic form builders and simple approval workflows, but lack the specialized capabilities that grant administration demands.

Submittable addresses this gap with features specifically designed for social impact programs: customizable application forms with conditional logic, configurable multi-stage review workflows, automated reviewer assignment with conflict-of-interest management, weighted scoring matrices, collaborative evaluation tools, compliance tracking, payment distribution integration, and impact measurement dashboards [5]. For associations where grant-making represents a core mission activity—not just an occasional scholarship—these specialized capabilities justify investment beyond basic AMS functionality.

The platform's white-label capabilities allow associations to maintain brand consistency while offering applicants a professional, user-friendly experience. For membership organizations where reputation and trust are paramount, this branded application portal becomes an extension of the association's commitment to supporting their professional community.

What are the Functional Goals of the Submittable Software?

Based on Submittable's public documentation and support resources, the platform addresses these functional areas [6]:

Application Management: Customizable forms with conditional logic, file upload management, applicant portals, draft saving, collaborative application features, and mobile-responsive design.
Review & Evaluation: Configurable multi-stage workflows, automated reviewer assignment, blind review capabilities, conflict-of-interest management, weighted scoring rubrics, collaborative scoring, and evaluation dashboards.
Communication & Notifications: Automated status updates, customizable email templates, bulk messaging, applicant portal messaging, and reviewer communication tools.
Compliance & Reporting: Audit trails, compliance documentation, custom reporting, data export capabilities, demographic tracking, and impact measurement dashboards.
Payment & Distribution: Integration with payment processors, grant distribution tracking, milestone-based payment workflows, and financial reporting.
Program Management: Multi-program support, template libraries, workflow automation, deadline management, and portfolio-level analytics.

Where Does Submittable Fit in the Association Technology Ecosystem?

Submittable functions as a "best-of-breed" solution that complements rather than competes with an association's AMS. Understanding this relationship requires examining the SmartThoughts Tier framework [7], which categorizes membership software based on organizational complexity and needs.

A Tier 3 AMS (serving associations with $500K-$2M budgets) typically offers basic form builders and simple approval workflows suitable for straightforward scholarship applications. However, as grant programs grow in complexity—multiple review stages, numerous evaluators, weighted scoring requirements, compliance tracking—these basic AMS capabilities become inadequate. Submittable integrates with AMS platforms to handle sophisticated grant workflows while the AMS continues managing membership data, dues processing, and member engagement.

The integration pattern typically works like this: The AMS maintains member profiles and determines eligibility (e.g., "members in good standing"), while Submittable manages the entire grant lifecycle from application through evaluation to distribution and impact measurement. For associations where grant-making represents significant mission investment—whether distributing $500,000 or $5 million annually—this specialized approach ensures professional administration, defensible evaluation processes, and measurable outcomes that board members require.

Compared to SmartSimple, another specialized grant management platform [8], Submittable takes a notably different approach to market positioning and user experience. SmartSimple emphasizes enterprise-grade configurability and comprehensive functionality spanning grants management, scholarships, corporate social responsibility programs, and complex compliance requirements. SmartSimple's strength lies in serving large organizations with diverse, complex program portfolios requiring extensive customization and sophisticated workflow automation. However, this enterprise focus comes with corresponding complexity in implementation and administration.

Submittable, by contrast, positions itself as more accessible and intuitive while still delivering robust grant management capabilities. The platform emphasizes user experience for both administrators and applicants, offering faster implementation timelines and requiring less technical expertise to manage. For associations with straightforward to moderately complex grant programs—particularly those without dedicated IT resources—Submittable's approach reduces administrative overhead while maintaining professional capabilities.

The key distinction centers on organizational complexity and technical resources. SmartSimple serves associations managing highly complex, multi-layered programs requiring extensive customization, often with dedicated program staff and IT support. Submittable targets associations seeking professional grant management without enterprise-level complexity or resource requirements. Both function as AMS complements, but serve different points on the organizational maturity spectrum.

Who are some likely competitors in the Association Market?

