As foundationConnect approaches its sunset on January 31, 2026 (with subscription renewals concluding after January 31, 2025), the pursuit of information systems that seamlessly align with grantmaking goals has reached a pivotal moment. In this latest installment of our series, crafted to guide grantmaking organizations toward solutions that not only mirror their mission but also elevate their grant management capabilities, we continue to delve into the unique advantages of Amp Impact—an end-to-end program and grants management solution that has witnessed incredible growth over the past three years. Bringing together portfolio management and impact measurement capabilities, Amp Impact provides the foundational structure for managing a portfolio of grants, projects, or programs, along with their associated financial data, impact data, and risks.

If you missed our earlier installments on foundationConnect, such as “Replacing foundationConnect with Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking” and “Replacing foundationConnect with Custom-Built Salesforce Solutions,” now’s the time to catch up and stay ahead

Introduction to Amp Impact by Vera Solutions

Amp Impact, introduced by Vera Solutions in 2017, stands as a robust grants management and impact reporting solution meticulously designed for organizations managing portfolios and seeking to track impact across programs, projects, and grants. Recognized for its excellence in outcomes definition, indicator tracking, and comprehensive reporting, Amp Impact has become a leading choice for grant-makers worldwide.

Elevating its capabilities further, Amp Impact provides robust functionality to manage the entire grantee lifecycle, from concept notes to full applications and reporting. This comprehensive tool goes beyond the conventional scope, facilitating seamless monitoring of program budgets, disbursements, and risk management tied to grants or grantees. Amp Impact stands out as a versatile solution, not merely enhancing the efficiency of grants management but providing a strategic framework for organizations to measure their social impact. Unlike traditional Grants Management Systems (GMS) that primarily focus on application processes, Amp Impact goes beyond by providing robust impact measurement functionality. 

Key Features for Grantmakers

1. Grants Management: Amp Impact brings data and teams from across the grantmaking lifecycle. From templated concept notes to full applications and subsequent grant reports, it guides organizations seamlessly. Not only that but it supports the entire application process including templates, reviews, due diligence, and of course, budgets. 
2. Grantee Experience: For grantees, Amp Impact offers a user-friendly online portal that facilitates easy access to calls for proposals, application submissions, progress tracking, and financial and impact reporting. Within the application interface, grantees experience a user-friendly journey, effortlessly identifying and defining the grant’s intended outcomes and associated indicators. Amp Impact not only facilitates this definition process but also establishes a comprehensive reporting framework, empowering grantees to seamlessly input results and report progress against the specified indicators.
3. Comprehensive Portfolio Management: Amp Impact offers a suite of features to enhance collaboration and oversight across various initiatives. Some of these features include portfolio details, classification for SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) and themes, implementation work planning, activity tracking, Gantt chart capabilities, excel downloads for budgets, feedback templates, multi-language translation, and a built-in form builder. 
4. Financial Oversight and Transparency: Amp Impact stands as a guardian of financial transparency and oversight, offering essential tools for effective program budget monitoring. It ensures a seamless process of fund disbursements, allowing grantmakers to schedule and track disbursement status meticulously. This level of transparency provides grantmakers with instant answers to critical questions: “What is my budget for this year? What’s my budget for next year? Where is my money going? And what are the resulting outcomes?” Amp Impact goes beyond supporting grantmakers, equipping grantees with features to define grant budgets and report against actuals, further enhancing financial clarity and accountability in the grant management process. In addition, budgets can be more effectively managed with budget download and upload capabilities, both for the grants management system and the grantee portal. 
5. Risk Management: Amp Impact also incorporates sophisticated risk management functionality, enabling organizations to identify, monitor, mitigate, and evaluate risks associated with specific grants or grantees.
6. Impact Measurement: Grantmakers can identify what outcomes they are striving to achieve while seamlessly measuring, tracking, and reviewing the indicators that feed into a specific outcome. These insights can be used to inform decision-making and improve delivery, and are supported by a variety of features that enable you to not only understand but communicate your impact. These features include Logframes, indicators, targets, auto-aggregation, narrative reporting, IATI (International Aid Transparency Initiative) publishing, and disaggregation. The disaggregation functionality alone makes Amp Impact one of the most sophisticated reporting tools available on the Salesforce platform, one that we’re particularly intrigued by. For example, with Amp Impact you could track the number of people served in the south side of Chicago but by disaggregating the data you can determine how many female Asian Americans within a certain age group were served in that specific area. 

Mission Alignment: Exponent Partners x Vera Solutions

We would be remiss if we did not mention our impactful partnership with Vera Solutions. In 2022, Exponent Partners proudly announced a strategic partnership with Vera Solutions to advance data solutions for grantmakers. With over 15 years of expertise in philanthropy, Exponent Partners is committed to efficiently transforming grantmakers’ work. Amp Impact, Vera Solutions’ flagship product, aligns seamlessly with Exponent Partners’ mission, empowering organizations to unlock the real value in their data for real-time clarity and sustainable capabilities.

“We are always seeking trusted partners who align with Vera’s mission and values. We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with and learning from Exponent Partners throughout the last decade and are excited to have formalized a partnership to grow our impact together. Exponent Partners is much more than a rockstar team of skilled Salesforce professionals. We share a mutual passion for driving better data management and impact intelligence in the philanthropic sector and are looking forward to embracing that synergy.”

–  Zak Kaufman, Co-founder & CEO, Vera Solutions

As an official implementation partner, Exponent Partners brings its proven experience to deliver top-notch Amp Impact implementation services. Lara Hoke Kimberley, one of the blog authors, holds an Amp Impact Administrator Certification, highlighting our team’s dedication to excellence. Together, Exponent Partners and Vera Solutions are amplifying the impact of the social sector, offering tailored solutions to organizations seeking transformative outcomes and impact management systems.

Key Considerations for Transitioning to Amp Impact

As a partner, we deeply understand the transition from foundationConnect to Amp Impact involves critical considerations to ensure a smooth and effective migration:

• Data Migration, Training, and System Integration: Amp Impact and foundationConnect diverge significantly in their data models and naming conventions. Assembling a team of data specialists, adept not only in data migration but also in change management, is essential. Key factors such as migration, training, and integration with existing systems will be pivotal during the transition.
• Licensing Costs: Keep in mind that licensing costs for Amp Impact will be higher than that of foundationConnect. Despite higher costs, Amp Impact offers extensive functionality and is best suited for organizations managing portfolios above $20 million.  It’s also important to note that Amp Impact can work with any Salesforce licenses, including lower-cost Platform licenses. In fact, for those considering Nonprofit Cloud, Amp Impact is compatible.
• Ownership and Product Releases: Shifting away from foundationConnect, which is built on and directly owned by Salesforce, to Amp Impact introduces a shift in relationships. The use of Amp Impact will require managing distinct relationships with both Vera Solutions and Salesforce, each operating on its own release cycle for future innovation.
• Complexity of Transition: Moving from foundationConnect to Amp Impact introduces complexity due to Amp Impact’s unparalleled features. Deep expertise in implementing, maintaining, and supporting the system is crucial, considering the architectural changes that will need to be made. With so many features available to you, collaboration with seasoned experts is necessary to optimize the solution thoughtfully. As a Vera Solutions partner, Exponent Partners is fully trained and enabled on Amp Impact. We work closely with Amp Impact’s product team and solution engineers on client projects to guide organizations through this complexity.
• Navigating Advanced Concepts: Transitioning from foundationConnect to Amp Impact is akin to moving from a sedan to a high-performance sports car. While foundationConnect offers limited functionality (when compared), Amp Impact propels you from zero to sixty, introducing advanced concepts like theories of change, logic models, and comprehensive outcome measurement. 

In this journey, having a partner acquainted with the foundational layer becomes crucial, especially if your organization lacks a theory of change. This partner acts as a skilled driver, bridging the gap and smoothly accelerating you toward your mission. Exponent Partners’ specialized team of advisors has a proven track record of guiding organizations in establishing the groundwork for these advanced concepts. Whether your organization is new to these ideas or needs assistance refining them, Exponent Partners ensures a seamless and successful transition, unlocking the full potential of Amp Impact’s capabilities.

Conclusion: 

As you embark on the next phase of your organizational journey, consider Exponent Partners as your trusted companion. Our comprehensive service offerings span the entire lifecycle of information systems transformation, offering expert assistance for foundationConnect migrations, full system implementations, and advisory services for your organization’s unique needs. For those in transition planning or those who need to make decisions swiftly, our foundationConnect Migration Planning Engagement is a strategic choice. It streamlines your migration project, ensuring efficiency and confidence in the chosen direction.

Whether you’re evaluating existing products or contemplating a custom build, our foundationConnect Migration Planning Engagement provides valuable insights into your needs and potential solutions. With our wealth of expertise, we can help you navigate the intricacies of change with confidence, equipping your organization with the essential information systems you need to thrive in a continually evolving landscape. Reach out for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how we can help you make a meaningful difference. Stay tuned for more in-depth insights and practical advice in this blog series.

