# Instrumentl Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Instrumentl the right Grant Management solution for you? Explore 180 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/233384/Instrumentl/reviews --- Instrumentl 5 (180) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/233384/Instrumentl/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Instrumentl Ease of use 4.9 Customer Service 5.0 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews NB Niki B Director of PhilanthropyPerforming Arts, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “It centralizes our funder searches, document storage, and deadline tracking so our team can stay on the same page in one place.“ January 23, 2026 CG Cole G Director of Special Projects and GrantsHealth, Wellness and Fitness, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “I wish I could refine my matches a bit more to more accurately reflect my projects (this could be user error).“ October 6, 2025 Dr. Shahnazz B Director of Development and AdministrationNon-Profit Organization Management, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Instrumentl is a top-tier, comprehensive grant management platform that modernizes how nonprofits and consultants find, pursue, and manage funding.“ January 4, 2026 Callie S Owner, Grant WriterFund-Raising, Self-employedUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “I wish my core users weren’t able to see each other’s projects. “ February 3, 2026 Cally E Director, Grant ManagementNon-Profit Organization Management, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “As the sole staff member responsible for writing and managing grants, this tool has saved me countless hours in researching, writing, and tracking.“ December 10, 2025 Lisa F Grant ConsultantNon-Profit Organization Management, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “It is a little costly for a small business owner. “ January 6, 2026 DB David B Grants and Development ManagerHealth, Wellness and Fitness, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I've relied on Instrumentl.com for the last 5 years to help boost overall grant funding for a wide variety of nonprofit missions including arts & culture, basic needs, environmental, food security, and Native American services. While I've primarily served Utah nonprofits, Instrumentl.com has helped support my small business in which I provide grant support in Colorado, California, and New York.“ November 14, 2025 KB Kelly B Prospect Research StrategistEducation Management, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “You can abandon it but it will still show. If you delete it, then it won't show any other grant information for that project.“ February 10, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 180 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Shana W. Director of Development Operations Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Give Your Grants Program a Boost" February 16, 2026 5.0 I love how forward thinking the system is - clearly they are using AI for research and development and are mining a ton of material that is out there but isn't so easy to find (at least not with the time I have to dedicate to research!) But behind that is a team of really awesome, competent people focused on providing incredible 1:1 service to their customers. Pros The system is easy to learn - well thought out, it's clear that they built a program for grants managers and thought through various pain points, like managing deadlines and reporting. It is the first software I've used that has integrated so well with Raiser's Edge which is awesome, because now i'm not having to manage my portfolio in two separate systems. Cons That I waited so long to buy it. It's an investment for sure, but one new funder more than pays for your annual subscription. Alternatives considered [Zeffy](https://www.capterra.com/p/220131/Zeffy/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl It stood out from the crowd immediately. The amazing customer service took it to the next level. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) I felt we'd outgrown the basic version but that the premium and ultra did not get me all of the benefits that Instrumentl. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 6, 2026 Hi Shana, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback! Our team spends a lot of time thinking through the real challenges grant managers face, like keeping track of deadlines, reporting requirements, and juggling multiple systems. So it’s incredibly rewarding to hear that those efforts are making your work easier :) I’m especially glad to hear that the integration with Raiser's Edge NXT has been helpful for you. We know how valuable it is to avoid managing the same information across multiple platforms, so hearing that this has simplified your workflow is wonderful. And truly, thank you for your kind words about our team. Providing thoughtful, responsive support and building real relationships with our customers is something we care deeply about!  Thank you again for sharing your experience and for the important work you’re doing. We’re really grateful to be a part of your journey and look forward to continuing to support you along the way! JS Jennifer S. Grant Strategist Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Instrumentl: A Valuable Investment for Grant Writers" May 13, 2026 5.0 I found grant opportunities I did not know existed. I also found the more traditional private, foundation and public grant opportunities but with time sensitive updates which are difficult to tract. The deadline reminders that are posted at the beginning of each week are incredibly helpful to keep my grant calendars up to date. I did not have to independently search each grant on my calendar as the updates were emailed to me. Instrumentl is able to create a sense of community which is difficult to find as an independent contract grant writer. I do not feel alone in my search for successful grant opportunities. Pros The features area easy to use especially for grant projects for specialized populations in rural areas. I found opportunities that I had never seen before and many of the traditional opportunities with updates and time sensitive information that is difficult to track. Cons As an independent contract grant writer, the price is a bit high but the value makes it a worthwhile investment. The quality of prospect research is so good I will include part of the cost in my future independent grant writer contracts. I am happy to demonstrate Instrumentl's value with my clients through cost sharing. