--- title: "Instrumentl Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Instrumentl the right Grant Management solution for you? Explore 190 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/233384/Instrumentl/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" --- Instrumentl 5 (190) [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 August 20th, 2026 # Reviews of Instrumentl Ease of use 4.8 Customer Service 5.0 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews TW Tina W Grants ManagerIndividual & Family Services, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “As a part-time grants manager, I have found that it saves an incredible amount of time and helps me be better organized and on top of new opportunities, grant requirements, and deadlines.“ July 20, 2026 CN Cort N Program DirectorNon-Profit Organization Management, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Still find it difficult to narrow searches for our specific need areas - subject, geographic, etc “ July 8, 2026 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 CS Caroline S Dual Director, Advocacy and Grants ManagementHospital & Health Care, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “some limitations such as currently no interface with our accounting software.“ June 10, 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 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 Cindy S Development and Outreach OfficerIndividual & Family Services, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “Between its powerful features, exceptional support, and educational resources, I believe it offers tremendous value and has become an essential part of my grant-writing workflow.“ July 17, 2026 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 190 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Cindy S. Development and Outreach Officer Individual & Family Services Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "From Overwhelmed to Organized: Instrumentl Has Transformed My Grant Writing Workflow" July 17, 2026 5.0 I would highly recommend Instrumentl to other grant writers, whether they're just starting out or have years of experience. It does an excellent job of identifying grant opportunities, including many I would never have found on my own. Beyond grant discovery, it has transformed the way our team manages grants by keeping projects, tasks, and deadlines organized in one place. What truly sets Instrumentl apart is its commitment to customer success. Their customer support has been outstanding—I have always received timely, helpful responses whenever I've reached out. They also invest heavily in training through webinars, educational resources, and best-practice guidance that have helped me grow as a grant writer, not just as a user of their software. As someone who is relatively new to grant writing, Instrumentl has given me the confidence and tools I need to succeed. Between its powerful features, exceptional support, and educational resources, I believe it offers tremendous value and has become an essential part of my grant-writing workflow. Pros What I liked most about Instrumentl was how much time it saved me and how organized it made my grant process. As a new grant writer at a new organization, finding quality grant opportunities could have been overwhelming. Instrumentl helped me quickly identify grants that were a strong fit—many of which I don't think I would have found on my own. I also love the built-in AI writing assistant for applications available within the platform. It has been a tremendous time saver when drafting proposals. Beyond the software itself, Instrumentl's educational resources have been incredibly valuable. Their 50-Day Turnaround webinar completely changed the way I manage my grants by helping me work ahead, create realistic deadlines, stay on top of tasks, and be a better steward of relationships with funders. Overall, Instrumentl has significantly improved my workflow and helped me become a more organized and effective grant writer. Cons There isn't much I dislike about Instrumentl, but there is one feature I'd love to see improved. The new Match Insights feature is incredibly helpful when I'm evaluating grant opportunities because it provides valuable context and saves me research time. However, once I save a grant to a project, those insights don't appear to carry over with it. It would be great if that information remained accessible within the saved grant so I could easily reference it later without having to go back and find it again. It's a relatively small issue, but adding that functionality would make an already excellent workflow even better. Also, there was a bit of a learning curve for me, but Instrumentl offers many resources, including webinars and videos, which helped me learn everything I needed to know. Review Source MP Maurice P. President Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Smartest Approach to Managing the Entire Grant Management Process" June 19, 2026 5.0 Extremely positive. I greatly appreciate the caliber of the support team at Instrumentl. Their knowledge of the tool set and responsiveness could not be better. Pros Our nonprofit organization has been making use of Instrumentl since December, 2023. What we found most helpful: - Excellent ROI - In our first year of utilizing, we uncovered a number of foundations that prior to Instrumentl went unnoticed. In our first year, the return on investment for Instrumentl was over 500% Cons It took a bit of time to become fully knowledgeable about utilizing the core functionality of Instrumentl. