Instrumentl Targets Grant Workflow Inefficiencies With Benchmarking Study

According to a recent LinkedIn post from Instrumentl, the company is conducting what it describes as a first benchmarking study on “shadow work” within grant teams. The post characterizes shadow work as informal tasks such as workarounds, redundant data entry, and searching email threads, suggesting these activities consume substantial time yet are not formally recognized.

The LinkedIn post indicates that Instrumentl is surveying grant professionals, with participation tied to a $1,000 charitable donation to a nonprofit selected by one randomly chosen respondent. The company suggests the resulting data may help grant teams argue for increased resources, support, and organizational influence, which could in turn highlight demand for productivity and workflow tools in the grants management market.

For investors, the initiative points to Instrumentl’s focus on data-driven insight into grant-making operations and pain points that could be addressed by software solutions. If the study gains broad participation, it may enhance the firm’s thought-leadership profile, deepen engagement with core users, and inform product development that targets operational inefficiencies, potentially strengthening Instrumentl’s competitive positioning over time.

The emphasis on quantifying hidden labor in grant workflows also underscores a recurring theme in nonprofit and grant administration: limited capacity and under-resourced teams. By aligning its brand with the effort to measure and reduce this friction, Instrumentl may be positioning itself to capture incremental budget allocations as organizations seek tools that reduce shadow work and justify investments in automation or centralized grant platforms.