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) Too complicated for the price and the prospect research was not specific enough for small rural underserved populations, the major focus of my grant research. Review Source MR Marcia R. Project Manager Individual & Family Services Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Well Worth the Investment" March 3, 2023 4.0 Pros We've discovered grants we would never have found without Instrumentl. The ease of reviewing digitized 990s makes this product well worth the investment. The time we save with Instrumentl has already offset our investment in the subscription. Customer support is excellent. I never wait more than 24 hours for a response. Cons The app is complex because of its rich features. It took us a few weeks to learn how to use it effectively. The tutorials are helpful, but they are only accessible once you subscribe. My best advice for trial users is don't pick too many areas of focus when setting up your projects. Review Source Response from Instrumentl April 3, 2023 Marcia, thanks for the kind words! It's incredible to hear about the new funders you have found using Instrumentl. I'm glad those 990 insights are saving you research time. :) We appreciate your recommendation to trial users! I am sending your feedback on to the rest of the team now. Thanks again for taking the time to write this review! ~Rebecca BN Brianne N. Director of Development Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The investment is worth it!" January 21, 2026 5.0 Just great! From our onboarding call to the recurring emails letting us know what new opportunities are available. I suggest it to all my colleagues in non-profits. I tell them it is an investment, but it pays dividends! Pros The reporting tools. I love that I can run quick reports of each of my initiates and see what open asks I have and what I have received. This saves me a lot of time. Cons The home screen view, being chronological, gets tedious at the end of the year. It would be nice if there were a monthly or quarterly expansion menu. Switched from [Othership](https://www.capterra.com/p/266602/Othership/) Granthub - They closed and offered us half off the first year Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 6, 2026 Hi Brianne - Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! It's great to hear you are loving the ability to run quick reports! Thank you for sharing your feedback about the Home Screen view. We always continue to improve and your feedback is very valuable! If anything else comes to mind, please feel free to share it with us. We're here for you! :D  Cally E. Director, Grant Management Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Instrumentl: A True Game-Changer" December 10, 2025 5.0 Instrumentl has been a game-changer! I’ve cut my grant research time by more than half. As the sole staff member responsible for writing and managing grants, this tool has saved me countless hours in researching, writing, and tracking. I especially love the ability to add collaborators, assign tasks, and avoid manually tracking emails and reminders. The Instrumentl team is fantastic to work with—they respond quickly and are always helpful. Pros The most valuable aspect of Instrumentl is the significant time savings it provides. I have reduced my grant research time by more than 50%, which is particularly impactful given that I am solely responsible for writing and managing all grants within my organization. Cons I do not have any significant cons to report. On the rare occasion that I identify an area for potential improvement, I share my feedback with the Instrumentl team. They are highly responsive and genuinely receptive to suggestions, which reinforces my confidence in the platform and its commitment to continuous improvement. Alternatives considered [Grant Lifecycle Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/122147/Grant-Lifecycle-Manager/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Instrumentl offers a comprehensive solution for grant research and management that significantly reduces time and streamlines processes, making it far superior to other options I have tried. Switched from [Salesforce.org Nonprofit Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/265078/Salesforceorg-Nonprofit-Cloud/) Our organization currently uses Salesforce as an excellent donor management system; however, it is not designed to provide comprehensive grant research and management capabilities. The ability to integrate Instrumentl data with Salesforce has been invaluable. It allows me to minimize time spent on repetitive tasks while ensuring that the information maintained in Instrumentl is also accessible in Salesforce for the rest of our team. This integration streamlines workflows and enhances data consistency across platforms. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 6, 2026 Hi Cally - Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We're happy to hear we are able to help you cut your grant research time in half!  