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) The other platforms were not near as robust as Instrumentl with respect to their functionality. Review Source Response from Instrumentl June 29, 2026 Hi Maurice! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. A 500% ROI in your first year is remarkable, and we're so glad Instrumentl helped you uncover foundations that had previously slipped through the cracks. That's exactly what we're here for. We appreciate your patience through the initial learning curve as well. Getting fully up to speed on a new platform takes time, and we're always working to make that onboarding experience smoother. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team at anytime, we're always happy to help. Thank you for choosing Instrumentl, and for the kind words about our support team. We're proud to work with organizations like yours and look forward to continuing to support your grant work! 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 JB Julia B. Manager of Grants and Capacity Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "We love Instrumentl!! Best customer service ever!" June 10, 2026 5.0 I have been with Instrumentl for over 7 years and have been continually impressed with the product, the ease of the user interface, the plethora of features they offer (which keeps growing!), and the friendliness and responsiveness of their staff. Pros Instrumentl's customer service is stellar! They are very responsive and often take suggestions forward to their development team. Cons It can be a bit expensive; however, the value of the product is worth it if you can afford it. We have made it a priority in our budget. Alternatives considered [Blackbaud Grantmaking](https://www.capterra.com/p/242266/Blackbaud-Grantmaking/)[Grant Lifecycle Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/122147/Grant-Lifecycle-Manager/) Reason for choosing Instrumentl Customer service, user-friendly interface, and ease of use. Review Source Response from Instrumentl June 12, 2026 Hi Julia, Seven years! That genuinely means so much to us. Thank you for growing with us and for taking the time to share this. It's been a pleasure having you as part of the Instrumentl community, and reviews like yours are a great reminder of why we care so much about getting the details right: the interface, the features, the support experience. We'll keep working to make it worth your budget line. Thanks again for the kind words and for sticking with us all this time! MC Monica C. Director of Grant Strategy Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumentl is legit my favorite platform" June 18, 2026 5.0 I accidently stumbled across Instrumentl when looking for free trainings for my interns (which they do have). After trying it out, I used every persuasive skill I had to convince my supervisor to get it! It has saved me SO MUCH time researching, prospecting, and tracking grants! Pros To start: as someone who has worked in grants for 20 years, this is, by far, my favorite platform. From grant prospecting to tracking, Instrumentl has it all. The user interface is very easy to use, and searching for what you need is a breeze! And if you can't figure something out, their customer service is amazing. They also have loads of free trainings and articles about various grant topics. It works great for those with multiple people on your team as well. I honestly cannot say enough about the platform. I geek out about it! Cons For small shops,. the price can be a bit daunting. BUT -- it will pay for itself over time with how much $$ you save with your time searching and building a pipeline. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) At my last job, we had FoundationSearch, which I didn't care for...so we switched to Candid, which I knew from a previous role. After trying Instrumentl, I stated "This is like Candid, but on steroids!" Review Source Response from Instrumentl June 29, 2026 Hi Monica! Thank you so much for this review, it genuinely means a lot to our team! Hearing that Instrumentl has become your favorite platform after 20 years in grants is about the highest compliment we could receive. We're so glad it's been worth the investment for your team, that's what we love to hear! Thanks for being such a champion for Instrumentl. We're thrilled to have you with us! RG Ruth G. Grants Specialist Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Instrumentl review and feedback" August 7, 2026 5.0 Pros What I love most about Instrumentl is how user-friendly it is and how it brings all our grant information into one central place. It truly covers the entire grant lifecycle, and they’re constantly adding new features to make the experience even better. On top of that, their customer service is awesome! They offer monthly trainings to keep you informed on new features or to give you a quick refresher whenever you need one. I actually had a situation where I couldn't see all my grants, so I emailed customer service and by that afternoon, the glitch was completely fixed! For years, our department relied on two separate spreadsheets, one for tracking applications and one for awarded grants. It was a constant struggle to keep them updated: only one person could edit at a time, and staff would often forget to log their info, leaving us with incomplete data. Instrumentl solved that completely. It keeps us from forgetting to log details, and the status tools help our team gather, discuss active projects, and update our grant statuses together in real time. Cons If there’s one thing I like the least, it’s how Instrumentl handles multi-year