Case Example

Scope

This engagement focused on improving how our clients data was integrated across applications, reducing manual business processes, and establishing a foundation for stronger reporting and data analytics. The objective was to enable staff to access a more complete, timely, and reliable view of contacts, donors, volunteers, and program activities, while improving operational efficiency and data quality. 

Approach and Process

1. Discovery and Requirements Gathering
   Collaborated with key stakeholders to define goals, capture requirements, and understand operational challenges and reporting needs. 
2. Current-State Assessment
   Documented existing systems, data flows, and supporting business processes to establish a clear baseline of how information was being collected, managed, and used. 
3. Gap Analysis
   Identified inefficiencies, risks, and areas of misalignment between the current environment and the organization’s desired outcomes, strategy, and mission. 
4. Phased Strategy Development
   Developed and implemented a three-phase roadmap to deliver improvements in manageable, value-driven increments.
5. Documentation and Training
   Produced supporting documentation to ensure ongoing usability, and sustainability of the new processes and tools. 
6. Data Analysis and Initial Recommendations
   Conducted data analysis to identify trends, validated reporting outputs, and provided initial recommendations related to fundraising and program impact opportunities.

Key Findings

The Clients core data systems were not integrated, which resulted in either manual workflows or limited/no data sharing between applications. This created several downstream challenges:

• Inefficient, time-consuming administrative processes
• Inconsistent and duplicated data
• Incomplete records and limited visibility across constituents (contacts, donors, volunteers, programs)
• Difficulty producing timely, accurate, and meaningful reporting

Strategy Delivered (Three Phases)

Phase 1: Integration and Centralized Data Hub
Implemented a low-cost, cloud-based integration solution that automatically populated the client’s CRM with relevant data from connected systems. This created a consistent, near-real-time view of contact, donor, volunteer, and program information—reducing manual entry and improving data accuracy.

Phase 2: KPI Reporting and Dashboard Enablement
Leveraged the organization’s existing Google licensing to implement a Looker Studio dashboard accessible to key staff. The dashboard provided up-to-date tracking of operational activity and organizational KPIs. Early dashboard insights helped identify:

• Emerging trends in donation patterns and opportunities to respond strategically
• Opportunities to strengthen measurement and reporting of program impact

Phase 3: Process Standardization and Enablement
Documented the updated workflows and partnered with key staff to ensure understanding, adoption, and consistent execution of the new processes. Training focused on sustaining data quality and ensuring the organization can independently maintain the solution going forward.