Thank you for always sharing your feedback with us, you are helping us improve! If anything ever comes up, feel free to share it with us. We'd love to hear from you! :D  Danielle M. Associate Director of Grants Management Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Overall very happy we switched to Instrumentl!" December 2, 2025 5.0 Overall, I am very happy with my experience with Instrumentl. The support team is great, and I also love that they do professional development workshops. Pros Instrumentl has been a huge asset as both a prospecting tool and a grant management system. I have already found and secured new grants as a result of this tool. It is very user-friendly, and I also like the reporting and tasks features, which help me stay on top of things. Cons It is more expensive than other platforms, but I do think you get what you pay for, and Instrumental is constantly looking to improve and add new features. Alternatives considered [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Customer Service team and overall ease of use of the platform. Review Source Response from Instrumentl December 15, 2025 Hi Danielle, Thank you for reviewing us here on Capterra! It's such an honor that you consider our platform as a major asset for your org in terms of prospecting and grant management! Congrats on finding and winning new grants as a result of utilizing our platform! It's a relief to hear you've found the product user-friendly, and that you enjoy the reporting and Tasks features. I appreciate your honesty around the pricing being higher than perhaps some other platforms out there. Though it's comforting to know that it's all worth it in terms of the value (and funding!) you derive from it. Your kudos to our Support team is well received - thank you! As you said, we will continue to try our best to improve the platform using your feedback. Keep it coming! :D RK Richard K. Executive Director Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instumentl is an amazing tool!" November 13, 2025 5.0 My experience has been extremely positive. I have introduced Instrument at three different organizations, and all continue to use is. Pros Instrumentl is one stop shopping for everything we need for researching, cultivating and submitting proposals to foundations--990s, information on grants/year, openness to new grantees, annual grant levels, and more. It is very intuitive and easy to use. The search/project builder tool is excellent, as is the reporting function, which allows us to track/report on tasks, prospects, grants received, etc. It also allows us to upload communications and grant proposals and LOI, so everything is on one place. Cons No "cons" except that Instrumentl does not yet integrate with our CRM, NEON. When that occurs, we will give it six stars! Maybe 7! Alternatives considered [Foundation](https://www.capterra.com/p/10019344/Foundation/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Much broader functionality, more intuitive to use. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 14, 2025 Hi Richard! Thank you for taking the extra time out of your day to leave a review of your experience utilizing our platform. I love reading how not only you've benefited from the various tools, but other orgs whom you've referred to Instrumentl are also utilizing the platform - hopefully with the same benefits you've cited! Speaking of which, we're thrilled that you find our product features easy to use and intuitive. The fact that you think of our platform as "everything in one place" is absolutely a goal we want to achieve -- making the full grant lifecycle easy, effective and all in one place. That being said, I recognize you utilize a CRM (NEON) that we don't integrate with. We've built out integrations with others like Salesforce, Raiser's Edge NXT and Virtuous, so I know our Product team and engineers are capable and interested at helping customers like you integrate all your tools to make life easier. I'll share this with them right away! Thanks again! Best, Nate LV Laquisha V. Grant Fiscal Manager Education Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Work Smarter Not Harder" October 23, 2025 5.0 I am very happy that I chose this software and program. The experience with the representatives has been very helpful and became a major go to resource. Pros The first thing I did when I became a fiscal manager was search for tools to help me with managing my grant budgets. Instrumentl was my choice after researching two other vendors. The feedback was great and the email responses and availability were in a timely manner. Representatives were very helpful with getting me started with the software. It took me a while to get comfortable with using it only because my new role was already very demanding getting up to speed... to say the least. The Instrumentl software is very easy to use. Even if you are not familiar with the website and its content, they offer tons of tutorial videos to walk you through each tab, step by step. The Instrumentl team members have been extremely helpful with implementing new procedures for me as it pertains to the document and financial portions. They are always creating new features to make the product work better so that you are working smarter and not harder. I had the pleasure of working with \[sensitive content hidden\] over the summer and he was a huge help with me being able to manage my grant budgets in this software. With the latest features of individual expense reporting and document summary scanner, I am super excited for this grant cycle. I no longer have to depend on the system my business office uses to manage and track our spending. The software is worth it once you take the time to explore all that it has to offer. Cons I did not like the fact that I had to download an expense template, add my information to the sheet and then upload it. Now, with the new feature, I can go into the actual grant and enter each expense without uploading a document template etc... Alternatives considered [Submittable](https://www.capterra.com/p/158382/Submittable/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl It was over 2 years ago, so I cannot remember specifically, but I am sure it was the pricing and not having to pay a renewal fee every year. Review Source