In the ever-evolving world of nonprofit technology, the need for information systems that align with an organization’s specific goals and workflows has never been more critical. As we bid farewell to foundationConnect and usher in a new era, it’s time to explore the advantages of custom-built solutions on the Salesforce platform. In this blog series, we’ll delve into the world of customization and discuss why fully customized builds might be the perfect replacement for foundationConnect.

With the retirement of foundationConnect on the horizon, nonprofit organizations are actively seeking alternatives that not only match their mission but also elevate their grant management capabilities. It’s a journey of discovery and transformation, and it all starts here.

If you missed our first installment of this series which highlights the options for replacing foundationConnect, be sure to check out the first installment, “Replacing foundationConnect with Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking.” Stay tuned for more insightful chapters in this series, including a deep dive into Amp Impact and Outbound Funds. As we prepare for the transition from foundationConnect, we’re committed to finding solutions that amplify our collective mission of driving radically better impact. Join us as we shine a light on the benefits of custom-built solutions and why they are a compelling choice to succeed foundationConnect.

Advantages of Customization in Grants Management

Custom-built solutions are just what they sound like—a chance to craft your ideal system precisely as you envision it. When it comes to grants management on Salesforce, the possibilities are vast. You can design a system that caters to your organization’s unique processes, offering a level of alignment that can significantly enhance your grant management capabilities. Here are just a few of the advantages: 

• Tailored Processes: Unlike off-the-shelf products, custom solutions can be designed to mirror your existing grant management workflows and processes. This alignment can lead to increased efficiency, as staff members are working within a system that intuitively fits their needs.
• Enhanced User Experience: With customization, you can create a user interface that makes sense to your team (and grantees). A well-designed and intuitive user experience not only improves efficiency but also reduces the learning curve for staff members and grant applicants. This can lead to quicker adoption and smoother operations.
• Cost Efficiency: While there are upfront costs associated with building a custom solution, it can often be a cost-effective option over time. Instead of paying for features you may not use in off-the-shelf products, you can invest in the exact functionality you need. Additionally, custom solutions can offer long-term licensing cost savings, as you’re not bound by recurring fees that can add up over the years.
• Data Security and Compliance: Custom solutions provide greater control over data security and compliance. You can implement specific data protection measures and ensure that your grants management system aligns with industry regulations and your organization’s privacy policies.

Customization is a strategic move towards achieving radically better social impact, offering the freedom to create a tailored grants management system while being mindful of your budget and long-term vision. The key is finding the right balance for your organization’s success.

William Penn Foundation Success Story

With endless possibilities at your fingertips, it can be challenging to convey the exact benefits that a custom-built solution offers. In this regard, the success story of the William Penn Foundation serves as a shining example. We delve into their remarkable journey, transitioning from foundationConnect to a custom-built Salesforce solution that not only retained crucial custom components like a custom payment approval and a grantee reporting management page but also enhanced their operations. To learn more about the exact details of their transformation, explore our case study: “William Penn Foundation Re-Launches Salesforce Without foundationConnect Package.“

Considerations for Custom-Built Solutions

When deciding to pursue fully customized builds, organizations must carefully weigh several factors to ensure a successful transition. In this section, we’ll explore key considerations that can help you make an informed decision, ensuring that a custom solution aligns with your organization’s goals, capacity, and needs.

• User Experience: Custom-built solutions offer the unique opportunity to create an enriched user experience. As an example, placing precisely the right information in front of grantees at the right time can infuse a bit of ease into what can be some rather complex processes to navigate. In the case of the William Penn Foundation, maintaining a similar user experience meant minimal staff retraining, while simultaneously addressing limitations of foundationConnect. Custom builds can replicate the familiar interface of tools like foundationConnect while introducing personalized features and experiences.
• Cost: Customization often translates into significant cost savings in the long term. For instance, if your organization highly values the grant application form builder provided by foundationConnect, a custom solution can replicate and enhance this experience using Flows, thereby reducing the need for third-party tools and their associated fees. In addition, instead of paying for a multitude of features within an off-the-shelf product, you can invest in the specific functionalities that align with your needs. However, if you have common needs, they may be met with a tool that is already developed, tested, and supported. 
• Product Ownership: Having a knowledgeable and technical product owner within your organization is critical. A strong internal product owner plays a pivotal role in understanding your system, identifying pain points, and defining project objectives. A dedicated product owner ensures that your custom solution aligns seamlessly with your organization’s unique requirements and we wouldn’t recommend venturing into the world of custom builds without one. 
• Support: Custom solutions may have fewer readily available external resources for support compared to widely adopted products with extensive documentation and user communities. This makes post-implementation support a crucial consideration. Engaging with a consultant or support team with intimate knowledge of your build becomes essential, especially if you lack an experienced internal administrator.
• Complexity: For organizations with complex processes, such as intricate grant applications, approvals, and reviews, custom-built solutions empower you to create features and experiences precisely as you envision them. Custom solutions offer unparalleled flexibility, ensuring that your unique needs are met without being confined by the constraints of off-the-shelf products. However, it’s important to understand that with this remarkable flexibility comes the responsibility of making informed architectural decisions. Just because you can do everything, does not mean you should. This underscores the importance of collaborating with seasoned and knowledgeable experts who can skillfully guide these decisions to optimize the system for your specific requirements.

By carefully evaluating these factors, your organization can navigate the path to a custom-built solution that not only enhances efficiency but also aligns seamlessly with your mission and long-term vision.

Navigating the Transition: Pro Tips and Guidance

Exponent Partners, recognized as the foremost experts in grants management systems, is known for providing invaluable guidance to organizations making the transition from foundationConnect to custom-built solutions or exploring alternative pathways. Whether you’re navigating this shift, the key steps to prepare for the transition specifically from foundationConnect encompass:

1. Process Optimization: Begin with a thorough review of your existing processes, mapping the ideal state for your custom-built solution.
2. Alignment with Mission: Ensure your organizational priorities align with your mission, maintaining a clear sense of purpose throughout the transition.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with various stakeholders, including grantees, to gather insights and learn from past experiences.
4. Data Assessment: Evaluate historical data, identifying the essential information to retain in your custom-built system.
5. Integration Planning: Determine the integrations required, especially focusing on any ERP integrations.
6. Finance Collaboration: Work with your finance team to define points of integration and identify critical data and activities that need to be shared between the grants management solution and financial system

By meticulously following these steps, you can establish a robust foundation for a successful transition from foundationConnect to Salesforce’s GMS or full custom-built solutions. As you venture into the next phase of your journey, Exponent Partners is your trusted companion. Our comprehensive service offerings cover the entire lifecycle of your information systems transformation, including expert assistance for foundationConnect migrations, full system implementations, and custom solutions based on your organization’s unique needs. Our foundationConnect Migration Planning Engagement is a suitable choice for those in transition planning or individuals who need to make decisions quickly. It can streamline the replacement project to ensure efficiency and confidence that you’re heading in the right direction. Whether you’re assessing the suitability of existing products or considering a custom build, our foundationConnect Migration Planning Engagement provides valuable insights into your needs and possible solutions. With our wealth of expertise, you’ll confidently navigate the intricacies of change and equip yourself with the essential systems and tools required to thrive in a continually evolving landscape. 

Tailoring a Brighter Future

By opting for custom-built solutions, organizations can unleash their full potential, empowering them to be adaptive and responsive in an ever-changing world. We’ve discussed the advantages and considerations, the success story of the William Penn Foundation, and expert insights to guide you on this path.

We encourage you to explore the potential of custom-built solutions for your organization. Exponent Partners is here to support your journey with expertise and a network that is outcomes-focused. As we say, “We build radically better information systems for radically better nonprofit impact,” and we invite you to reach out for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you make a difference. Be sure to stay tuned for more in-depth insights and practical advice in this blog series.

In October 2023, Salesforce unveiled its next groundbreaking solution, Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising. This innovative platform offers nonprofit organizations an array of tools and data-driven insights to enhance donor engagement, fund collection, and the overall impact of their initiatives. At Exponent Partners, we’re thrilled to see this development, as it aligns perfectly with our purpose: unlocking the value of information systems to help nonprofits drive greater social impact.

Fundraising serves as the lifeblood of many nonprofit organizations, and your noble mission deserves the most efficient tools to amplify your efforts. In this post, we will delve into how your organization can leverage Salesforce’s latest offering – Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising – to maximize the potential of your endeavors.

Core Aspects of Fundraising

Fundraising comes in various forms but can be categorized into three fundamental areas: high-touch giving, mass-market giving, and operations support. Salesforce’s Winter ‘24 release introduced Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising which contains a set of transformative set of tools and features that support these core aspects. Let’s explore the nuances of this new tool and how it’s designed to empower fundraising teams to succeed.

High-Touch Giving

High-touch giving is a term that typically refers to major donors, foundations, and key supporters with the capacity to make substantial contributions. These donors often share a deep personal connection with the organization’s mission, and fundraisers strive to nurture and fortify this connection over time. The objective is not merely securing one-time donations but establishing enduring and mutually beneficial partnerships between the donor and your nonprofit. In this vain, Nonprofit Cloud’s enhancements to portfolio and donor management are crucial. It allows fundraisers to efficiently manage large donations and complex gift processes. How? With a new, streamlined way for gift officers to view their portfolios, log notes about interactions (called Interaction Summaries), and a unified view of pertinent info about current and prospective donors’ relationships, affiliations, and life events. In addition, the introduction of Interest Tags offers a straightforward method of categorizing donors based on their preferences and interests. This feature streamlines the process of tailoring communication and engagement strategies, ensuring a more personalized approach to fundraising.

