MicroEdge Announces Major Update to Giving Community’s #1 Choice for Online Applications and Grantee Reporting

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MicroEdge, LLC, the leading provider of solutions for the giving community worldwide, today announced a major update to its leading online applications and reporting solutions. This powerful and robust release offers a wealth of capabilities that make the process of accepting and managing applications via the web faster, easier and more flexible than ever, while also enabling giving organizations to improve communication and create a more connected, seamless experience for applicants and grantees.

“We’re very excited to deliver this latest release, which offers a great deal more flexibility and power in how our clients connect with applicants and grantees via the web, as well as creates an easier and more intuitive experience for their grantees.”

Efficiency gains deliver measurable results

Giving organizations work tirelessly to find and help worthy causes, but that important goal can get lost in a mountain of paper and inefficiency associated with manual, paper-based processes. MicroEdge’s hosted, online application and reporting solutions, which are currently used by more than 500 organizations, allow grantmakers to move those processes online. And the efficiencies gained from an online process add up: a typical organization saves one month or more every single year using MicroEdge’s online applications and reporting tools – time that used to be spent manually entering data, preparing applications for review, and reviewing ineligible proposals. These web-based solutions are fully integrated with the grantmaking workflow, creating a significantly streamlined process, improved collaboration with grantees, and an effective way to help funders measure the impact they are making through their giving.

Improved look and feel creates a more seamless grantee experience

Foundations, corporate giving programs and other grantmaking organizations recognize the importance of having a strong brand – their face to the community must be recognizable, consistent, and fully embody their mission. Major improvements in the latest version enable organizations to more effectively and completely carry their branding throughout the entire online process. It’s now easier to maintain a more consistent look and feel between the organization’s website and their online grantmaking processes, so that the grantee’s experience of moving from the website through the application process is entirely seamless.

More flexibility in application process produces greater efficiencies

With an online application and reporting process, potential grantees submit proposals and reports online through convenient forms, making it faster to apply for funding or other types of support. Applicants save time, money and effort by eliminating the need to type and copy proposals, while grantmakers eliminate countless hours of manual data entry into their foundation or grants management solution. It’s essential that an online process is as simple and effective as possible, and that it closely represents the organization’s actual process. A host of new capabilities in MicroEdge solutions enable grantmakers to have more flexibility throughout the application process, resulting in greater efficiencies for the organization. Applicants are easily guided to the correct applications, alleviating potential frustration and time-consuming calls into the organization for assistance. Grantmakers save substantial effort reviewing applications that do not meet guidelines and can devote more time to collaborating with grantees on potential outcomes and other strategic aspects of their giving.

Better flow of information to grantees enhances communication

The giving process involves a high level of interaction between the funder and the applicant/grantee. But all too often, the bulk of that interaction involves basic questions such as: “Was the application received?” “What reporting is due to the foundation?” Answering these questions consumes a great deal of time from grantmaking staff that could otherwise be spent on higher value interactions. Using MicroEdge online application and reporting solutions, applicants and grantees can log into an online portal to see relevant grant information about their submissions. Now, grantmakers have the option to provide additional grant related information, improving the flow of information to grantees and providing a better overall experience, while also freeing up time to develop more substantial relationships with their grantees.

“Through the collective feedback of our clients, we have dramatically advanced our online grant application tools, which have processed over 2 million grant applications and reports since 1999. Our clients shared the importance of improving the grantee experience, which gave us a very clear picture of how to best evolve our solutions to meet the giving community’s needs,” says Preston McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer at MicroEdge. “We’re very excited to deliver this latest release, which offers a great deal more flexibility and power in how our clients connect with applicants and grantees via the web, as well as creates an easier and more intuitive experience for their grantees.”

Availability and Information

The capabilities mentioned in this announcement and more will be generally available soon in several MicroEdge products: IGAM (for GIFTS and FIMS) and Online Applications and Reporting in GIFTS Online. Upon release, existing clients who are using IGAM or Online Applications and Reporting in GIFTS Online will receive an email notification with instructions on how to download and install this update. The update is provided free of charge to all current IGAM clients as part of their existing MicroEdge Maintenance and Support, Subscription or Client Care agreement, and to all current GIFTS Online clients using the Online Applications and Reporting module. To learn more about the additional features that are included in these releases, please visit the PowerME portal at www.microedge.com. To learn more about how your organization can benefit from the use of MicroEdge’s online applications and reporting solutions, contact MicroEdge at 800-899-0890 option 1.

About MicroEdge

Established in 1985, MicroEdge, LLC is the leading provider of software and services to the giving community worldwide. MicroEdge solutions deliver a powerful, integrated, and open framework for efficient and effective charitable giving. The company is committed to providing the best technology toolset for foundations, corporations, government agencies, donors, advisors and financial institutions. Together, these tools help organizations to work with one another to raise, invest, manage and award charitable currency. MicroEdge is headquartered in New York City with regional offices throughout the U.S. and supports thousands of clients worldwide. MicroEdge is under the management of Vista Equity Partners. To learn more about Vista Equity Partners, visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.

MicroEdge is a trademark and/or service mark of MicroEdge, LLC. All other company names or marks mentioned herein are those of their respective owners.