Abstract Software
Session Builder and Scheduling
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OpenWater vs. Submittable: Why OpenWater Is the Best Choice
Associations, foundations, and higher education institutions choose OpenWater over competitors like Submittable for OpenWater’s specialized focus, comprehensive workflows, and breadth of native integrations.
Why Choose OpenWater Over Submittable?
Streamline your application and review processes with a platform designed for associations, foundations, and higher education institutions.
Tailor-Made for Engagement
Although universities and professional organizations can use Submittable, the platform is better suited to the needs of grantmakers and corporate social responsibility (CSR) program managers. As a proud member of the Advanced Solutions International (ASI) family, OpenWater serves the association and higher education sectors first, so our platform and the team behind it are better equipped to fulfill your organization’s needs around member and community engagement.
Simplified Program Administration
Submittable’s main goal is to remove friction from applicant and volunteer reviewer workflows, but in working toward this purpose, it’s less customizable and robust on the administrative side. OpenWater takes a more holistic approach to simplifying complex processes, with application creation and multi-round review procedures that your organization can tailor to its needs, alleviating stress for everyone involved—especially program administrators.
Specialized Post-Decision Processes
Since Submittable is primarily focused on grantmaking and CSR, its tools for managing post-decision workflows are entirely concerned with fund disbursement tracking and reporting. While OpenWater has robust features for these functions, it also includes more engagement-focused post-decision tools. For example, you can use online galleries to showcase award winners’ achievements and leverage schedule and session builders that allow you to transfer approved abstracts directly to an event agenda.
Top-of-the-Line Integrations
Submittable relies heavily on an open API and third-party providers like Zapier and Workato to set up platform integrations, with only a handful of native integrations that center on grantmaking solutions. Meanwhile, OpenWater supports more than 65 native integrations with AMS, CRM, payment gateway, and directory platforms so that your application and review processes can function efficiently and securely as an extension of your organization’s primary database.
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Target Audiences |
Associations, foundations, higher education institutions |
Foundations, corporations, government agencies |
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Primary Focus |
Member and community engagement |
Social impact and responsibility |
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Application-Building Features |
Includes builders for program websites/landing pages and application forms |
Embeddable application form builder only |
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Review Process |
Highly customizable and supports more complex committee-based processes |
Simpler and less customizable |
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Post-Decision Capabilities |
Reporting, fund/progress tracking, award gallery creation, event schedule and session organization |
Reporting and fund/progress tracking only |
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Integrations |
65+ native integrations plus open API |
5 native integrations plus third-party/open API setups |
Trusted by the Industry Leaders
TESTIMONIALS
Based on stellar reviews on
What Our Application & Review Software Users Say
Based on stellar reviews on
"Our team deals with over 80 different programs that are reviewed by 80 different committees who each have 3-12 volunteers. OpenWater makes it easy for us to collect the information that needs to be reviewed and enforce unique and diverse applicant requirements. This year, OpenWater has allowed our team to process over 1,200 applications reviewed by around 320+ volunteers."
"We use OpenWater not only for our awards programs, but also for grants, fellowships and generally anything that requires an application or judging process. All of this in one central system that integrates nicely with our association management system."
"ASHA uses the OpenWater platform for awards programs, grant and scholarship applications, mentoring enrollment, course registration, volunteer applications and leadership programs. The flexibility of the OpenWater platform functionality is crucial to efficiently and successfully manage these various types of programs, each with unique requirements."
"OpenWater is a company that treats you with a personal touch and we find that of great value. We have enjoyed the relationship we have built with them and have come to rely on them for the support that we need to continue to grow our program."
"The Awards and Prizes team at the Institution of Engineering and Technology operates several awards, prizes and scholarship schemes, all with different entry and reporting requirements. The flexibility and functionality of the platform has led to many improvements and efficiencies in how IET awards are run. The support from the OpenWater team has been excellent."
“Applications are very intuitive and easy to build (even with layers of complexity and if/then processes, and judging options are very customizable, reporting options are extensive and detailed. I did not have any experience building an application and do not come from a technical background, but I was able to build our application without issues due to the ease of using the program and the prompt and helpful assistance of customer support.”