Response from Instrumentl December 15, 2025 Hi Laquisha, Thank you so much for leaving us a review! I'm so happy to hear you've found our platform easy to use thanks to the resources and team members you've worked with along the way. You said it best: work smarter, not harder. I hope we can continue to save you time while improving your grants management & funding endeavors! I appreciate what you shared about the expense template import workflow. Thanks to your feedback, we've been able to make improvements here as you alluded to. Should more feedback come to mind, please let us know! We're here for you :D Andrea W. Development Director Professional Training & Coaching Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumental for any nonprofit fundraiser" October 27, 2025 5.0 Overall, my experience with Instrumentl has been very positive. I have worked with nonprofits who did not use grant management software and I have worked with nonprofits who do - the difference is remarkable, and Instrumentl has set the bar for affordable solutions to grant prospecting and management. Pros Instrumentl is an all-in-one grant prospecting and management tool. It integrates well with other systems and workflows to keep us on top of emerging opportunities and saves our team hundreds of hours of work prospecting, qualifying, and project managing. Cons There is such a wealth of information in Instrumentl, it can be difficult to filter out opportunities that aren't a perfect match for mission, goals, or proximity. With experience, this becomes a bit easier, but it is often overwhelming for new users. Alternatives considered [YourCause](https://www.capterra.com/p/222066/YourCause/)[Grant Lifecycle Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/122147/Grant-Lifecycle-Manager/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Both Foundation Directory and GrantStation returned outdated RFPs or foundations that had dissolved years prior. Neither YourCause nor Foundant was as comprehensive as Instrumentl. Review Source Response from Instrumentl December 15, 2025 Hey Andrea! Thank you for writing this review of your experience with our platform. I'm overjoyed to learn how many hours you've saved from the prospecting features on Instrumentl :D That being said, I do appreciate your thoughts around the wealth of information and sometime having to work to filter out opportunities that aren't a great fit. I'm glad it's easier for you now than when you first began, but we are all ears with any ideas and specific feature feedback! Your extensive experience make it all the more humbling to hear you say we've set the bar for a grant management & prospecting platform. Your perspective carries weight, and we value your ideas and opinions as they come to mind! Thanks again, Andrea! We're here for you as needed :) CR Colette R. Institutional Giving Officer Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Where Have You Been All My Life?" October 6, 2025 5.0 The platform is great; the team is outstanding. I think the thing that sets Instrumentl apart from other vendors I've worked with is that they are sincerely engaged with their customers. They work with us on our individual questions, and if the platform can't do something we need, they help us find a work around while the team looks for ways to make updates that customers request. They want us to succeed and they are so responsive I honestly don't know how they do it. It's not the cheapest program out there, but if you can swing the money, you won't be sorry. You'll be working with more clarity, more efficiency, and more success, almost from the start. I haven't seen anything that can compete with it for ease of use, power of the platform, and off-the-charts customer service. Pros Instrumentl is the best investment we could have made. It's intuitive and easy to use, and if you do have a question, the customer service is phenomenal. You get tremendous support as you set up your account and learn to use the product. It offers excellent features for both pre- and post-award grants management, including detailed spend-down charts, excellent, targeted prospecting to help us find well-aligned funders, an AI feature, and documents management. It helps our team work together to stay on top of a busy grants calendar, and the calendar is fully integrated with Outlook. The Instrumentl team continues to create improvements constantly, and are receptive to suggestions for ongoing enhancements. It's a secure platform that lets me search for funders I would otherwise miss, based on targeted project organization. I couldn't be happier. Cons There's honestly nothing I don't like. There are areas where the company is constantly improving, e.g., reporting, which we've asked to be more customizable. But in the less than one year since we've gotten it, they have already made multiple improvements. Switched from [Google Drive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161425/Drive/) Not an option above, but we were using GrantHub Pro by Foundant, which was sunsetted. After switching, we feel we got a much more comprehensive program. Review Source Response from Instrumentl October 14, 2025 Hey Colette, Wow! Your words are so moving and humbling for our team to read :') Our Product, Engineering and Design teams are over the moon knowing that you've found our platform intuitive. I will relay your kind words to our Customer Success team as well! It's so cool that you've benefited from both pre- and post-award features, as well as integrations like with Outlook. The Apply + Advisor feature is relatively new, so it's great that you've already derived value from this tool! Our team does try to be receptive to and actionable on feedback from customers like yourself, so we're relieved to know that's your impression as well! I see you're a former Granthub Pro user. I hope your transition to Instrumentl was/has been smooth! We can help with Data Migration or any other needs you may have. If you have any more