Why Foundations Should Digitize Their Grant Process

Switzerland is home to around 13,000 charitable foundations, and many of them still manage their grant applications through email, PDF forms, and local folder structures. While this may seem to work at first glance, it leads to significant overhead in practice – especially as application volumes grow.

The Problem with Manual Processes

When applications arrive by email, it quickly becomes difficult to maintain an overview: Which applications are new, which are in progress, which have already been decided? Information is scattered across different channels – inboxes, shared drives, meeting minutes. This makes it hard to grasp the current status of an application at a glance. For new employees or board members, getting up to speed is particularly cumbersome.

Benefits of Digitization

A digital grant process creates clear structures: applications are captured centrally, evaluations are documented, and decisions are recorded in a traceable manner. This not only reduces administrative effort but also increases transparency toward the board and external auditors. Handovers during staff changes become significantly easier – everything is documented and searchable.

No IT Department Required

Modern solutions like Stiftungsapp are specifically designed for small to mid-sized grant-making foundations. Implementation doesn't require an IT project or a multi-day workshop. Within a few weeks, the entire grant process can be mapped – from application intake through review to board decision. The result: fewer emails, fewer follow-ups, and more time for what truly matters – making an impact through grants.