How We Typically Help

• Build Salesforce around real funding and partner workflows 

  • Structuring Salesforce so grant applications, approvals, funding distribution, and reporting happen inside the platform — not across spreadsheets and disconnected tools. 

• Connect systems, data, and partner activity 

  • Making sure internal teams and partner organizations are working from consistent information across funding, delivery, and reporting. 

• Turn Salesforce into a system of execution 

  • Embedding grant workflows, approvals, reporting, and partner engagement into Salesforce so processes run consistently without manual coordination. 

Common Situations We Step Into

Sector-based nonprofits typically come to us in one of three situations: 

1. New Salesforce implementations 

For organizations implementing Salesforce for the first time, the priority is getting the foundation right. 

We work with you to: 

• Define how grant applications, reviews, approvals, and funding should operate inside Salesforce 

• Design data models for organizations, programs, grants, funding streams, and outcomes 

• Structure workflows for application intake, evaluation, approval, and reporting 

• Integrate Salesforce with external reporting or partner systems where needed 

• Deliver reporting that connects funding decisions to outcomes and impact 

This is usually a strong fit for teams that want to get it right from the beginning, instead of rebuilding later. 

2. Recovering and stabilizing existing Salesforce environments 

For organizations where Salesforce exists but funding and reporting are still managed outside the system, the focus is getting things back under control. 

We work with you to: 

• Understand how grants, funding, and partner coordination are actually being managed today 

• Identify where workflows break down or are handled manually 

• Reconnect processes so funding and reporting run end to end inside Salesforce 

• Clean up data models so reporting reflects real activity and impact 

• Start making steady, visible improvements 

This tends to work best for organizations that are ready to simplify and fix what’s there — not just keep adding more on top. 

3. Expanding Salesforce as a platform 

For organizations where Salesforce is already in place, the focus shifts to extending it across more of the organization. 

We work with you to: 

• Extend Salesforce across additional programs, funding streams, and partner organizations 

• Introduce structured workflows across grants, approvals, and reporting 

• Improve reporting across funding, activity, and impact 

• Replace inconsistent processes with something repeatable across teams and partners 

This is typically where Salesforce starts becoming part of how the organization operates, not just something a team manage

AI and Automation in Nonprofit Workflows

A growing part of our work is applying Salesforce AI and automation to real operational processes. 

This includes: 

• Managing grant intake, review, and approval workflows 

• Automating funding allocation and reporting processes 

• Supporting partner onboarding and engagement 

• Reducing administrative burden across funding and reporting teams 

• Keeping workflows moving without manual coordination 

The focus is always practical — applying automation where it actually helps the business run better day to day. 

Our Delivery Model

We typically work with organizations in one of two ways, depending on internal structure. 

In many sector-based nonprofits, systems become fragmented across funding, programs, and partner organizations. We work differently — the same people who design the solution are the ones working with you throughout. 

Acting as Your Salesforce Team

For organizations without dedicated Salesforce leadership: 

• Take ownership of Salesforce across the business 

• Align it to priorities, workflows, and requirements 

• Define and manage what gets built and when 

• Coordinate across systems and teams 

• Deliver implementation, enhancements, and ongoing improvement 

This creates a single place where responsibility sits. 

Acting as a Strategic Salesforce Partner

For organizations with an existing team: 

• Work alongside your team on the parts that are slowing you down 

• Lead specific initiatives or problem areas 

• Fix areas that have degraded over time 

• Deliver work without adding more layers 

This tends to work best when teams want support where it matters, without changing how they’re structured. 

Handling Growth, Funding, and Complexity

Sector-based nonprofits evolve as programs expand, funding increases, and partner networks grow. 

We support: 

• New grant programs and funding initiatives 

• Changes in reporting and compliance requirements 

• Standardizing processes across partner organizations 

• Integrating new systems and stakeholders 

• Improving visibility into impact across the sector 

We also support expansion and collaboration scenarios, including: 

• Consolidating data across organizations 

• Aligning reporting and measurement frameworks 

• Standardizing how impact is defined and tracked 

This usually works best for organizations that want to simplify through change, not carry forward every variation. 

How We Work

Whether implementing, fixing, or expanding Salesforce, the approach is the same: 

• Make it reflect how your business actually needs to operate 

• Keep it aligned as things change 

We’ll also tell you directly when something isn’t working — including when the right answer is to simplify or remove what’s already been built. 

Our Accelerators

Fostering has delivered many successful Salesforce Implementations and Enhancements for banking clients.  This means we've solved many of the challenges that you might face - an overview of some of the technical solutions we've deployed is available here.