feedback for our team, ideas, questions, etc. please don't hesitate to reach out! Thank you SO much again for taking the time to leave this review <3 ~Nate GS Greg S. Director of Development Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great tool, even without the affordable pricing!" March 11, 2025 5.0 With Instrumental, I can easily enter my search terms and get applicable results in seconds, plus see what like organizations have received allowing me to additional options consider for more funding. Pros Instrumental is very reasonably priced and it allows us to easily and effectively research, track and manage grants, saving us significant time and money. Cons The Peer Prospecting option is only included in the upgraded plans. Alternatives considered [iWave](https://www.capterra.com/p/229663/iWave/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Instrumentl had the most features for the best price. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 12, 2025 Hey Greg! You're so kind to leave a review for us - thank you truly. It's great to hear that you're saving time and money from using our platform - that's part of our mission! We hope too that you will be winning some new awards soon too :) I totally hear you about the Peer Prospecting feature only being on the Pro Plan and higher. That being said, it sounds like you've found a great workaround: Recipient Profiles (Reverse Search) where you're seeing other similar nonprofits' past awards to give you insight into potential funders and opportunities for your own team. If you have any more feedback, don't hesitate to share <3 Best, Nate LM Lauren M. Grant Coordinator Civic & Social Organization Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Instrumentl is worth the investment" October 21, 2024 5.0 Very positive! A privilege to work for a non-profit that prioritized investing into an excellent grant database. Highly recommend. Pros There are multiple features that I like about Instrumentl. They include: - Excellent customer service: Instrumentl representatives are very timely and responsive when I submit an inquiry or request for help. The auto-generated response tells me to expect a response within a few hours but typically I receive a response sooner than that or an email that my request has been received and they are working on an answer. There is always a person attached to the communications, so I know I am having a live conversation that is very personalized. I have never not been satisfied with the response to a request for help. - Training resources: Instrumentl has an extensive library of resources, plus they send weekly emails with helpful tips. There are a variety of training webinars that are offered, and I received one-on-one training when I was first getting up and running on Instrumentl. - Funder profile: Instrumentl does all the work of analyzing 990 forms to tell me grant range, median grant amount, openness to new grantees, grantees by state, etc. Because of this analysis, I have sought--and received--larger grant amounts than I might have otherwise asked for! Instrumentl has saved me in ton of time in doing research and analysis! - Organization of database: I like having the option of having trackers for separate projects. - Reminders: I like receiving email reminders of upcoming deadlines so that I don't miss any important dates or tasks. - Search feature: The filters and parameters in the search function are helpful in controlling the output of prospects. And I appreciate getting updates about new prospects to investigate. - Always improving: I really like that Instrumentl is always evolving and improving its product in response to customer needs. In the 1-2 years that I have used Instrumentl, I have seen features improved that make a lot of sense and are helpful in storing information all in one place. Cons \- Several of the trainings seemed like they were marketed to current users, but then in the training itself, there seemed to be an advertising pitch to new users. That was annoying and a waste of time. - There is not a good way to keep track of unsolicited proposals. They get lumped into the timeline as if they were solicited. - The filters for the search feature can be a little confusing. - Instrumentl is a little pricey for a small non-profit. My large non-profit could afford it, but I could not necessarily recommend Instrumentl to a non-profit with a smaller budget. That being said, we paid for the subscription within the first year by getting new grants and larger amounts of grants than we would have otherwise. Alternatives considered [Microsoft Excel](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Good reviews, extensive features, customer service Switched from [FOUNDATION](https://www.capterra.com/p/2032/FOUNDATION/) REALLY disliked the customer service--could not understand the trainings. Got frustrated with my customer service rep. Review Source Response from Instrumentl October 31, 2024 Lauren, so wonderful to know you appreciate our customer service! We're always adding more trainings, workshops, and other resources to provide users like you with as much support as possible. As always, never hesitate to reach out to our team anytime :) ~Sindhu KY Kate Y. Executive Director Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "What a great way to find funding for my non-profit!" October 14, 2024 5.0 I was delighted, and I was a 30-year user of CANDID. Pros It is incredible how much time it saves and how many national grant opportunities it pulls up! Cons Sometimes, it is clunky when adding opportunities that are not in the database. