Handbid
Handbid is a mobile fundraising platform that helps you manage silent auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, and live events through an integrated mobile app to increase donor engagement and revenue.
Instrumentl
Instrumentl is an all-in-one grant management platform that helps non-profits and consultants find, track, and manage grants through automated matching and deadline tracking in a single workspace.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Handbid | Instrumentl |
|---|---|---|
| Website | handbid.com | instrumentl.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $195/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Centennial, USA | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Handbid
Handbid is a mobile-first fundraising platform designed to help you run more efficient and engaging charity events. Instead of dealing with paper bid sheets or clunky web forms, you provide your donors with a native mobile app where they can bid on auction items, buy tickets, and make donations instantly from their own devices. This real-time interaction keeps your audience engaged through push notifications that alert them when they have been outbid.
You can manage every aspect of your fundraiser from a single dashboard, including guest check-in, item management, and automated checkout. The platform is built to handle everything from small local school auctions to large-scale gala events and multi-day peer-to-peer campaigns. By removing the friction from the bidding process, you can focus on building relationships with your supporters while the software handles the technical logistics of your event.
Instrumentl
Instrumentl simplifies your entire grant lifecycle by combining prospecting, tracking, and management into one intuitive interface. Instead of jumping between spreadsheets and multiple databases, you can discover active grant opportunities tailored specifically to your organization's mission and location. The platform automatically matches you with relevant funders, saving you hours of manual research every week.
You can manage your entire pipeline with automated deadline reminders, task assignments, and document storage for every application. It helps your team stay organized by centralizing communication and tracking your progress toward fundraising goals in real-time. Whether you are a small non-profit or a large consultancy, you can streamline your workflows and increase your chances of winning more funding.
Overview
Handbid Features
- Mobile Bidding App Give your donors a native iOS and Android app to browse items and place bids from anywhere in the room.
- Instant Push Notifications Alert your guests the second they are outbid so they can jump back into the action and drive higher totals.
- Livestream Integration Broadcast your live program directly to remote donors so they can participate in your auction from their own homes.
- Automated Checkout Eliminate long lines at the end of the night by allowing guests to pay their invoices directly through the app.
- Peer-to-Peer Campaigns Empower your supporters to create their own fundraising pages and raise money on your behalf through social sharing.
- Real-Time Analytics Monitor your fundraising progress with live dashboards that show you exactly which items are performing best during your event.
Instrumentl Features
- Automated Grant Matching. Receive personalized grant recommendations based on your specific projects, location, and non-profit status to find relevant funders faster.
- Funder Insights. Analyze 990 data visually to see a funder's giving history, average grant size, and openness to new applicants.
- Deadline Tracking. Never miss a submission date with automated email reminders and a centralized calendar that tracks every upcoming grant milestone.
- Grant Pipeline Management. Move your applications through custom stages from 'Planned' to 'Awarded' using a visual tracker designed for grant workflows.
- Document Storage. Keep all your proposals, budgets, and award letters attached to specific grants so your team always has the latest versions.
- Task Management. Assign specific action items to team members and set internal deadlines to ensure every part of your application stays on track.
Pricing Comparison
Handbid Pricing
Instrumentl Pricing
- Up to 3 projects
- Unlimited grant searching
- Automated grant matching
- Deadline tracking & reminders
- Funder 990 snapshots
- Foundation discovery
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Up to 10 projects
- Advanced funder insights
- Recipient profiles
- Calendar view
- Personalized support
Pros & Cons
Handbid
Pros
- Native mobile app provides a superior user experience over web-based tools
- Push notifications effectively drive up bidding wars and final revenue
- Streamlined check-in and checkout process reduces event night stress
- Robust reporting makes post-event reconciliation fast and accurate
Cons
- Initial setup of auction items can be time-consuming for large inventories
- Older donors may require extra assistance downloading and using the app
- Pricing structure can be high for very small organizations
Instrumentl
Pros
- Saves significant time on manual grant research
- Consolidates multiple tools into one workspace
- Highly accurate matching for specific project types
- Excellent customer support and onboarding experience
Cons
- Higher starting price point than basic databases
- Learning curve for advanced funder data analysis
- Limited features for individual artists or students