Beyond SmartSimple, several platforms compete in the association grant management space:

WizeHive Zengine: Offers configurable grant and scholarship management with strong workflow automation. Strengths include flexibility and integration capabilities; considerations include a learning curve for complex configurations and pricing for smaller programs.

FluidReview (SurveyMonkey Apply): Provides application and review management with strong evaluation tools. Strengths include an intuitive interface and robust review features; considerations include limited payment integration and fewer impact measurement tools.

SmarterSelect: Focuses on scholarships and awards with straightforward workflows. Strengths include ease of use and competitive pricing for smaller programs; considerations include less sophisticated functionality for complex grant portfolios.

Foundant GLM (Grant Lifecycle Manager): Comprehensive grant management for foundations and associations. Strengths include deep functionality and strong reporting; considerations include higher price point and implementation complexity.

What Does The Submittable Product Roadmap Look Like?

According to Submittable's website and recent announcements, the company continues investing in platform enhancement with several notable developments. In 2023-2024, Submittable introduced expanded AI-powered features, including intelligent application routing, automated compliance checking, and enhanced impact measurement analytics [9]. The platform added deeper integration capabilities with payment processors and CRM systems, recognizing that associations operate multiple enterprise systems requiring seamless data flow.

Submittable has incorporated artificial intelligence into several platform areas. AI-assisted features include smart application categorization, duplicate detection, automated eligibility screening based on configurable rules, and natural language processing for reviewer comments analysis. The company emphasizes that AI augments rather than replaces human decision-making, focusing on reducing administrative tasks while preserving the judgment and expertise that grant evaluation requires [10].

Recent platform updates emphasize impact measurement, with enhanced dashboard capabilities allowing associations to track outcomes beyond simple distribution metrics—measuring how grant funding achieves stated program objectives over time. This reflects growing board-level emphasis on demonstrating return on mission investment.

What is the Price of Submittable Software?

Submittable structures pricing is based on several factors, including the number of programs, submission volume, and feature requirements. According to publicly available information, pricing typically begins around $5,000-$8,000 annually for smaller programs (under 500 submissions) and scales based on volume and functionality needs [11]. Enterprise pricing for associations managing large, complex grant portfolios with multiple programs can reach $20,000-$40,000+ annually.

The platform offers different tiers—Basic, Standard, and Premium—with varying features including advanced workflow automation, white-label customization, API access, and dedicated support. Many associations report that while pricing appears higher than basic AMS form builders, the ROI emerges through staff time savings, improved evaluation quality, better compliance documentation, and enhanced applicant experience that reflects positively on the association's brand.

In the end, it is recommended to contact the software vendor directly for the latest pricing information, as pricing structures evolve and custom quotes reflect specific organizational requirements.

What Do Your Peers Say About Submittable Software?

Submittable maintains strong peer review ratings across major platforms, though feedback reveals both significant strengths and important considerations for association executives.

On G2, Submittable scores 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 500+ reviews [12].

Capterra shows 4.7 out of 5 from 200+ reviews [13], while Software Advice reflects 4.7 out of 5 from a similar volume [14].

GetApp reports comparable ratings at 4.6 out of 5 stars [15].

Strengths consistently cited by users:

Reviewers frequently praise the intuitive interface for both administrators and applicants. A program director from a professional medical association notes: "Applicants consistently comment on how easy the application process is compared to other systems they've used. This matters for our reputation as an organization that respects members' time" [16].

The platform's flexibility receives strong marks. Users appreciate the ability to configure workflows without extensive technical expertise. A grants manager from an education association observes: "We were able to set up complex review workflows with blind evaluation and conflict-of-interest checking without needing IT support. That's huge for a small team" [17].

Customer support earns consistent praise, with reviewers highlighting responsive assistance during setup and ongoing use. The combination of documentation, training resources, and accessible support staff helps associations implement successfully without extensive consulting fees.

Limitations and concerns noted by users:

Reporting capabilities receive mixed feedback. While standard reports serve most needs, users managing complex, multi-program portfolios sometimes find custom reporting limitations frustrating. One reviewer notes: "The dashboards are good for high-level views, but drilling into specific data combinations sometimes requires exporting to Excel" [18].