Mass-Market Giving

On the other end of the spectrum is mass-market fundraising, where nonprofits target a large and diverse audience of donors or supporters, rather than focusing on individual major donors or high-net-worth individuals. While individual contributions may be smaller, the collective impact can be significant, and it enables nonprofits to reach their funding goals and support their missions. It also serves as a way to engage the broader community and raise awareness about the organization’s work. Nonprofit Cloud provides tools for segmentation, reporting, and tracking to engage with these donors effectively.

Operations Support

Fundraising operations encompass a multitude of tasks, ranging from gift processing to donor support. Nonprofit Cloud simplifies these processes with a set of features, including single and batched gift entry, summary roll-ups, and donor support tools. These new tools make it easier for fundraising teams to manage their daily tasks. For instance, the introduction of the Donor Support Profile view simplifies the process of responding to donor requests, such as modifying commitment schedules for recurring donations, pausing or resuming commitments, and more. Additionally, guided flows, a form of process automation, streamline basic support tasks, empowering teams to effortlessly perform actions such as adjusting gift amounts.

Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising: The Advantages of an Enhanced Data Model

One of the most substantial departures from previous fundraising solutions, such as NPSP, is the introduction of an improved data model in Nonprofit Cloud. This shift from opportunity data to transaction data offers a higher level of granularity in gift reporting, accommodating both simple and complex gift processes. This transition is particularly beneficial for organizations with diverse gift processes.

One of the biggest shifts from previous fundraising solutions like NPSP is an improved data model. Nonprofit Cloud introduces a shift from opportunity data to transaction data, providing more detail in gift reporting. This change means that whether you have simple or complex gift processes, Nonprofit Cloud can handle it. This is particularly helpful if your organization has a variety of gift processes. In addition to our old friend, the opportunity object, there are two new objects for tracking gifts. Here is a summary:

Opportunity: Designed for substantial gifts, including grants, planned gifts, and other major donations.

Gift Commitment: Represents a commitment to a gift that has yet to be fully received, encompassing recurring donations, grants with payments, pledges, and planned gifts with payments.

Gift Transaction: Denotes the actual payment or gift received, covering recurring donation installments, one-time gifts, and pledge payments.

While this architectural change may appear daunting at first, these new objects offer a more precise method for tracking various types of gifts and payments, providing greater control and flexibility.

In the simplest of terms, you could picture Nonprofit Cloud’s data model as a well-rooted tree. At the foundation, we have the ‘Gift Transaction’ node, akin to the tree’s sturdy trunk, where every incoming dollar is meticulously recorded, much like nutrients absorbed by the roots. Ascending, we encounter the ‘Gift Commitments’ branches, which represent recurring donations and pledged gifts, connecting the deep-rooted financial support to the trunk. These branches symbolize the growth and continuity of support, akin to the branches extending from the tree’s core. Finally, at the tree’s highest branches, we find ‘Opportunity’ leaves, each requiring careful attention and nurturing. Just as leaves signify the tree’s vitality, these Opportunities represent stages in donor relationships, calling for ongoing stewardship to thrive.

The Nonprofit Cloud’s Winter ’24 release introduces a range of essential features. Among them, the portfolio tool offers a unified view of your entire portfolio and action items. Additionally, the inclusion of refund sync simplifies the process of incorporating refunds into your view. These tools, combined with those mentioned earlier, equip your team to make well-informed decisions, streamline tasks, and customize communications for a donor-centric approach.

In conclusion, Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising yet another game-changer for nonprofit organizations looking to create a truly donor-centric solution. With its user-friendly tools and data-driven insights, it empowers nonprofits to engage donors, raise funds, and drive positive outcomes with remarkable efficiency. At Exponent Partners, we’re excited to see these advancements, as they align perfectly with our mission to equip you with the tools you need to drive radically better impact. Interested in learning more? Contact us for a free consultation! 

In the dynamic world of grantmaking, staying ahead and staying adaptable are crucial for achieving real social impact. The recent Salesforce announcement to retire foundationConnect on January 31, 2026, with subscription renewals ceasing after January 31, 2025, has created a clear deadline for grantmaking organizations currently relying on foundationConnect. With the retirement of foundationConnect on the horizon, nonprofit organizations are actively seeking alternatives that not only match their mission but also elevate their grant management capabilities. 

Welcome to the first chapter of our blog series, where we embark on a journey to explore a range of options for replacing foundationConnect. Our initial focus: Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking. Be sure to stay tuned for more installments in this series, where we’ll dive into custom builds, Amp Impact, and Outbound Funds. As we prepare for the forthcoming transition from foundationConnect, we understand the importance of finding solutions that amplify our collective mission of driving even greater social impact. In this blog, we’ll shed light on Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking, uncovering its distinctive features and benefits, and why it stands as a compelling choice to succeed foundationConnect.

Understanding Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking

Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking is a robust and adaptable solution designed to empower grantmakers and grantseekers throughout the grants management process. Whether you’re creating funding opportunities, processing applications, reviewing proposals, or granting funds, Nonprofit Cloud streamlines the entire journey. Launched in the Summer of 2023, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking provides a suite of features to facilitate the end-to-end management of funding programs, from proposal to award distribution. While the licensing model may entail a higher cost for organizations, it grants access to Salesforce’s Industry Common Components, including Omnistudio, Decision Rules Engine, and Document Generation. Despite its relative youth in the market, Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking offers functionality similar to foundationConnect, ensuring a more seamless transition. Moreover, this platform digitally connects systems, enabling the centralized management of the grantmaking lifecycle. It unifies grants and programs within a single system, fostering cross-team transparency and operational excellence, and supports the integration of multiple systems via the Salesforce platform for enhanced efficiency and accelerated funding processes.

Features and Benefits of Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking

Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking distinguishes itself with its remarkable flexibility, setting it apart from other grant management systems. Unlike more rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions such as CyberGrants, Fluxx, or Blackbaud GMS, Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud allows organizations to tailor the solution to meet their organization’s grant-making needs. This adaptability is crucial for organizations with unique and evolving requirements. 

This feature-rich platform empowers users with a comprehensive suite of capabilities, including the creation of program and funding opportunities, management of program budgets, administration of grant applications, and the ability to review and decide on grant applications. Additionally, it enables grant seekers to submit proposed budgets, manages award requirements, handles award disbursements, and streamlines the review of amendment requests. Nonprofit Cloud also offers a range of valuable features such as a grantseeker portal template, internal grantmaker outcome management, grant agreements, amendments, and dynamic assessments for site visits.

Chances are with all of these features and the inclusion of Common Components like OmniStudio, you gain the flexibility to create streamlined grant application experiences for both your grantees and staff. However, in cases where the platform doesn’t support a critical feature essential to your business processes, Salesforce offers a wealth of solutions through the AppExchange. There, you can access thousands of apps to support your organization. Furthermore, the open API allows seamless integration with various non-Salesforce-based systems.

Advantages of Choosing Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking

By choosing Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking as a replacement for foundationConnect, you gain access to a platform that’s not only flexible but also scalable, adaptable, and capable of integrating with various systems. Nonprofit Cloud, as a relatively new innovation from Salesforce, will continually receive updates and enhancements. This focus on development ensures that the platform remains at the forefront of grant management innovation, with advanced tools for administrators and developers to create an excellent user experience for both grantees and staff. This choice ensures that you’re selecting a future-proof solution, as it’s where Salesforce will continue to invest, and one that will continue to evolve and improve, aligning perfectly with your long-term goals and commitment to driving social impact in the grants management space.

You can harness the power of data and outcomes with ease, empowering you to make informed decisions and maximize your impact. This flexibility, combined with a rich feature set, makes Nonprofit Cloud a compelling choice for grantmakers looking to drive social impact effectively and efficiently.

Key Considerations when Transitioning to Nonprofit Cloud

Transitioning from foundationConnect to Nonprofit Cloud is a substantial leap that necessitates careful consideration. Beyond evaluating licensing costs, two crucial factors to account for are the intricacies of your architectural setup and the challenges associated with data migration. In the realm of Salesforce architecture, actions, and experiences were historically confined by the underlying data model, thereby constraining organizations to a specific operational framework. However, the emergence of Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking marks a pivotal shift, introducing an unprecedented level of flexibility.

This newfound adaptability underscores the importance of collaborating with seasoned and knowledgeable experts capable of skillfully guiding your architectural decisions. It’s essential to recognize that while you may possess the capacity to implement an array of features, it doesn’t imply that you should. Instead, the focus should be on aligning your architectural choices with your organization’s well-defined business processes. In this innovation, your underlying business processes should take the lead in shaping the user experience, rather than adhering to a prescribed structure.

