The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation (Dodge) is a private foundation based in New Jersey, that supports, centers, and connects communities and changemakers who are working toward a just and equitable state.
When Salesforce announced that foundationConnect would be retired as a Grants Management System (GMS), the Dodge Foundation faced an all too familiar challenge: what comes next? Rather than jumping to another off-the-shelf solution, Dodge saw the foundationConnect sunset as an opportunity to rethink their approach to grantmaking technology. With the help of Salesforce implementation partner North Peak Solutions, Dodge built a custom GMS tailored to support their unique mission, programs, and goals.
Implementing a Custom Salesforce Solution for Grants Management
Dodge reached out to North Peak to discuss options for a new GMS that would replace foundationConnect. The new system needed to support their current grant processes while also introducing new features that would optimize back-end technical performance, streamline administrative workflows, and enhance the overall user experience.
After conducting a thorough Discovery audit of Dodge’s existing grantmaking processes, including their current Salesforce setup and integrations, North Peak determined that a custom Salesforce solution was the best route to go.
The flexibility of a custom-designed Salesforce GMS would allow for future scalability and the data model aligned with the existing model that the team was already familiar with.
The implementation process was completed at a measured pace over the course of six months, with North Peak guiding the process through the various stages, including design, configuration, testing, data migration and app integrations. Once the system was live the North Peak team provided training and post-launch support.
Benefits of a Custom Salesforce Solution for Grants Management
With a custom Salesforce solution, Dodge now has a flexible Salesforce GMS that has enhanced functionality, improved user experience, and strengthened internal processes within the organization.
Automation for certain daily processes saves staff time and improves service delivery. Data management adheres to best practices with the reduction of record types and duplicate fields, and the reporting process is simpler and more streamlined, empowering the Dodge team to create customized reports with ease.
This was so much more than just replacing foundationConnect with a new grants management system. We were able to evaluate our internal needs and ways of working, and got a lot of value out of the whole process, from discovery to implementation, to post launch support.
With the implementation of a custom grants management system, Dodge now has a flexible Salesforce solution that can scale as organizational needs evolve. The new system matches Dodge’s way of working while also empowering teams to better manage data, customize reports, and streamline processes.
With Salesforce, there are multiple ways to put in place a high-functioning system for grants management. Having a knowledgeable partner guide the selection process, with a team’s specific goals and processes at the forefront, can lead to a right-fit system that elevates an organization’s work.
Additional Resources and Next Steps
Moving to a new grants management system is an exciting undertaking, and we’ve put together a few resources that are helpful when it comes to choosing the right-fit GMS.
Our white paper Comparing and Selecting the Right Salesforce Grant Management System for Your Nonprofit or Foundation is a great tool that compares the features of Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking, Outbound Funds Module, and a custom Salesforce solution. And our webinar How Technology is Transforming Participatory Grantmaking: Tools and Strategies for Funders, showcases how two foundations are leveraging the power of Salesforce to support their grantmaking efforts.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you level up your technology needs today.
About North Peak
North Peak provides Salesforce-based services for nonprofits, foundations and the affordable housing sector who want to utilize the power of high-functioning CRM and GMS platforms. We achieve this through a holistic set of services, tailored to the needs of our clients.
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