Is your Grant Management System being retired?
The grant management software landscape is entering a period of significant change. Two widely used platforms – Symplectic Grant Tracker and Salesforce Foundation Connect – have announced retirement timelines, both set to reach end-of-life by the end of 2026. For many public funders, research institutions, and philanthropic foundations, this presents a challenge – but also a unique opportunity to improve practice and process.

Legacy Platforms Are Winding Down
- Symplectic Grant Tracker will be retired by December 2026. Clients are looking to find alternatives that can support their grant lifecycle workflows in time for a smooth transition. At AIMS, we are already working with clients who are making this transition.
- Salesforce FoundationConnect, a popular choice among philanthropic and health foundations in the US and Europe, will also cease operation by January 2026. Users are being guided towards more generic solutions like Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud or custom configurations.
For many organisations, neither of these options provides the end-to-end life cycle configurability, transparency, or specialist grantmaking support required.
AIMS: Built for Funders, Ready for the Future
AIMS Grant Management Software offers a mature, EU-hosted alternative designed specifically for funding bodies. Unlike generic CRM-based tools or institution-centric platforms, AIMS was built from the ground up for grantmakers – with over 30 years of experience supporting public sector, research, and cultural funders across Europe.
Key Differentiators of AIMS
A European solution
Hosted securely in the EU (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure), with no reliance on US-based platforms. Data sovereignty and GDPR compliance are assured.
Low-code configurability
Tailor your schemes, workflows, assessments, and notifications without heavy technical debt.
End-to-end lifecycle support
From application and peer review through to award, monitoring, reporting, payments, and closure.
Quick to implement, easy to scale
AIMS can be configured and deployed efficiently and is already in use by national agencies and cross-border funding partnerships.
Smooth transitions
Our experienced team offers data migration packages, prototyping, and hands-on onboarding to ensure minimal disruption.
Business-as-usual continuity
We prioritise a smooth shift into operational use with embedded training, documentation, and structured go-live support.
More Than a System – A Strategic Partner
Choosing AIMS means more than just replacing a legacy tool. It means gaining a long-term partner focused on grantmaking impact, user experience, and operational resilience. Whether you are a national funder, philanthropic foundation, or international grantmaker, AIMS provides the structure, support, and flexibility to meet your mission now—and in the future.
Planning Your Transition?
If you’re using a system that’s being retired – or simply no longer meets your needs – now is the time to explore alternatives. Contact our team to learn more about our FoundationConnect and Grant Tracker transition packages, or to see how AIMS can support your funding programmes with greater efficiency, insight, and confidence.
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