Additionally, when transitioning to Nonprofit Cloud, factors such as data migration, training, and integration with existing systems remain essential. When moving from foundationConnect to Nonprofit Cloud, you will need a fresh instance. This requires careful consideration of what stays and what goes. Having an intimate understanding of your data is crucial as is the need for thorough data cleansing before the migration process commences. Therefore collaborating with a seasoned data migration specialist, well-versed in your organization’s data intricacies, is highly recommended. In essence, meticulous planning is indispensable to ensure a seamless and efficient transition from your existing platform to Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking.

Expert Guidance for Your Transition

As the foremost experts in grants management systems, Exponent Partners consistently offer invaluable guidance to organizations in the midst of transitioning from one system to another. This holds true for those transitioning from foundationConnect to Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking or exploring alternative replacement options. Whether you’re migrating between systems, the key steps to prepare for the transition encompass:

1. Review and optimize your business processes, creating process flows to map out the ideal state.
2. Set clear organizational priorities and align them with your mission.
3. Engage with various stakeholders, including your grantees, to learn from past experiences.
4. Assess historical data and identify essential information for retention.
5. Determine the necessary integrations, such as an ERP.
6. Work with your finance team to define points of integration and identify critical data and activities that need to be shared between the grants management solution and financial system

By diligently following these steps, you can lay a robust foundation for a successful transition. However, when you’re ready to embark on the next phase of your journey, Exponent Partners is here as your trusted partner. Our comprehensive service offerings encompass the entire lifecycle of your information systems transformation. We can assist with foundationConnect Migrations, Full System Implementations, and Managed Services based on your organization’s specific needs. Notably, our foundationConnect Migration Planning Engagement is tailored for those who might be uncertain about an immediate transition, streamlining the replacement project to ensure efficiency and instill the confidence that you’re headed in the right direction. It’s a cost-effective option for those who need recommendations quickly. With our wealth of expertise, you’ll boldly navigate the intricacies of change and arm yourself with the systems and tools essential for thriving in an ever-evolving world. We’re here to empower your journey.

Conclusion

As the nonprofit sector continues to evolve, it’s crucial to embrace solutions that empower your organization to fulfill its mission. Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking presents a realm of opportunities with its flexibility, scalability, and ongoing enhancements. It’s your chance to future-proof your grantmaking operations and amplify your social impact. In our upcoming blog posts in this series, we’ll delve deeper into additional considerations for replacing foundationConnect. Be sure to check out our upcoming webinar on November 14th, A Nonprofit’s Guide to foundationConnect replacement. In the meantime, feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation to explore your options further. Together, we can unlock your organization’s full potential in grantmaking and create a profoundly positive impact.

Nonprofits strive to make a difference every day, and powerful technology can amplify this effort. Salesforce’s AI tools offer promising ways to better connect with donors and streamline operations. However, adopting new technology entails a high level of responsibility—one that revolves around data privacy, ethical considerations, and regulatory compliance. In this context, let’s delve into how Salesforce Einstein AI is uniquely positioned to bridge the trust gap and instill confidence among its stakeholders. 

Salesforce Einstein AI 

Salesforce Einstein AI is a comprehensive suite of AI tools that enhances CRM processes through advanced capabilities. These include natural language processing (NLP), predictive analytics, machine learning, and computer vision.  

Key Features and Use Cases for Nonprofits 

Let’s explore the key features of Salesforce Einstein AI and how they align with the specific needs of nonprofits.

1. Einstein Discovery 

This cutting-edge analytics tool uses algorithms to identify patterns in vast information sets to recommend the most strategic and impactful data combinations. Suppose you’re planning your next fundraiser. Einstein Discovery can provide insights into which fundraising activities yield the highest returns, which outreach messages resonate the most, and where to allocate resources for maximum effect.

2. Einstein Prediction Builder 

Possessing foresight is an invaluable asset for any nonprofit. Enter Einstein Prediction Builder, a machine learning platform that enables custom predictive modeling. It can evaluate potential donors from past engagement data and highlight volunteers with relevant management experience. With this powerful feature, you can make educated predictions about future outcomes and tailor your approach for optimal results.  

3. Einstein Next Best Action (NBA)

Einstein NBA aids nonprofit decision-making with rule-based and machine learning-generated suggestions. Users can apply it to donor interactions to recommend follow-up actions based on recent contributions, such as crafting personalized thank-you notes or event invitations. It’s also beneficial in case management, suggesting the next best steps for social workers to meet their clients’ needs.

4. Einstein Language

Einstein Language, another NLP tool, extracts insights from text data and offers essential translation capabilities. With its Sentiment Analysis module, nonprofits can gauge the emotional tone of communications. This enables them to better evaluate campaign effectiveness or the public’s response to initiatives. Its Intent Detection module lets organizations discern and prioritize actions based on the motivations behind stakeholder feedback. 

Another potent feature is entity recognition, which aids in organizing data by categorizing specific terms, such as event names or dates. Customization tailors it to unique terminologies for a richer understanding and alignment. All these make outreach, collaboration, and donor relationships more seamless. 

5. Einstein Bots

Einstein chatbots by Salesforce are AI-powered conversational tools designed to automate and improve user interactions on digital platforms. They process user queries via natural language processing, offer immediate solutions,  or direct concerns to the proper department. This could streamline donor inquiries, facilitate volunteer sign-ups, and quickly provide resources on specific projects. For example,  when donors ask about fund allocation, the chatbot can instantly share a breakdown. The result is enhanced transparency and trust.

Salesforce Einstein GPT

Einstein GPT is a generative AI model that leverages Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) technology to enhance natural language understanding and generation within the Salesforce AI ecosystem. 

Here are the invaluable ways nonprofits can harness Salesforce’s generative AI solutions.

Use Cases and Applications in Nonprofit Organizations 

Let’s delve into the practical applications of Einstein GPT within nonprofit organizations.

1. Automate Event Management

Instead of hiring extra hands or depending on manual entries, use Einstein GPT to coordinate event logistics. Send automated reminders or personalized invites based on donor data. If you’re holding a charity run, Einstein GPT can send out customized training schedules to participants.

2. Build Fundraising Pages

Customize fundraising appeals based on the cause and potential donor. If you’re raising funds for a school, Salesforce Einstein GPT can highlight the educational impact and showcase the ripple effect on the community.

3. Generate Reports

Simplify the reporting process by allowing Salesforce Einstein GPT to consolidate data and narrate progress.

4. Improve Donor Engagement

Use the Salesforce generative AI to send personalized communications such as anniversary messages or fund utilization updates. For example, education-focused nonprofits can easily provide child sponsors with updates on their beneficiaries’ academic progress and extracurricular achievements.

5. Integrate with Communication Tools

Sync Salesforce Einstein GPT with your communication platforms, whether email, messaging apps, or CRM tools. This integration enables you to automatically draft emails or messages in a tone that aligns with your nonprofit’s ethos. 

Addressing Data Privacy and Compliance Issues 

As robust as AI technology is, users worry about how AI tools for nonprofits manage sensitive data. Without proper protocols, there can be mishandling of private information. This can lead to privacy breaches, data misuse, regulatory noncompliance, and more. The great news is that Salesforce Einstein’s AI tools for nonprofits can address these issues with robust data security measures. 

Data Security 

AI platforms, by design, process immense amounts of data. If this data contains personal or sensitive information, it can be at risk of breaches or unauthorized access to donor and beneficiary information.

Salesforce protects nonprofit stakeholders by implementing multi-layered encryption and advanced threat detection. They further bolster this with customizable security settings to tailor-fit user-specific needs.

GDPR Compliance

Nonprofits operating in Europe are cautious about AI because of strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements that mandate the safeguarding of individuals’ personal data. Noncompliance can result in significant penalties and reputational loss. 

Salesforce Einstein AI offers GDPR compliance features, enabling nonprofits to manage data responsibly and in accordance with GDPR. This ensures data privacy and consent management.

HIPAA Compliance

Healthcare nonprofits are skeptical of AI tools due to potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance risks. They worry about data breaches, unauthorized access, and mismanagement of sensitive patient information, which could result in legal and financial consequences.

Salesforce provides HIPAA-compliant AI solutions, such as Einstein Vision and Language, designed to meet the healthcare industry’s strict data protection standards, enabling nonprofits to leverage AI securely.

Data Consent and Transparency

Nonprofits are wary of AI’s potential lack of transparency and difficulty in obtaining consent for data usage, risking donor trust.

Salesforce emphasizes data consent and transparency, allowing nonprofits to easily manage and communicate data usage policies, fostering trust with donors and beneficiaries.

Bias and Fairness

Nonprofits fear AI systems may perpetuate biases, leading to unfair treatment of individuals based on gender, race, or other factors.

Salesforce addresses bias and fairness concerns by continuously improving its AI algorithms and providing tools for nonprofits to assess and mitigate bias in their AI applications, promoting equity and inclusivity in their operations.

5 Principles of Responsible AI

Trust was a central focus at the recent Salesforce AI Day, as the organization revealed the emerging direction of Trusted AI. Recognizing its crucial role in AI adoption, Salesforce outlined the following principles:  

1. Accuracy

Salesforce Einstein GPT banks on user-trained data for reliability. This allows users to verify accuracy, understand the AI’s decision-making logic, and know its data sources.