grants. There isn’t a clear, simple way to record a grant awarded over several years by annual amounts. Instead, the platform logs the full award total, which misrepresents your numbers and gives an inaccurate picture of your total awarded grants for any single year. Review Source TW Tina W. Grants Manager Individual & Family Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great Investment " July 20, 2026 5.0 I am a big fan of Instrumentl. As a part-time grants manager, I have found that it saves an incredible amount of time and helps me be better organized and on top of new opportunities, grant requirements, and deadlines. I now have more time to spend researching new grant opportunities and have significantly increased my capacity. It really is a great investment, and I highly recommend it. Pros The Instrumentl team was super helpful in helping us set up and use the system right away. The program is pretty intuitive and offers many more useful features than other grant sourcing sites I have used. I have been using the system for 10 months and we have been awarded two new grants, which more than paid for the first-year subscription. Cons I am continuing to learn certain features, so any issues are more a factor of setting aside time to explore and learn than functionality or capability. Review Source BB Becki B. Grant Strategist Fund-Raising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "So Much More Than A Grant Database!" August 18, 2026 5.0 Instrumentl has an AMAZING team, customer service, and training program that goes WAY beyond just learning how to use the platform. It is so much more than a grant database! Pros Value for money. Instrumentl does the work that would normally cost much more of your precious time! Prospecting grants is just the beginning! It's your grant tracker, your calendar, your task master, your best grant bestie! Cons It can be a bit overwhelming for first-time users because there are so many amazing features! But the 101 and 102 trainings are great, and you will be up and rolling faster than you think! Review Source CN Cort N. Program Director Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Hope Clubhouse Instrumentl Review" July 8, 2026 5.0 Over a +++++++ We love the platform and all that it offers in searching for and applying for applicable grants, along with ability to track all grant details and tasks to complete. Greatly appreciated. Pros Value for cost of annual subscription - pays for itself many times over Customer support, features, search functionality Cons Still find it difficult to narrow searches for our specific need areas - subject, geographic, etc Review Source CC Cherise C. Director of Operations and Programming Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Definitely worth the investment!" August 8, 2026 5.0 Pros I was skeptical at first because the sales pitch seemed to good to be true and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something that was only okay. But man, I am glad I tried it! Within the first week, I was able to find another 15 grants I had never heard of that specifically tie to my work and the grant writing assistance saved me so much time in digging back through my old applications wondering "where did I write about this before?!". The website is super easy to navigate and when I couldn't figure something out, I was quickly able to get support. In fact, I waited until the last minute to work on a grant only to find that it wasn't available through the system (boo!), but I sent a request and the support people were back to me in the same day and I was able to get it done! Can't recommend enough. Cons Can't think of anything right now! I've really enjoyed it over the first few months I've worked with it. Review Source KB Kelly B. Prospect Research Strategist Education Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "High Praise for Instrumentl" February 10, 2025 5.0 It has been amazing. I can't tell you the hours I have saved with this product. I finally am able to see a concrete picture of everything our Corporate and Foundation Relations Department has going on in our fundraising space. Pros Instrumentl is basically one-stop shopping. I can do everything in this one product that I used to do in multiple spreadsheets and three different products. It has saved me countless hours of cutting and pasting into excel spreadsheets, sending emails about opportunities. Our team is spread out and with this product we can all work seamlessly. On top of that, Instrumentl is reasonably priced and we have canceled 3 subscriptions and just use Instrumentl now. I would highly recommend checking it out to anyone who is working in the Corporate/Foundation grant space - it is a timesaver and lifesaver for me. Cons The only thing that bothers me is that if I find a grant and save to a project, and the officer decides not to apply, there's no way to just remove the grant. 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. Switched from [Candid](https://www.capterra.com/p/237107/Candid/) Those products did not offer what Instrumentl does - so we canceled those and just use Instrumentl now. