Submittable runs on forms that you create. Depending on your account features, organization administrators (Levels 4 and 5) are able to create and use several different types of forms. This article provides a brief overview of what each form type does, and some useful links to follow for more detailed information.
Initial Forms
Initial Forms are the most frequently used form type, and the basic foundation for any submission process. Initial forms will generally be the first form your submitters encounter when they begin any application on your submission portal page. And very often, organizations will use only an Initial form for their whole process. Initial forms include a complete set of form field tools used for form creations.
Note: Forms you build (Initial, Internal, and Eligibility) are inserted into Projects.
Review Forms
Review Forms are built the same way you build Initial Forms, except they are used by your review team to evaluate submissions. Custom Review forms are applied under the Review Workflow you set up for any of your Projects.
Additional Forms
Additional Forms allow Levels 3, 4, and 5 team members to send requests for more information after submitters have already submitted an Initial form. For example, grant organizations might use Additional Forms to request progress reports from their grantees. Or, in a multi-stage application process, organizations can send Additional Forms to applicants who have passed an initial review stage.
Reference Forms
Reference Forms are custom-designed recommendation forms that can be placed within an Initial Form or Additional Form. They're designed for receiving references or any other type of third-party supporting document on behalf of submitters. Submitters can direct these forms to the referee of their choice by entering the reference's email in a Reference Form field when completing an Initial or Additional Form.
Internal Forms
Internal Forms are used for your organization's internal use as your team evaluates submissions. They're built using the same form field toolbox as Initial Forms, and are inserted into a Project in the same manner as Initial Forms. Internal Forms can help organizations manage received submissions by enabling organizations to:
Supplement submissions: Add relevant information to a submission, such as site visit notes or interview notes.
Provide context to reviewers: Include data that will help with reviewer assessments, such as historical funding data, an organization’s track record, or third-party documentation (i.e., articles or charity assessments).
Add a summary: Distill key points from an application. Clarify information into an internal summary to share with your team.
Eligibility Forms
Eligibility Forms enable organizations to add an eligibility step in front of any Initial Form. Inserting a screening stage ahead of an application form will prevent ineligible applicants from proceeding and ensure that only qualified applicants continue to the main submission.
Request Forms
Request Forms allow an organization to gather additional information from a submitter at the submitter's convenience. Unlike Additional Forms, Request Forms are accessed by the submitter, as long as they meet the criteria set by the organization. These forms are built using the same drag-and-drop form fields as Initial Forms. When the Request Form is added to a project, the organization can set the criteria for a submitter to access the form, such as the submission status or an applied label. Any request forms the submitter meets the criteria for will appear in the Forms pane of their Submission view.