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) My predecessor made the switch, and I inherited it. I am glad that I did. Review Source Response from Instrumentl October 24, 2024 Kate, Thanks so much for sharing your experience with Instrumentl :) So wonderful to know our platform has allowed you to benefit so significantly on your grants journey! We're always expanding our database -- don't hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance. ~Sindhu LW Lisa W. Development Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumentl is critical for our grant management and tracking" June 21, 2024 5.0 We Love Instrumentl!!! It is the most important software we use for grant management. Pros I love the grant research ability. It saves me time which means I have more time to apply for more grants. Cons The research component had a slight learning curve, but once I started using it, it became easier...practice makes perfect! Reason for choosing Instrumentl It was my understanding, the leadership team found the other applications to costly. Switched from [Salesforce.org Nonprofit Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/265078/Salesforceorg-Nonprofit-Cloud/) Instrumentl was more robust and provided all the components we needed in one application. Review Source Response from Instrumentl July 11, 2024 Hi Lisa -- Thank you for such a great review! We're so happy to hear that we're making your grant researching more efficient and saving you time to concentrate on the important part: applying for grants! We have lots of great resources to help you become an expert with Instrumentl such as our 101s, Advanced Training, and Office Hours! You can find one that meets your needs and times here: https://lu.ma/InstrumentlCustomerEventsCalendar Please feel free to reach out any time you need anything. ~Eric Dawn M. Principal Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A game changer for grant writing consultants!" December 18, 2023 5.0 I rave about Instrumentl to everyone in my field and consider it an asset to hiring Full-Circle Fundraising for grant writing and prospecting. My clients greatly benefit from the information I am able to provide them. Pros It is intuitive and easy to use and supports my needs as a grant consultant. Cons I would like data entered under one funder to transfer to other applications, such as contact information. Alternatives considered [GRANTSEEKER](https://www.capterra.com/p/10011350/GRANTSEEKER/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Ease of use and the ability to track multiple attributes of the grant application process, including notes, due dates, contact information and more. Switched from [GRANTSEEKER](https://www.capterra.com/p/10011350/GRANTSEEKER/) Instrumentl was more customized to my needs as a consultant and easier to use. Review Source Response from Instrumentl January 8, 2024 Dawn -- it''s so great to hear that you find Instrumentl to be a game-changer for your needs as a grant consultant! We'd love to learn more about what applications you'd like funder data to transfer to - feel free to email us to share! We're so happy to have you onboard. :) ~Ketaki VW Val W. Grant Writer Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumentl keeps getting better!" November 15, 2023 5.0 I would recommend Instrumentl over any other grant prospecting software that I've used--not just for the features it has now, but for the team's dedication to future growth. It is noticed and appreciated. Thank you, Instrumentl! Pros I've been working with Instrumentl both as a freelancer and as a full-time grant writer for over two years now. It has been amazing to watch Instrumentl grow into grant management to better meet their clients' needs. Support staff are always kind, timely, and helpful, and they are dedicated to making sure their grant database is kept up-to-date. Cons It may help to have a dedicated "Feedback" option or email address to contact support with suggestions about new funders to add to the system or updates to existing funders. Using their normal support works okay for the meantime, though! Reason for choosing Instrumentl Instrumentl is more intuitive to use and has more features than FoundationSearch. Plus, I like the design better! Switched from [Fluxx Grantmaker](https://www.capterra.com/p/146625/Fluxx-Software-for-Grantmakers/) Fluxx has useful grant management skills, but Instrumentl is more robust in its prospecting tools. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 21, 2023 Val -- thanks so much for your review! It's great to hear that the grant management tools on Instrumentl have been helpful for you and that you find the platform intuitive to use. I'm sharing your suggestion with our team on creating a dedicated way to contact us about adding or updating funders! We're so happy to have you onboard. :) ~Ketaki CH Caron H. Grants Compliance Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Instrumentl -- what you need for prospecting and tracking your grants" April 18, 2025 5.0 I've been working in grants since 2004, and in my time using different software, this is the most intuitive and easy-to-use grants prospecting and tracking program I have encountered. Pros The ease with which I can conduct prospect research, track opportunities through moves management, and pull reports to keep my boss in the know. Cons At first, it's almost overwhelming the amount of matches you can get, but once you learn to filter you can drill down and get to the best prospects. Review Source Response from Instrumentl April 21, 2025 Hi Caron, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this candid review of your experience using Instrumentl! It makes our team so happy to see you've been able to prospect successfully and keep your boss up to date using the reporting features. We're humbled by your words, knowing that in the 20+ years you've been working in grants, our platform is the most intuitive you've used. We're all ears for any feedback or ideas you have down the line. We appreciate you! <3 Best, Nate MM Mary M. Business Development, Nonprofit Consulting Philanthropy Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumentl Is An Excellent Nonprofit Resource" March 17, 2025 5.0 There are many aspects of the platform and I've used it for a long time with nonprofit clients. The platform features have grown