Some users report that advanced customization—particularly complex conditional logic across multiple form sections—can become challenging to manage. As one association technology director describes: "The platform is intuitive for straightforward workflows, but when you get into really complex branching logic, it takes careful planning to avoid creating confusing applicant experiences" [19].

Integration depth varies by platform. While Submittable offers API access and standard integrations, associations using specialized AMS platforms sometimes require custom development for seamless data synchronization.

Verified association clients using Submittable include the American Bar Association (fellowship programs), Society for Human Resource Management (grant management), National Association of College and University Business Officers (awards administration), and American Occupational Therapy Association (scholarship management) [20].

Important context on peer reviews: Review platforms reflect experiences at specific points in time, and software capabilities evolve continuously. Concerns noted in reviews may have been addressed in subsequent releases. Additionally, user satisfaction often correlates with proper implementation and alignment between organizational needs and platform capabilities. For guidance on interpreting software reviews effectively, see: https://www.smartthoughts.net/post/beyond-review-sites-association-software-reviews-fail

SmartThoughts Expert Analysis and Reasoning

Submittable occupies a valuable position in the association technology ecosystem as a specialized grant management solution that addresses genuine gaps in typical AMS functionality. The platform's core strength lies in making sophisticated grant administration accessible to associations without enterprise-level technical resources—a significant differentiator from more complex competitors like SmartSimple.

Strategic fit considerations:

For associations where grant-making, scholarships, or awards represent core mission activities—not occasional programs—Submittable delivers ROI through operational efficiency, evaluation quality, and compliance documentation. The decision threshold typically occurs when an association distributes significant funding (generally $250,000+ annually) or manages programs with complexity that basic AMS forms cannot adequately support. Red flags suggesting the need for specialized software include: reviewers tracking evaluations in spreadsheets, frequent applicant questions about application status, difficulty generating board reports, or staff spending excessive time on administrative coordination rather than program strategy.

Comparative positioning:

Against SmartSimple, Submittable trades some enterprise-grade configurability for accessibility and faster value realization. Associations with straightforward to moderately complex programs benefit from Submittable's approach, while those managing highly diverse, complex portfolios with extensive customization needs might find SmartSimple's depth worth the additional implementation investment. The choice hinges on organizational complexity, technical resources, and program sophistication rather than one platform being objectively superior.

Implementation and partnership considerations:

Submittable's strong customer support ratings and intuitive design suggest lower implementation risk compared to more complex enterprise platforms. However, success still requires thoughtful workflow design—technology alone cannot fix poorly defined grant processes. Associations should invest time mapping current workflows, identifying pain points, and designing improved processes before configuration begins.

The company's continued investment in AI and impact measurement reflects market direction toward outcome-focused grant-making. Leadership stability appears solid, with a long-tenured executive team and consistent product development indicating reliable partnership potential. The broad customer base across education, healthcare, professional associations, and foundations suggests platform maturity and market validation.

Risk factors to consider:

Pricing at the higher end for smaller associations may create budget challenges, though ROI typically justifies investment when staff time savings and program quality improvements are quantified. Integration depth with specialized AMS platforms requires due diligence during evaluation—while API access exists, seamless data flow depends on technical resources or vendor support for custom integration development.

Our Final Thoughts & Conclusion

For association executives managing significant grant programs, Submittable represents a proven solution that transforms grant administration from an administrative burden into a strategic capability. The platform delivers professional applicant experiences, defensible evaluation processes, and measurable outcomes that board members increasingly expect.

The decision to invest in specialized grant management software reflects strategic priorities:

Is grant-making central to your mission?
Does the current administration create risk or inefficiency?
Can you quantify the value of improved processes?

For most associations distributing substantial funding or managing complex programs, the answer justifies moving beyond basic AMS functionality to specialized tools built for the purpose.

If you're a verified association executive (not working with a consultant) seeking objective guidance on whether Submittable fits your organization's specific needs, SmartThoughts offers complimentary evaluation consultations to help you make informed technology decisions aligned with your mission and budget realities.

For additional software reviews and technology guidance for association executives, visit here.