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 21, 2025 Hi Kelly, Thanks for your elaborative and honest review! It is so cool and rewarding for our team to learn of your testimony - getting rid of several platform subscriptions to have all you need in one place, hopefully saving you money on top of time and hassle! I totally hear you regarding what you said about grants you decide not to apply for. Apart from hiding the opportunity from a given project, you can indeed change its status to 'Abandoned'. If you don't want to have it showing on your Tracker, you can filter your Project Tracker to only include opportunities with statuses other than 'Abandoned'. I hope this makes it easier for you! I'll pass on this feedback to our Product team regardless ;) Appreciate you again for sharing your Instrumentl experience with others! ~Nate 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 AH Amy H. Grant Manager Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Elegant, Insightful and Built with Grant Pros in Mind" March 4, 2026 5.0 Pros Instrumentl is designed to make every stage of an organization’s grant program easier—from researching funding opportunities to drafting proposals to managing an award. Yet what makes the Instrumentl platform genuinely transformative is that it goes far beyond facilitating an individual grant project. Their tools also make it incredibly simple to see patterns and trends in your organization’s data. From quickly projecting exactly where a potential cash flow problem comes from to easily visualizing project deadline bottlenecks, Instrumentl transforms what used to take hours and days of painstaking effort - patching data from across multiple platforms - into simple, easily repeatable tasks that help plan and understand your work in a more comprehensive and meaningful way. It’s delivered through an elegant, easy-to-use interface and supported by a team that truly cares about the customer experience, as evidenced by their listening to and responding to user feedback. Last but not least, they are genuinely building a community. Their webinars are valuable for both the timely, relevant information shared by knowledgeable presenters and the information shared by participants. As a long-time grant professional, I feel seen. Cons I am now going into my third year using Instrumentl, and have found nothing I consider to be a drawback. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 6, 2026 Hi Amy, Thank you so much for this thoughtful review and for being part of the Instrumentl community for the past three years. It means a lot to hear that the platform has helped you streamline everything from grant research to planning and analyzing your organization’s funding strategy. We’re especially glad the reporting tools, interface, and webinars have been valuable to your work. Our team truly cares about building something that supports grant professionals in meaningful ways, so hearing that you feel seen is incredibly rewarding! Thank you again for sharing your experience and for the important work you do! We're here for you! :) VR Verified Reviewer Grant Consultant Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Finally... A Grant Platform That Actually Saves Me Time!" January 6, 2026 5.0 I tried another software after using Instrumentl because I thought I could save money. I came back to Instrumentl because it is much more efficient and saved me so much time. Pros It is user friendly. The search functionality is great and I love that it continues searching and recommending new grants. It is really easy to organize and maintain different projects. Cons It is a little costly for a small business owner. After using it for one year, I came back to it because it saves so much time and the search features were far superior Review Source Response from Instrumentl January 9, 2026 Hi! Thank you for leaving a review here about your experience using Instrumentl for your org's grant management tool. We're thrilled that you find our product to be user-friendly with great search functionality (like the weekly New Matches email digest you alluded to). I totally hear you with regards to the cost, and I'm sorry that it costs more than some other platforms out there. It's great, though, that you came back because the value is there for you despite the financial investment. In the long run, our hope is that any money you spend subscribing to our platform comes right back many more times as you discover and win grants! If you have more feedback for our team, or need help with anything at all, just let us know :D VR Verified Reviewer Senior Grant Writer Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Senior Grant Writer " July 28, 2025 5.0 "Instrumentl + ChatGPT = smarter, faster grants. Game-changer for grant writers -- If you’re looking for a grant discovery platform that evolves with you, and integrates beautifully with next-generation tools like ChatGPT & Instrumentl is the gold standard. It's not just a search tool; it’s a strategic partner for organizations serious about growth, funding diversification, and impact. Pros Instrumentl allow me to learn skills: search functionality, tracking and document management. By pairing Instrumentl’s filtered, funder-aligned search tools with ChatGPT's drafting capabilities, I’ve been able to accelerate narrative development, synthesize funder priorities, and customize applications with greater precision. This AI-enhanced approach has enabled me to move from research to proposal in a fraction of the time—without compromising quality. Cons Nothing. I just wish there wasn’t a minimum character requirement for my response to complete this question. Review Source Response from Instrumentl August 15, 2025 Hello there, Thank you so much for writing this review of your experience with Instrumentl! It's so cool to hear that you're growing professionally from your usage of our product features, such as our Apply Advisor AI tool. Our mission is to be a force-multiplier for nonprofits, so knowing you are able to work so much faster is amazing news for our team! I hope