tremendously so if I haven't used it in a while, there are new things to learn. In my experience, they have produced many training videos and also have customer support for in person if needed. Pros I've used the Instrumentl platform frequently since it was launched, which I think was about ten years ago (writing review in 2025). It is quite intuitive and always works extremely well in sourcing grants. The platform is really an ecosystem of all dimensions of : grant sourcing based on your criteria, guidance in grant writing, and tracking and compliance. I am not a fulltime grant writing professional, but have consulted with many nonprofits and found Instrumentl to be so valuable in the grants I have worked on. It is always my #1 and only platform I recommend to clients and friends in the nonprofit space for the purpose of grant discovery, research, drafting and compliance. Cons I think this is an excellent platform, and cared for by a team of real professionals at Instrumentl. I don't have any complaints about the service and utility and while not a complaint, there are many things to learn about the platform to get the greatest benefit out of it, so there is a learning curve, like with any new platform. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 21, 2025 Hi Mary :) Thank you so very much for giving up your time to share about your experience with our platform. It's truly amazing that you've been with us for so long. I appreciate how you spoke to the various stages of the grant cycle that our platform attempts to simplify and bring about success. While prospecting is a huge component we've invested in (and continue to build out thanks to our awesome Content team), the other components of the 'ecosystem', as you put it, are top of mind for our Product team. We're so grateful that you recommend us to so many clients of yours over the years. Also, I'm glad you're transparent about our platform having a bit of a learning curve like any new tool. We pride ourselves in the vast offerings, but we're continually working to make it intuitive and simple (i.e., less of that learning curve!). When any feedback comes to mind, we're all ears! Warmly, Nate NM Nancy M. Grant Writer Mental Health Care Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "10/10 Highly Recommend" January 8, 2025 5.0 Instrumentl is easy to use: love the project tracking and reporting features. As a contract grant writer who has used many different grant tracking options, Instrumentl is far and away my favorite. Pros Instrumentl is user-friendly, great for use by multiple people on the grant writing team, and helps keep everyone organized and on-track! Cons We have experienced some small glitches; for example, every grant we enter has a default submission date of August 9, 2024. I absolutely love Instrumentl for grant tracking; it hasn't been as effective for me as a research tool, but I think I just need to spend more time exploring that side of it. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 21, 2025 Hello Nancy! Thank you so much for sharing about your experience with Instrumentl! Our Product team will sleep well knowing you find the platform to be user-friendly. Team collaboration is something we really want to help promote and make easy, so I'm ecstatic to know your team has been organized and on track using our tooling! I'm sorry to hear that the researching aspect of the platform haven't been as fruitful for you. We would love to set up some time to look at your projects and even offer some trainings around some prospecting features you might not've explored, as you pondered. Any bugs or glitches are top priority for our Engineering team to address, so if you haven't already, please share your experience with our team at hello@instrumentl.com - we're here for you! I can't thank you enough for your honest review of your experience with us. I hope you continue to find value from our service! ~Nate EB Elisabeth B. Executive Director Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Instrumentl is key to our grant writing and research" March 4, 2025 5.0 The platform is intuitive, extensive, and the customer service is phenomenal. The extras you provide with webinars and email updates are invaluable. Pros It streamlines the work I have to do in researching, tracking, and cultivating relationships with foundations and grant makers. Cons We are gratefully grandfathered into a yearly fee that is less than $1000 and if it were to be higher we might not be able to use the platform. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 10, 2025 Hello Elisabeth! Wow, thank you for these kind words of affirmation for our customer service. It's meaningul for us to read that you find the platform to be intuitive and extensive -- out Product team will love to know this! We strive to streamline work and just make your life easier when looking for grants and all the subsequent grant lifecycle stages. Thank you for your honest feedback around pricing - we know the nonprofit space is not the most lucrative when compared to, say, the private sector, and each organization has it's own financial constraints to operate under. Our team is very thoughtful around our pricing and plans, and we update it to be in alignment with our product improvements as well as the industry at large. Ultimately we want to work with each of you to make sure you're getting the value you pay for. I'm relieved to hear that's been the case with you :) If any more feedback comes to mind, let me know! Ciao, Nate JC Jill C. Client Manager Fund-Raising Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "I love Instrumentl- Its Opens up a World of Possibilities" January 3, 2025 5.0 I use it for searching and learning more about foundations. It's helpful for strategizing. Oh it's great to get contact information and know who the trustees are. Pros I really, really love Instrumentl for creating tailored searches for various foundations. It's so nice to easily access 990s and see an overview of their foundation's giving histories. It's helpful to look at average size grants, funding priorities, funding areas by state, etc. I also love that we can look at other nonprofits and see what grants they have received to discover even more grants. Finally, its really nice that instrumentl has lists of grants for just about anything. Cons I don't have any cons. I think I am attached to my Google Spreadsheets though lol. