Traditionally, grant making has been practiced in an analog/paper-based manner. Grant forms are printed and the grantee applies for the grant by typing on the form. More recently, fill-able PDFs have allowed applicants to fill out forms on computer. However, filling out the form is only the very first part of the grant-making process.

Proprietary grant systems are expensive. They can be REALLY expensive and then have licensing fees. They price the small player right out of the market and tax the resources of the larger players leaving less money to distribute to grantees.

Less Money to distribute=Less Good in the target community.

Almost everybody, whether they notice it or not, is impacted and benefits from grants ranging from scholarships to clean water, from community revitalization to inoculations, from public health care to adoptions.

The solution? Create an open source grant-making system that provides organizations with a solid, powerful, and web-based alternative to commercial grant-making packages on the market today that costs nothing to leverage.

pingVision has assembled a Knight Drupal Initiative proposal that significantly impacts the non-profit grant-making world.

pingVision wants...

1. To create an easy-to-use, state of the art, open-source grant-making system using the Drupal Content Management system.
2. To allow for custom development of application forms.
3. To allow for custom theme development.
4. To provide management tools for grant applicants, grantees, panelists, and Grant-makers.

Grant-makers (from the smallest to the largest) will have, within reach, tools that will improve efficiency, reduce cost, and simplify application management. The code will be available to all for extension, improvement, and further development encouraging greater participation in designing systems that truly fit the needs of the community.

Who does this impact? Government, Schools, Private Non-profits, Organizations (both small and large) and anybody that interacts with them is affected.

This project answers a huge question for non-profits: How do I manage my grants process? Simple! With Drupal!

How can you participate? Head over to our proposal and leave feedback. The input will be appreciated.

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