Capterra reads your 'Cons' remark about not wanting a minimum character requirement ha! In all seriousness, if any "cons" or areas of growth for our team come to mind, please let us know. We LOVE feedback and want to continue to improve our platform informed by what our customers want. We're cheering for you to win those grants you're finding and writing on our platform! Thanks again :) FP Francne P. Grants Manager Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "I Love Instrumentl" November 18, 2025 5.0 My overall experience has been extremely positive. At this point in time, I highly recommend Instrumentl. Pros I love the prospecting feature - saves me a ton of time! There are many ways to view your grants pipeline. I am a fan of the calendar view, as it clearly shows me what I've got to do for that month. I wasn't accustomed to organizing my funders by project, but have found that to be extremely useful, as well. I have found the customer support to be very, very good, in terms of responsiveness and knowledge. Cons Honestly, I'm still learning, but so far nothing jumps out at me as a negative. I'm happy to update this review if/when that occurs. Review Source Response from Instrumentl December 15, 2025 Hi Francine, Thank you for sharing about your experience with Instrumentl! I love that you touched on the many ways one can view their grants pipeline, such as the Calendar View, which you're a fan of. I appreciate your honesty around the adjustment to thinking of prospecting and grants management in terms of "projects" in Instrumentl. It sounds like you've found it to be useful. As always, we're humbled and grateful to hear you've had a great experience with our Customer Support. It's something our team puts immense value in. We know we're not perfect, so please let us know if we can improve in any way. We're here for you if issues and questions arise! Thanks for entrusting us with your grants management! It's an honor :) 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 LL Laura L. Director of Development Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Instrumentl is a game changer for grant writers! " June 13, 2025 5.0 Our overall experience with Instrumentl has been excellent. The platform helped us identify and successfully acquire new funders, streamlining our grant research and tracking process. It’s user-friendly, efficient, and a valuable tool for growing funding. Pros It makes grant research and tracking very streamlined! It is easy to navigate and set up several program projects to isolate research and tracking. Cons There are no complaints about Instrumentl—It has been a very helpful tool! The only thing to make it better would be if it were free! But, nothing worthwhile is free! Review Source Response from Instrumentl June 20, 2025 Hey Laura, Thank you so much for writing this review! It's humbling to see you benefit so much from our platform in organizing funding efforts in different projects. Yes, free everything would be great! Maybe someday... Congrats on identifying and acquiring new funders!! It makes our day to hear such impact stories from our customers. It's a reminder of our mission: to be a force-multiplier for nonprofits... to do the amazing work you do! As always, we are here to listen to your feedback, offer assistance when needed, and cheer you on as you shape the world for the better! Warmly, Nate LC Lynn C. Principal and Co-Founder Writing and Editing Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Instrumentl is a game changer for development professionals" March 17, 2025 5.0 Outstanding--I use Instrumentl nearly everyday to learn information about funders and funding opportunities. It has boosted our research capabilities. Customer service is fantastic too. Pros Instrumentl is a game changer for grants research. It is a robust search engine that helps find new funding opportunities and easily see grant ranges and giving history. It also alerts you when grant opportunities are due as well as any changes in an opportunity. It is amazing and essential software for development professionals. Cons No cons! It is easy to use and navigate. I love it. Review Source Response from Instrumentl March 21, 2025 Hey Lynn! I love reading about how Instrumentl has provided you with essential information about funders and their grant opportunities. We definitely strive to boost our customers' research capabilities, as you put it. It's great to hear how the opportunity updates + new matches alerts have helped you stay up to date with possible grant opportunities and when applications need to be submitted. While I love seeing that you think our customer service is 'fantastic' and there are no "cons", please do share any feedback or ideas with us directly once something comes to mind! Thank you so much for this review! Best, 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 Emily L. Board Member Environmental Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A wonderful tool for all grant writers" December 26, 2024 5.0 I have used instrumentl for the last several years and speak volumes of their service to other organizations that I'm on the board of. It is a leader in the industry and a powerhouse for grant writing. Pros This is a great resource for any Grant Writer, up-to-date opportunities, state of the art technology, and dedicated customer service. Cons They don't currently have a package for consultants. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 21, 2025 Hi Emily, Thank you so much for sharing about your experience with Instrumentl! So happy to hear you find our technology user-friendly, opportunities up-to-date, and helpful customer support. I am pumped to share with you that we actually do have Consultant Plans! You can find them on our Pricing page (https://www.instrumentl.com/pricing). Feel free to reach out to our team at hello@instrumentl.com for help accesssing this plan type :) Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to review us and the years of you've been with us! ~Nate LK Lauryn K. Director of Development Fine Art Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Instrumentl Has Played a Crucial Role in Helping Charleston Stage Discover More Grant Opportunities!" November 11, 2024 5.0 Pros Instrumentl has truly been a game-changer for us in connecting with new grant opportunities. It’s opened up doors to foundations, both local and beyond, that we never knew existed. We’ve been especially excited to discover private foundations in our own community, and the ability to see who they’ve funded in the past gives us valuable insight into how we can approach our proposals and make the most of each opportunity. Cons One challenge we faced when transitioning to Instrumentl was moving our data from a spreadsheet format into the software. Some of the information didn’t transfer exactly as we had hoped, which led to a few hiccups in the process. That said, we were incredibly grateful for Instrumentl’s support team—they were there to help every step of the way and made the troubleshooting process much smoother. Review Source Response from Instrumentl November 18, 2024 Hey Lauryn, So happy to hear you've opened up a world of possibilities with Instrumentl! Our team is always here for you, hiccups and all :) Don't hesitate to reach out anytime -- we'd always love to hear from you! ~Sindhu 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 LW LAURYN W. President Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Highly Recommend" March 17, 2024 5.0 It works for me - I don't use the software to its fullest potential, but the features that I do use are quite beneficial overall. Pros When I first started using Instrumentl, there was so much information all in one place, and it has not disappointed me in continuing to improve the product. Like any program, it doesn't have everything, so I use other research vehicles to ensure I'm on track. Overall, I highly recommend it to other grant writers. Also, I LOVE the statewide grant disbursement display, which allows you to see other nonprofits receiving funding from a grantor by year and amount at a glance. Cons I only have two issues: 1) cost - I would like to buy the more advanced versions, but my clients are small and pay me a minimum to write grants for them, so I am only able to use the standard version at this time 2) I would like a searchable database by industry/type. When you set up the profile, the categories are so broad that they bring in many unnecessary grants. If you have the advanced package, once you find a grant, you can dive deeper into what a grantor's preference might be, but you are still unable to type in "animal welfare," for example, and see who might be an available source for funding. Once you identify a potential grantor, you can dive deeper, but if you don't know who they are to begin with, it is not as helpful as it can be to use in that regard. Reason for choosing Instrumentl I was trying to avoid using an Excel spreadsheet for client data. Unfortunately, it turns out that my clients prefer using an Excel spreadsheet, so instead of redundantly registering the information twice, I use Instrumentl for my needs and then track it on an Excel spreadsheet for their needs. It seems to work. Review Source Response from Instrumentl June 14, 2024 Hi Lauryn -- Thank you for the kind words regarding our continued strive to improve and pulling all of your data into a single, easy to navigate location, avoiding putting everything into multiple spreadsheets. We also hear you regarding your desire for additional features and that database by industry/type sounds like a great idea! Thanks for being with us! Please feel free to reach out any time you need anything :) ~Eric Aimie T. Founder Fund-Raising Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Your one stop shop for grant research and management." February 6, 2024 5.0 I could shout from the rooftops my love for this software. It's user-friendly, and allows me to take on more clients by literally being a personal assistant that keeps me in line with little effort on my end. I also love the learning experiences that come with your membership. These are conducted by some incredible people who have been in the grant world for decades. Customer service has always been on top and quit to respond as well. Priceless. Pros The in-depth customizable search options that are offered. Instrumentl offers, by far, more options than most grant databases on the market. This saves me a ton of time in researching for perfect fit grants. Cons The price was a bit daunting at the beginning - but that was quickly made up once I got into the software and started using it. I stopped having to use 3 programs to manage a research project. It's truly my one-stop shop. Review Source Response from Instrumentl February 8, 2024 Hi Aimie -- I'm so glad that you've found Instrument's search and database so useful for researching! We're also very glad to know that you are getting value through the platform by not needing to work with multiple programs at once! Thanks for being with us! Please feel free to reach out any time you need anything :) ~Eric Similar Products Featured ## 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.