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 21, 2025 Hey Jill, I appreciate you so much for sharing about your experience with Instrumentl! It's great to hear that you've been able to leverage the customizable prospecting tools. I love that the Peer Prospecting and Funder Insights (990 reports) have helped you discover, study and strategize around foundations. Also, there's nothing wrong with loving your Google Sheets, ha! If you ever have any feedback for us, please don't hesitate to let us know! ~Nate KA K A. Strategic Operations Manager, Grant Coordinator Management Consulting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "I'd be lost without Instrumentl!" November 13, 2024 5.0 I appreciate the intuitive design and the time-saving aspects that help streamline all things grant-related. It makes our workflow easier and really boosts our chances of getting funding due to its targeted approach. Pros It's been a game-changer for our grant research process. The database is extensive, and it is easy to find relevant grants that align well with projects and programs we're looking to get funded. Cons I would love to see an integration with Google Calendar. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 21, 2024 Hey K, Thanks so much for sharing your feedback with us :) We're so glad to hear you're finding grants that suit your targeted needs! By the way, Instrumentl actually does offer an integration with Google calendar, along with Outlook and Apple :) Thanks again for choosing Instrumentl -- feel free to reach out to us anytime! ~Sindhu VR Verified Reviewer Grant Consultant Fund-Raising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Instrumentl is a No-Brainer Business Builder" August 21, 2024 5.0 A bit intimidated at first, but with the use and ease of the tutorials and workshops, onboarding and getting acclimated went really smoothly. I am still interested in more classes to deepen my workability with the platform, but overall I rarely run into an issue. Pros I love that everything in my grant landscape is in one home. Every client, every application (finished and upcoming), every funder. In addition, it is a fantastic project management tool. I can create tasks, upload the calendar, and set my notifications to my liking. Cons Honestly, the price. As a solo entrepreneur, it's a bit steep. I'm beginning on the venture of building my business and Instrumental, I believe, is instrumental to my success, but it is hard to justify the cost for only a handful of clients. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 18, 2024 Hey there, I just wanted to remind you how much we appreciate you sharing your Instrumentl journey with us! happy to hear Instrumentl's been a wonderful grant management tool for you to manage your clients' needs :) FYI: We're expanding our selection weekly customer events, grant workshops, and other live trainings! We want to ensure all customers, whether new to the platform or a longtime user, can continue to learn at all levels :) As always, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team anytime -- we'd always love to hear from you! ~Sindhu ES Erin S. Grants and Experiential Design Specialist Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "High favorable opinion on Instrumentl" November 17, 2023 5.0 It has been a very positive experience. The trainings and workshops provided bring an extra layer of value for the subscription and have helped me in my grant writing professional development. Pros I love being able to look up a foundation I just learned about to check out their funding priorities, giving level, requirements and deadlines. I recommend the platform to anyone looking to break into a grant writing career as well as to organizations who need a grant finding and management platform. Cons For me its just an extra tracking document to update as I am required to track other organizational documents for internal use. Just a little extra work on my part. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 21, 2023 Erin -- I'm so glad that you like the funder 990 pages and being able to find information on their grants and giving! We'll be in touch to understand how we can better support you to reduce the duplication of work for tracking. It's good to have you onboard! ~Tracie LR Linda R. Grant Writer Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A robust grants database and management tool that pays for itself" December 6, 2023 5.0 Overall, I have really loved working with this product and the team that developed it. It's made a huge impact in our grant seeking and overall number of grant awards. Pros I love the amount of information it provides, the extremely responsive customer support staff, the fact that it keeps evolving with user feedback, and the amount of time it saves me in submitting winning grant proposals. Cons The cost is prohibitive for smaller organizations, but you could pay for it with one capacity-building grant. Review Source Response from Instrumentl December 20, 2023 Linda -- I'm so glad that you find the information we provide on grants and funders useful and that it saves you time. Thank you for your kind words about our support team! We always appreciate you sharing your feedback to help us improve Instrumentl for our users. I've shared your feedback about pricing with our team. It's good to have you onboard! ~Ketaki Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Grant Management](https://www.capterra.com/grant-management-software/) ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.