OpenWater

OpenWater manages application and review processes for abstracts, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and grants. It is best suited to associations, foundations, and higher education institutions that need configurable submissions and coordinated judging. Its review, reporting, integration, and mobile-administration capabilities are balanced by custom quote pricing and no in-platform recommendation requests.

Overview

OpenWater brings submission forms, reviewer assignments, scoring, reporting, and workflow automation into one system. Applicants can use a portal, while teams configure forms with conditional logic and accept attachments in nearly any type, size, and format. That flexibility can accommodate varied programs, but organizations should weigh it against pricing that depends on usage, functionality, and the number of backend users.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, OpenWater is owned by Advanced Solutions International, which acquired it in 2022.

Key features

Submissions and judging

Customizable forms and broad attachment support give program teams room to collect different kinds of applications without forcing every applicant through the same fixed template. Submissions can be assigned to multiple reviewers; scores flow into a dashboard, and optional double-blind judging supports programs that want to conceal applicant identities during evaluation. Scoring rubrics and reviewer collaboration are supported. However, recommendation requests cannot be made directly within OpenWater, a meaningful gap for scholarship or fellowship programs that rely on references.

Reporting, integrations, and security

Configurable dashboards and reports exportable in multiple file formats help teams track activity and share results beyond the platform. OpenWater says it integrates with more than 65 AMS, CRM, directory, and payment gateway solutions, including iMIS, Salesforce, Higher Logic, Stripe, and PayPal. That breadth may help organizations fit application workflows into connected systems; the specific integrations a team needs should still be confirmed before purchase.

Security features include SSO, app encryption, two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, and password strength requirements. GDPR-related consent and data deletion options are also supported. These controls address common access and privacy needs, though organizations remain responsible for determining whether the configuration meets their own obligations.

Mobile access and AI

Submission landing pages are mobile-responsive, and the OpenWater app lets staff handle administrative and review functions on mobile devices. WCAG compliance features support accessibility work. OpenWater AI is an opt-in beta for existing customers; it analyzes submissions, surfaces insights, and automates data collection, so it is an emerging capability rather than a basis for choosing the product on its own.

Support

OpenWater reports an average support response time of 10 minutes and guarantees an answer within one business day. That stated commitment may matter to teams running deadline-driven cycles, although it does not establish how quickly an issue will be resolved.

Pricing

OpenWater is paid, with custom pricing. Its Custom subscription is billed on a subscription basis, with a quote based on usage needs; pricing may vary by functionality and number of backend users. That model can accommodate different program requirements, but makes budget comparison harder before a sales conversation and leaves the cost implications of adding users or capabilities important to clarify.

There are no published plan prices or free tier to compare. Organizations should request a quote that spells out included functionality, usage assumptions, backend-user counts, and any terms that affect the subscription.

Platforms

OpenWater is available on the web, Android, and iOS. Mobile-responsive submission pages serve applicants using phones, while the app extends administrative and review work to mobile devices.

Who it's for

OpenWater is aimed at professional and trade associations, private and public foundations, and higher education institutions managing abstracts, awards, scholarships, fellowships, or grants. It is a stronger fit when teams need configurable forms, multiple reviewers, rubrics, dashboards, and connected workflows. Programs that depend on recommendation letters submitted through the same system should look elsewhere or plan for a separate process.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Conditional forms and broad attachment support can adapt to varied application programs.
• Pros: Multiple-reviewer assignments, scoring dashboards, rubrics, and optional double-blind judging support structured evaluation.
• Pros: More than 65 stated integrations and exportable reports can connect program administration with other organizational tools.
• Pros: Mobile administration, accessibility features, and stated privacy controls address practical operational needs.
• Cons: Custom quote pricing makes costs less transparent and dependent on usage, functionality, and backend users.
• Cons: Recommendation requests are not supported within the platform, leaving reference collection outside the workflow.
• Cons: OpenWater AI is an opt-in beta for existing customers, not a standard capability to count on.

Alternatives

For a scholarship-specific comparison, browse Scholarship Management Software; for broader application workflows, see Application Management Software.

• Scholarship Commons may suit students, reviewers, and recommenders seeking a free membership with all features; operating organizations can use its paid membership for customized scholarship posting and management.
• SurveyMonkey is worth considering when survey creation is the priority: its Basic plan has 10 questions per survey and limited responses, while Standard Monthly allows 1,000 responses per month.
• BrightAccess is another paid option with a free plan and API and web platforms.
• CommunityForce is a web-based paid awards-management option with pricing by demo or expert conversation.
• GO SGO is another paid, web-based option.
• AwardSpring may fit scholarship programs seeking unlimited applicants, reviewers, and admins without per-seat fees; pricing is by contacting sales.
• CATALYST is a web-based paid option with custom quote pricing and a demo and quote request.
• Electronic Form Solutions uses a paid usage-based subscription, with fees tied to subscribed usage and annual access periods.

Verdict

Choose OpenWater when an association, foundation, or institution needs configurable submissions, structured multi-reviewer evaluation, reporting, and integration options in one system. Its mobile administrative tools and broad workflow scope are persuasive strengths. Look elsewhere if recommendation requests must happen inside the platform, or if custom quote pricing does not suit your purchasing process.