I'm sure we're not the only foundation that has this problem. An applicant clicks the link to start an application form, signs in, checks it out, then comes back later, clicks the application link, fills out some fields, returns the next day, clicks the application link, wonders why the application is blank, starts over, etc. Pretty soon the applicant has five applications started for the same form, not realizing that every time they click that application link it's opening a new application, not directing them to the one already in progress.
Wouldn't it be cool to have an IGAM system that says, "applicant@nonprofit.org, I see that you already have an in-progress application for this form. Would you like to continue filling that one out instead?" Or something along those lines.
I imagine that there will be some situations where an applicant will be filling out multiples of the same application form, so it would be nice to give them the option to fill out an existing form or start a new one (as opposed to just redirecting them to the in-progress form).
This functionality is now available with latest updates to the Applicant and Grantee Portal. https://community.blackbaud.com/blogs/108/9692
Agreed - this also scares our applicants, who think their work has been lost because they keep creating new applications.
This is especially frustrating when running the In Progress Applications Detailed report, where you'll get a list of 300 in progress applications, but only 50 of them are legit.