2. Transparency

Salesforce ensures that users understand the reasoning behind every AI-driven recommendation and prediction, allowing them to make educated decisions, identify unintended consequences, and mitigate potential harm.

3. Safety

Salesforce is committed to AI technologies that are respectful and beneficial to all individuals and communities. 

4. Empowerment

Salesforce stresses the importance of users being in control of Salesforce Einstein GPT. This involves empowering users to adjust, fine-tune, or even override AI decisions. 

5. Sustainability

Salesforce is committed to making right-sized models that optimize performance while reducing the AI operations’ carbon footprint. 

What is the Einstein GPT Trust Layer and How Does It Work?

Salesforce further elevates responsible AI with the Einstein Trust Layer. This comprises advanced AI tools that ensure the ethical use of AI within the Salesforce environment. When AI decisions are transparent and fair, donors and beneficiaries can believe in the organization’s mission. Ethical AI sees to it that actions align with values. This keeps the support strong and the impact genuine. Thus, Salesforce’s think tank created the Einstein Trust Layer. 

In essence, this groundbreaking technology protects data by ensuring that large-language models (LLMs) don’t hold onto confidential customer information. Because they’re trained on vast amounts of data, they might mistakenly echo sensitive phrases encountered during training. The Einstein Trust Later prevents this from happening through a rigorous workflow: 

• Prompt: A user interacts with Salesforce’s CRM app. Their request or command is taken as a prompt. This guides what needs to be done or retrieved.
• Secure Data Retrieval: This step fetches the necessary data securely and prevents unauthorized access.
• Dynamic Grounding: This NLP technique helps the system grasp the meaning of words or phrases based on the surrounding text.
• Data Masking: To protect the confidentiality of donor information, data masking replaces names, exact addresses, and credit card numbers with generic “placeholders.” For example, John Doe becomes “Donor” and most of the credit card digits will be replaced with Xs. 
• Secure Gateway: The masked data then moves through a secure gateway, which serves as a checkpoint for unauthorized access or potential breaches.
• Zero Retention: Once the data is used, the system gets rid of it to prevent unnecessary and risky retention.
• Generation: Next, based on the masked and context-understood data, the system generates the required outputs or actions.
• Toxicity Detection: The system scans for any potentially harmful or offensive content in the generated output. 
• Audit Trail: This is the record-keeping step. Actions, decisions, and operations are logged for transparency, traceability, and accountability.
• Back to CRM App: The final, sanitized, and verified output is sent back to the CRM application for the user to see or interact with.

Bolstering Your Mission with Salesforce’s Transformative AI

Every nonprofit recognizes that behind every data point, there’s a heartbeat, a life waiting to be transformed—and saved. That’s why leveraging the right technology is vital. Through Salesforce’s unparalleled AI tools for nonprofits, organizations not only streamline operations but also fortify donor relationships and trust. But harnessing this transformative power is no small feat. 

With Exponent Partners, you can secure tailored AI solutions finely calibrated to your organization’s unique needs. Beyond that, you gain a dedicated partner who understands your mission’s depth. With hearts on fire for impactful change—plus over 100 Salesforce certifications—our team ensures you have the best in the nonprofit field championing your cause. Let Exponent Partners help you to create radically better impact. Contact us today for a free consultation!

At Exponent Partners, we’re relentless in our pursuit of positive progressive social change. Our team of expert strategists, system architects, and information system specialists are on a mission to make nonprofits radically better at driving social impact. In order to achieve this mission, we recognize that our own internal culture needs to be purposefully designed and fiercely aligned with our work, our values, and our vision. To achieve this goal, Exponent Partners embarked on a Culture Code journey in 2023, and, in doing so we attempted to distill our organization’s core values and aspirations into a living, breathing document that our organization can use to guide our behaviors, decisions, and actions. We wanted to take this opportunity to share more about this journey and process, our discoveries, and the resulting Culture Stack that has taken shape.

What is a Culture Code?

A Culture Code is a compass that guides organizations toward their aspirations and ideals.  It’s a living document that narrates who we are and how we navigate through the world together. It is there to help hold us accountable for the behaviors and actions that support the culture we all shape together. Culture is not accidental, it is intentional, it takes focus and alignment- and most importantly it takes everyone understanding what behaviors and actions are acceptable and celebrated and those that will not be tolerated.  

From May 2023, through August 2023, Exponent Partners team members engaged in monthly Culture Code workshops facilitated by Hella Social Impact founding members Lynn Johnson and Stefania Pomponi.  The partnership between Exponent Partners and Hella Social Impact first began in 2021, when our team members joined a cohort of other BCorp organizations in a six-week racial justice training program. It was in this training that we saw firsthand the amazing work that Hella Social Impact does. Hella Social Impact works to support leaders at all levels of an organization and empower them with the skills, tools, connections, and knowledge to make transformative cultural change.  As a mission-driven organization that works to center marginalized voices, we knew having Hella Social Impact facilitate and guide the Culture Code process would ensure a lens of inclusion and equity. 

It was also in this 2021 training program that Exponent Partners met another like-minded BCorp organization that would eventually be our partner on this Culture Code journey, JB Media.  JB Media, while they do very different work from Exponent Partners, is similarly focused on client value and positive social impact.  Their values of relationships, balance, learning, impact, and clients resonated with our own values around learning, diversity, impact, and innovation. We embarked on this Culture Code journey together, to learn together and hold each other accountable in this work. It was also a great opportunity to come together with another BCorp and create a community focused on developing an inclusive Culture Code. And it allowed for more divergent thinking, combining the two organizations offered a unique opportunity to encourage new and different viewpoints and ideas. 

Our Culture Code Experience

Our Exponent Partners Culture Code team consisted of executive team members, leaders, and individual contributors who joined a team of JB Media executives and leaders on a monthly virtual workshop call. These Culture Code workshops involved evaluating our vision, mission, and values with a lens of racial equity. It was important to center radical inclusion in our culture work and humanity in our process. One of Exponent Partners’ core values is diversity, and we understand that the work required to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity is woven throughout the tapestry of our organization is continuous and challenging. It was crucial that this commitment be reflected in our Culture Code. 

Hella Social Impact helped both Exponent Partners and JB Media notice and name when dominant culture was evident in our current organizations so that we could dismantle structural racism and white supremacy culture. While some of the monthly sessions were dedicated to learning more about ourselves and each other, an important part of this type of work, a lot of our time together was also spent reviewing our mission, vision, and values and learning how to craft a clear, actionable, and inclusive Culture Code.  

We knew that our culture code should speak plainly, it should be easy to understand and remember, and we wanted it to be action-oriented and measurable. After some conversations and brainstorming, and lots of revisioning, we landed on our  “Culture Stack.”  Like a tech stack, our Culture Stack is a combination and collection of expectations, norms, and behaviors that together build an intentionally inclusive Exponent Partners culture.

Takeaways & Future Plans

Some of the most fruitful conversations in this work came when we started to discuss current culture and aspirational culture. We discussed how we wanted to maintain our focus on high-impact results and client-centricity that currently shows up in who we are and how we operate together, and still, we wanted to work on being more agile, empowered, resilient, collaborative, courageous, and fun. We knew we wanted to create a Culture Code that celebrated and encouraged those attributes.

As a full group, there were also moments in our monthly workshops when we were asked to be vulnerable, share personal stories, and step into some uncomfortable conversations. The respect that both teams showed during these conversations, facilitated beautifully by our guides, was encouraging. That learning and self-reflection were really important to this work because they reminded us how critical psychological safety, and creating safe spaces, are to maintaining an inclusive culture. Our Exponent Partners’ team was struck by how similar our values and approach were to our partner in this journey, JB Media.  We also found good aspects of our values reflected back to us and we were challenged to articulate ourselves in certain areas more clearly and with specificity.

We were grateful for Hella Social Impact’s focus on systems, on dismantling those systems inherently based on perpetuating privilege or discrimination. And of course, their commitment to building or rebuilding equitable systems.  Because Exponent Partners is also in the business of improving systems, the focus on designing better systems based on the outcomes we want to see has a pleasing symmetry. 

At our August 2023, all-company meeting Exponent Partners shared this Culture Stack language with the full organization and discussed our Culture Code journey. We walked through a specific example of our Background Check policy and how this policy can be viewed through our Culture Stack. While a majority of US companies conduct background checks on new hires, Exponent Partners runs background checks only for certain roles and when specifically required by clients, but not for all positions for many reasons. For one, the use of background checks and prohibitions against hiring individuals with criminal records may, under certain circumstances, constitute race discrimination. As a result of the racial disparities embedded within our expansive criminal justice system, employers that refuse to hire applicants with criminal records are likely rejecting a disproportionate number of Black, Indigenous, and non-Black People of Color.

We emphasized to our staff that our Culture Code isn’t just a set of words; it’s a guiding compass that will shape how we operate, how we treat one another, and how we engage with the world. It represents our shared values and the legacy we aspire to leave.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, Exponent Partners’ journey to develop a Culture Code is a testament to our unwavering commitment to positive, progressive social change. Our dedication to making nonprofits more effective in driving social impact goes hand in hand with the understanding that an inclusive internal culture is essential to achieving our mission. The collaborative effort with Hella Social Impact and JB Media, with a strong focus on racial equity, has allowed us to craft a living, actionable, and measurable Culture Stack that is intentionally inclusive and purposefully designed. 

The resulting Culture Stack is not just a document but a guiding compass that will shape how Exponent Partners operates. It represents our shared values and the legacy they aspire to leave, ensuring that our commitment to diversity, learning, impact, and innovation is woven into the fabric of our organization. As we move forward, Exponent Partners plans to use this Culture Stack as a barometer to align our internal practices and policies, further solidifying our dedication to radical inclusion and social impact.

If you are inspired by our mission and want to be part of our journey towards radical inclusion and positive social impact, we encourage you to explore the opportunities to join the Exponent Partners team. Check out this page to learn more about our current openings and how you can contribute to our vision. Stay connected with us as we continue to share our insights and experiences on our path to making a difference. 

Every nonprofit recognizes the strains that economic downturns, shifting global dynamics, or changes in donor behaviors can exert on their financial resources. That’s why having a robust fundraising strategy is essential. Without one, longevity and sustainable impact may be beyond reach. Here, Salesforce, as a sophisticated suite of cloud-based tools, can become the vital catalyst to channel your vision into tangible impact. 

Dive in to find out just how Salesforce can transform your nonprofit fundraising campaign into a powerhouse of engagement, efficiency, and results. 

Leveraging Salesforce for Nonprofit Fundraising 

For organizations leading the charge in social impact, discover how Salesforce can be an invaluable asset in your fundraising arsenal.

Donor Management

A nonprofit’s success hinges on strong relationships with its donors. Salesforce can make your donor management seamless. With Salesforce, you can meticulously track every interaction—whether it’s a casual email, a major donation, or a donor’s preference for event attendance.

This data collection gives you a complete view of each donor. With Salesforce nonprofit donor management, you can make your approach more personalized. This can pave the way toward a deeper donor relationship and a more significant commitment to your cause.  

Campaign Tracking

With Salesforce, you get an eagle-eyed view of your ongoing initiatives, seeing the broad picture while drilling down to the details. The platform’s dashboards can show real-time data on every active campaign so you can scrutinize engagement levels, the funds raised, and potential reach.

For example, If you’re organizing a fundraising gala, Salesforce can monitor real-time sign-ups, donations, and engagement. You can also track which promotional emails lead to the most registrations or the channels driving the highest donations. This can give you actionable insights to optimize your fundraising efforts. 

Event Management

Whether it’s a black-tie gala or a crucial stakeholders’ meeting, using Salesforce for fundraising can help nonprofits better handle event registration, ticketing, and post-event feedback collection. All these are natively within Salesforce. This end-to-end fundraising management guarantees that every process gets stored, analyzed, and deployed for future event strategies.

Online Fundraising

Salesforce for nonprofit fundraising provides complete payment services tailored for online contributions. Let’s say you’re organizing a charity marathon. With Salesforce, participants can effortlessly sign up, set their fundraising targets, and collect online donations. 

Reporting and Analytics

Salesforce’s advanced reporting and analytics capabilities can enhance forecasting for nonprofits. With comprehensive data-driven roadmaps, you successfully maneuver through trends and shifts and proactively shape your fundraising path. 

Suppose your nonprofit has historically seen an uptick in donations during the holiday season. Salesforce’s predictive capabilities might forecast a larger surge based on current donor engagement trends. Similarly, the system can flag future dips if there’s a pattern of decreased donations following certain events or announcements. Knowing these beforehand lets you better plan your fundraising campaigns, take advantage of promising opportunities, and potentially diffuse problems before they arise. 

Integration with Other Systems

With advanced APIs and pre-built connectors, Salesforce allows uninterrupted data exchange between various systems, such as your financial software and donor management tools. This integration ensures that you have a unified view of all relevant information when planning and executing your fundraising campaigns. Thus, it’s easier to make timely data-driven decisions. 

Exploring Salesforce’s Fundraising Solutions 

Let’s unpack Salesforce’s top tools to power your fundraising efforts.

Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising

This superior cloud solution for nonprofits is an extensive suite where every aspect of your fundraising cycle is under one efficient umbrella. Some of its key components, features, and tools are:

Gift Management

Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising streamlines the entire process of handling donations. When you receive contributions, this tool simplifies the entry and categorization of gifts, whether they come through online platforms or offline channels. It also automates the acknowledgment process, ensuring your donors promptly receive personalized thank-you messages, nurturing strong donor relationships.

And it doesn’t stop at recording donations; it empowers you with robust reporting and analytics. By tracking different giving channels and donor interactions, you gain invaluable insights into your fundraising efforts and campaign effectiveness.

New Lightning Web Components

These modular and reusable web components let you craft sophisticated interfaces and interactive components for your fundraising platform. These cover dynamic donation trackers and interactive charts that present donor trends, making it easy to visualize campaign performance and donor activities.

New Invocable Actions

The platform’s new invocable actions are pre-built, customizable, and reusable workflows that automate tasks, such as donor communication and fundraising tracking. These actions bring efficiency, consistency, and flexibility to your daily operations, allowing you to focus on your mission and engage with donors effectively.

Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP)

Tailored to equip nonprofits from the get-go, the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) offers a bundle of fundraising features built on the Salesforce platform. 

Constituent Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM is the central hub for an organization’s interactions with its diverse constituents, including donors, volunteers, and board members. It offers an all-encompassing view of various engagements, from event participation to campaign involvement.

For instance, an educational nonprofit might identify through its CRM that certain members consistently engage with digital learning content. This insight allows targeted communications about e-learning developments or exclusive webinar invitations. The CRM’s data can also highlight potential major donors or volunteers ready for leadership roles. 

With its ability to integrate with tools like email platforms and event management systems, CRM ensures that every nonprofit engagement is strategic, cohesive, and relationship-building.

Accounting Subledger 

The Accounting Subledger offers a tailored solution to meet the intricate financial demands of nonprofits. This feature captures a wide range of revenue sources, from standard donations and grants to nuanced streams like event ticket sales, merchandise proceeds, and membership dues. Here, each transaction is meticulously tagged to its corresponding campaign, project, or fund, ensuring precision in revenue allocation. 

What sets the Subledger apart is its compatibility with multiple accounting platforms. Nonprofits can retain their trusted accounting tools while integrating the robust capabilities of Salesforce’s CRM. This fluid integration ensures data consistency, minimizes discrepancies, and enhances overall efficiency. 

The Subledger’s automated financial reporting system offers profound insights, from monthly donation summaries to year-end financial overviews. Recognizing the diverse operational methodologies of different nonprofits, it also boasts extensive customization features. Organizations can define their financial workflows, automate specific operations, and even chart out financial metrics crucial to their unique missions. 

Recurring Donations 

Recurring Donations in NPSP streamlines the way nonprofits handle regular gifts, whether monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Imagine a supporter pledges $100 monthly to your mission. With NPSP, you can effortlessly set this up and match the anticipated donation with the actual amount received each month. 

When donors want to change their donation amount or frequency, this feature makes it a breeze. With this tool in your belt, maintaining donor relationships becomes more efficient. This allows timely communications and acknowledgments, ensuring your donors’ sustained support.

Implementing Salesforce for Nonprofit Fundraising Success: Strategies and Best Practices

Implementing Salesforce for fundraising requires careful planning and strategy to ensure efficient donor management and campaign success. Make the most of Salesforce’s cutting-edge tools with these tips and tricks:

1. Stakeholder Collaboration

Before initiating the technical aspects, engage all principal stakeholders. Their feedback can direct the Salesforce setup, aligning it closely with your organization’s unique needs.

2. Advanced Fundraising Features 

If you’re on NPSP, migrating to Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising can be a strategic move to harness enhanced functionalities and deeper donor insights. However, while both are on Salesforce’s cloud, careful planning is key. This ensures a smooth transition, maintains data integrity, and truly capitalizes on the new core cloud’s enhanced features.

3. Consistent Data Audits

Schedule periodic data audits and cleanup. With time, data can become obsolete or inconsistent. Regular audits ensure your decisions derive from accurate and dependable data.

4. Ongoing Evaluation

Set aside regular intervals to assess and refine. Is Salesforce meeting your goals? Are there unused features or perhaps new ones to explore? Continuously fine-tune to keep your fundraising engine humming smoothly.

5. Security Protocols

Protecting donor data is a must. Familiarize yourself with Salesforce’s security features. Frequently assess user permissions, implement robust authentication methods, and encrypt sensitive data.

6. Custom Configuration

Salesforce shines in customization. Rather than adapting to the software, make the software adapt to you. Create dashboards that resonate with your mission, and set up alerts that matter to your team. With Salesforce for fundraising, you can realize your nonprofit aspirations with precision-designed solutions. 

Empower Your Nonprofit with Salesforce for Fundraising

Your fundraising efforts are pivotal in fueling your nonprofit organization’s goals. Every contribution and donor interaction carries the power to transform lives and make lasting impacts in communities. That’s why leveraging the right tools means serious business, as it can spell the difference between failure and success. 

At Exponent Partners, we share your passion for making a tangible difference. Thus, we’ve made it our singular mission to amplify your nonprofit’s impact by harnessing Salesforce’s advanced capabilities. 

So take that crucial next step today. Contact Exponent Partners for custom Salesforce solutions, and turn that budding hope into concrete reality for those you serve.

The nonprofit sector is a dynamic space, with countless organizations dedicated to making a difference. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are 1.8 million active nonprofit organizations in the US, many of which offer similar services. But in a landscape brimming with well-intentioned efforts, how can these organizations ensure they’re truly creating the impact they aspire to achieve? The answer lies in collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and information systems. 

Enter the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative (CBC), a shining example of what’s possible when nonprofits come together to drive change. At Exponent Partners, we are proud to be a small cog in this transformative journey, and we invite you to join us at Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023 to learn more about the power of collaboration and data in shaping a better future.

Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023 

Before we dive into the inspiring story of the CBC, mark your calendars for an event that celebrates the power of the Salesforce nonprofit community. Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023 is the premier conference for nonprofit professionals within the Salesforce ecosystem. Join us on November 1-2, 2023, at 325 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, and experience a conference tailored to your needs, whether you’re a volunteer, employee, or consultant. No matter your level of experience with Salesforce, from beginners to seasoned users, you’ll find valuable insights, networking opportunities, and answers to your pressing questions. Learn more here: nonprofitdreamin.org

Session Spotlight: Better Together with the CBC

Now, we might be a little biased, but we can’t help but highlight the crown jewel of the event – our session on November 2 at 11 am Central. We invite you to join us for a session that embodies the spirit of collaboration and data-driven success. Our  session titled “Better Together: The Power of Collaboration and Data with the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative” showcases the transformative journey shared by Traci Stanley from Christopher House, Anjel Williams from Chicago Youth Centers, Piotr Wojnicz from Chicago Youth Centers and Stacie Pallotta from Exponent Partners.

In this engaging session, you’ll discover how member agencies leverage Salesforce for benchmarking, data management, and achieving transformative outcomes. Explore the profound impact of collaboration as we delve into the benefits of uniting forces with like-minded organizations to share best practices, enhance services, and address social challenges effectively.

We will take you on a journey where this collaborative approach standardized data and benchmarked outcomes across multiple nonprofits, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making. We will showcase real examples of how collaboration and data analytics have not only positively influenced program quality and improved student outcomes but also empowered parents.

The Powerful Story of the CBC

The Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative (CBC) is an alliance of five education and human service agencies dedicated to increasing the quality of services offered to low-income families in Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Before implementing the Salesforce platform with Exponent Case Management (ECM) and Einstein Analytics, the CBC faced challenges such as time-consuming reporting, infrequent benchmarking, and lessened collaborative value. However, Exponent Partners stepped in to implement ECM for four CBC organizations, creating a central benchmarking data warehouse powered by Einstein Analytics.

Christopher House, a member of CBC and the Collaborative’s Project Manager, now enjoys the benefits of Einstein Analytics, with a centralized dashboard providing real-time data on the entire population served across the collaborative. The CBC’s programs focus on teaching strategies, goals, and regular assessments for early childhood development and education. The ultimate goal is to prepare children for kindergarten, concentrating on key domains, such as literacy, math, social-emotional development, and more.

With the CBC’s data model’s filtering capabilities, they can drill down by location, agency, demographics, classroom, or students with Individual Education Plans (IEP). This ability enables the Collaborative to move beyond tracking standard program outcomes, allowing them to test and validate theories about early childhood development and teacher interventions.

A Cause for Change: Benefits of Collaboration 

The CBC recognized the immense potential of collaboration and embarked on a journey that led to transformation:

• Performance Improvement: Benchmarking allowed CBC to identify areas for improvement by comparing their performance to similar organizations. The result was a data-driven approach that standardized data and benchmarked outcomes, driving an uptick in quality services.
• Centralized Intake System: Through Exponent Case Management (ECM), CBC centralized data, enabling streamlined data alignment and benchmarking across the collaborative.
• Cost Efficiencies: Benchmarking led to the identification of cost efficiencies, optimizing resource allocation, and streamlining data management.
• Data-Driven Culture: Data played a pivotal role in CBC’s journey, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making that increased transparency and led to more effective strategic planning.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Collaboration within the collaborative strengthened relationships and partnerships, creating a strong sense of community and shared goals among the participating organizations.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Ultimately, continuous benchmarking is about maximizing the impact of nonprofit missions and ensuring the long-term sustainability of organizations.

In Conclusion: It’s Time to Unite for Impact

Get ready for an exhilarating journey at Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023. The stage is set for an exploration of the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative’s remarkable story. As you step into this session, you’re in for an eye-opening experience that will ignite your passion for collaboration, data, and shared learning.

We’ll reveal how this transformative journey positively influenced program quality, improved student outcomes, and empowered parents. But these are just a few of the takeaways you’ll gain from this immersive experience.

And what if you can’t make it to the event in person? Worry not! You can subscribe to the Nonprofit Dreamin YouTube channel for on-demand viewing of the conference sessions.

So, don’t miss this chance to be part of an exhilarating discussion that shapes a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Join us on November 2 at 11 am in Chicago and dive into the future. Together, we can create a better future for all.

At Exponent Partners, we believe in the extraordinary power of people to create positive change. These individuals are the driving force behind uncovering vital data that leads to meaningful transformation. In this blog post, we introduce you to Keddi-Anne Sherbino, a trusted subject matter expert who understands the unique challenges faced by nonprofits and shares our mission to unlock the value of information systems to help nonprofits drive greater social impact. Keddi-Anne is a remarkable individual who recently transitioned from a Business Development Representative to an Associate Account Executive. Join us as we delve into her background, experiences, and aspirations

Meet Keddi-Anne Sherbino:

Keddi-Anne is a dynamic professional known for her tenacity, drive, and a true go-getter spirit. With over eight years of experience in sales and four years in marketing, she has honed her skills to excel in her career. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of British Columbia, Keddi-Anne’s educational background lends a distinctive perspective to her work.

But what truly sets Keddi-Anne apart is her unwavering commitment to making a difference. Beyond her professional life, she’s a passionate advocate for impactful change. Her journey in the nonprofit education sector and her teaching experience at Niagara College Canada vividly illustrate her dedication to education and social change.

Keddi-Anne’s zeal extends to her personal life as well. She approaches every aspect of life with boundless passion, whether it’s conquering challenging workouts at the gym or pursuing her love for CrossFit. Adding to her adventurous spirit, Keddi-Anne recently got engaged on the majestic peaks of British Columbia, a testament to her love for the outdoors and her penchant for embracing life’s grand moments. What you really need to know about Keddi-Anne is that she’s a force of nature who infuses enthusiasm into everything she undertakes.

Keddi-Anne’s Move to Associate Account Executive: 

Keddi-Anne’s journey within Exponent Partners is a testament to our commitment to nurturing internal talent and providing growth opportunities. With a year and a half of dedicated service, she recently transitioned from a Business Development Representative to an Associate Account Executive, a transition that highlights her readiness to embrace new challenges and make a greater impact.

In an independent interview process alongside other candidates, Keddi-Anne emerged as the ideal choice for the Associate Account Executive role, further underscoring her qualifications and unwavering dedication to our mission.

Now, let’s delve into our interview with Keddi-Anne.

What drives your passion for working with nonprofit organizations, and how does it align with Exponent Partners’ mission?

Keddi-Anne:  From a young age I have always had a passion for helping others. My day just does not feel complete if I have not had the chance to influence someone in a meaningful way. I also love to see things restored, I enjoy a “project” that might seem broken, unwanted or impossible. Oftentimes, nonprofits are fixing a need that can seem broken to the public eye, or forgotten about in our society. By providing their resources they are also ultimately restoring not only life but hope to those people’s lives. I believe that hope in people’s lives can be restored too. Therefore, this drives my passion to want to help nonprofits thrive.  

Can you share a memorable experience from your international volunteering work that deeply resonated with you?

Keddi-Anne: Oh my goodness, there are so many memorable experiences to choose from, but a recent story that stands out to me is from my last trip to Africa. There, I had the opportunity to explore a remote village in Marsabit, Kenya 🇰🇪. A year ago, a nonprofit I support started a literacy program there, and through their incredible work, an entire village has been transformed. It’s truly life-changing to witness the progress – seeing the smiles of women who have learned to spell their names, read books, and acquire practical skills like sanitation, money management, and starting their businesses. They’re now building a sustainable community by planting a garden and sharing resources. In a village that once had only goats and huts, without even running water, this transformation is truly remarkable!

In your new role as an Associate Account Executive, how do you envision contributing to the broader goals of Exponent Partners?

Keddi-Anne:  I am a goal driven, fast moving human. I like to see projects completed and I do not like to waste time. My hope is that I will be a key contributor to our Business Development team and help move potential projects to the closed project stage as quickly and efficiently as possible. I coach CrossFit in my spare time and I absolutely love seeing someone with no fitness experience enter the space. In my mind, I approach it as a challenge—how quickly can I help them move effectively while ensuring they grasp the full scope of what they are learning and how each movement connects to the next. I employ tact and patience, slowing down where needed and focusing on areas of understanding. I see my work with clients here at Exponent Partners in a similar light. I adapt to what the client understands, building trust and guiding them through the intricacies until they have a full understanding.

Can you share an example of how technology and information systems can significantly benefit nonprofits and their missions?

Keddi-Anne: I actively support a few different nonprofit organizations, and in deciding where to allocate my support, I engage in extensive research to gain a clear understanding of how every dollar raised is utilized. I regularly check on their work and stay up to date on how the organization leverages data storytelling to make an impact. I have even gone the extra mile to visit the places I donate to to be sure that the funds are going to exactly where they’re intended. This information is all driven through data, reinforcing my belief in the importance of the work we do. 

Conclusion:

Keddi-Anne Sherbino’s journey is a testament to both her dedication and Exponent Partners’ commitment to fostering growth within the organization. We invite you to learn more about our mission, values, and the incredible team members who deeply care about nonprofits and their missions. From our consulting experts to our operations and sales teams, we all share a profound commitment to driving positive change. Contact us to discover how we can help your organization make a difference for people in need.

Who doesn’t love freebies? Well, hold onto your hats because Salesforce just dropped a gift that’ll make even the most stoic data analyst crack a smile. At this year’s Dreamforce event, Salesforce unveiled a surprise that’s about to revolutionize the world of data analytics: free licenses of Data Cloud and Tableau for all customers with Sales and Service Cloud, Enterprise, or Unlimited licenses. Yes, you read that right – it’s a data party, and you’re all invited! This exciting news not only aligns perfectly with Exponent Partners’ mission to help nonprofits unlock the true value behind their data but also promises to usher in a new era of AI.

Breaking Down the Offer:

Starting September 19th, customers on Enterprise Edition (EE) and Unlimited Edition (UE) can benefit from this remarkable offer, which includes 250,000 Data Services credits; 1 TB of data storage; 1 Data Cloud admin; 100 internal Data Cloud identity users, 1,000 Data Cloud PSL; 5 integration users. This unprecedented move removes barriers to entry for both organizations looking to explore the power of Data Cloud and professionals eager to enhance their skill set.

But that’s not all – Salesforce is doubling the delight by including two free Tableau creator licenses in the package. The $0 Tableau Cloud SKU is your gateway to unleashing the full potential of Tableau for data analytics. With Tableau Cloud – Creator for Data Cloud, you gain access to a comprehensive set of Tableau capabilities to create, explore, and visualize data analytics in the cloud. This includes the ability to manage users, create and share data sources, author new reports, and even edit existing workbooks. 

This unprecedented move removes barriers to entry for organizations looking to explore the power of Data Cloud but also those that want to harness the data visualization prowess of Tableau, making it a truly game-changing proposition for organizations of all sizes.

Why Data Cloud Matters:

Data Cloud, which may have remained a mystery to many Salesforce professionals, now takes center stage in Salesforce’s offerings. This platform is already processing a staggering 30 trillion transactions per month and harmonizing 100 billion records daily. Salesforce is seamlessly integrating Data Cloud into every corner of its ecosystem, from Sales and Service to Marketing and Commerce. During the nonprofit keynote at Dreamforce, there was a heavy emphasis placed on Data Cloud being the key to unlocking new AI functionality.

Use Cases That Make an Impact:

Salesforce is kicking things off by outlining some primary use cases. In essence, organizations can consolidate data from multiple sources, utilize identity resolution to unify profile and engagement data, and gain a comprehensive 360-degree view of their customers. As an example, nonprofits could aggregate data about their donors across their own data systems as well as external sources like their engagement with social media.

For nonprofits using Salesforce for case management, Data Cloud could be an alternative to more complex and costly direct integrations. Aggregating data from different systems and reporting on it with unified client profiles.

Now, let’s delve deeper into how Data Cloud not only simplifies complexities but also serves as the precursor to leveraging Einstein for advanced AI-driven initiatives:

Unlocking the Power of Data Cloud for AI:

Imagine I’m a stakeholder at your organization, and there are three different records about me scattered across three different systems. In one system, I’m Marthe, a donor. In the second system, you see my full name, Marthe Rana, along with the fact that I’m a marketer at Exponent Partners. In the third system, you see my nickname, Martha, and it’s evident that I’m a volunteer. And let’s face it; you probably don’t have just three sources of data – you have 10, 20, or even 30 systems.

Now, envision all of this data seamlessly connected through Data Cloud, harmonized to perfection. The result? A unified profile that displays my name, nickname, roles as a donor, marketer, and volunteer, all elegantly merged into one cohesive entity.

With Data Cloud, your organization can achieve this level of data harmony, simplifying complexities and unleashing the full potential of your data for truly impactful decision-making and outreach. But how does it help to support your AI initiatives? At Dreamforce, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital showcased how they are using Data Cloud as the precursor to leveraging Einstein. 

“One of the challenges is that we have many ways of engaging with our 10 million donors and volunteers. Whether it’s paid media, social media, email marketing, bikathons, marathons etc, but what we’re missing is that fabric that ties together all those engagement channels so we can start to make connections with those donors in the areas that they want to be connected,” said David Jacques, SVP and CIO at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

With Data Cloud, St. Jude’s can weave fabric together that was previously elusive. Now, when donors call into the call center, they can determine the next best action based on unified data in a matter of seconds. They can conduct advanced segmentation, cluster segments more efficiently than ever, and have authentic, personalized engagements in an automated fashion with donors in mere moments, a feat that traditionally might have taken days or even weeks to accomplish.

The Journey with Data Cloud:

While Salesforce has designed this offer to be self-service, and you can learn about the next steps here,  partnering with experts like Exponent Partners can help you navigate this exciting journey effectively. It’s important to note that the $0 Data Cloud SKU includes a limited set of credits, and depending on the number of sources you set up, you might exceed this limit. There are no safeguards built into the product to limit exceeding the number of credits allotted. This is where Exponent Partners’ expertise comes into play, helping you optimize your data usage while implementing this new tool to work seamlessly alongside your existing ones.

Salesforce’s no-cost offer of Data Cloud and Tableau licenses is a game-changer for organizations seeking to harness the power of data. It’s a significant step towards making data-driven decisions accessible to all. Whether you’re looking to unify customer data for personalized service or identify new opportunities for growth, Data Cloud and Tableau are your allies. With the right guidance, your organization can unlock a world of possibilities. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to drive radically better impact with Exponent Partners. Reach out to us today for help along your journey with Data Cloud or implementing the latest Salesforce innovations. 

Exponent Partners is excited to be a proud sponsor of Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023, the premier conference for nonprofit professionals within the Salesforce ecosystem. Whether you’re a seasoned Salesforce expert or just starting your journey, this event is designed to empower and connect nonprofit professionals. We have some fantastic opportunities for you to engage with us, and here are four exciting ways to do just that:

1. Join our Nonprofit Cloud for Program & Case Management Campfire Event on October 31st

Before the main event kicks off, we invite you to our Campfire event on October 31st. This half-day gathering is all about networking and knowledge sharing. You’ll get a hands-on demo of the new Nonprofit Cloud for Programs and Case Management, followed by a fun and engaging happy hour. It’s the perfect way to start your Nonprofit Dreamin’ experience with a bang! Reserve your spot now and be part of this lively and networking-filled event.

Event Details:

Event Date: October 31st, 2023
Venue: Salesforce Tower, Chicago
Admission: Free
Hosted by: Salesforce and Exponent Partners

2. Attend Nonprofit Dreamin’

Of course, you won’t want to miss the main event on November 1-2, 2023, at 325 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL. Nonprofit Dreamin’ is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the Salesforce ecosystem, learn from industry experts, and connect with like-minded professionals. With engaging sessions, interactive workshops, inspiring keynote speeches, and ample networking opportunities, this event promises to be a game-changer for your nonprofit work.

Event Details: 

Date: 1-2 November 2023
Location: 325 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL. 60654
Register here.

3. Catch Our Session at Nonprofit Dreamin’

Be sure to check out our session at Nonprofit Dreamin’. We’ll be presenting alongside the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative in a session titled “Better Together: the Power of Collaboration and Data with the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative.” Join Traci Stanley from Christopher House and Stacie Pallotta from Exponent Partners as they share their data-driven journey of collaboration in the nonprofit sector. Discover how five Chicago-based agencies leverage Salesforce for benchmarking, enhancing data management, and achieving transformative outcomes through collaboration. Gain practical takeaways and insights to create a lasting impact on your community.

Mark your calendar for November 1-2, 2023, for Nonprofit Dreamin’ 2023. We look forward to seeing you there! Whether you choose to join us at the Campfire event, attend the conference, schedule a one-on-one meeting, or catch our session, we’re excited to connect with you and help your nonprofit drive radically better impact. Together, we can make a difference in the world of nonprofit work. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative event in the Salesforce ecosystem. 

We can’t wait to see you in Chicago!