Supercharge Your Nonprofit Salesforce with a Center of Excellence

As a nonprofit, your CRM is crucial for donor management, fundraising, and more. Keeping it running smoothly is more important than ever, but who has the time and budget for a whole team of technology experts? Good news: you can supercharge your nonprofit Salesforce by creating a lean, effective Center of Excellence even with limited resources.

What’s a CoE?

It’s a small group of dedicated staff who come together regularly to get the most out of your technology investments. Having a Salesforce-specific CoE is like a weekly or monthly team huddle, but focused specifically on improving your CRM. This group isn’t about fancy titles, it’s about collaboration and problem-solving.

Why resource-strapped nonprofits need a CoE:

• Work Smarter, Not Harder: A CoE helps you streamline processes and avoid costly mistakes, freeing up your valuable time for mission-focused work.
• Empower Your Team: By providing training and support, you’ll ensure everyone feels confident using Salesforce, leading to better data and insights.
• Keep Your Data Clean: A CoE sets simple rules for data entry, ensuring your information is accurate and reliable.
• Make Tech Work for You: You’ll align your Salesforce use with your overall goals, ensuring it truly supports your mission.
• Save Money: Preventing problems before they happen means avoiding unexpected expenses down the road.

Who’s on the Team?

• The Salesforce Champion: Your most enthusiastic Salesforce user, someone who understands the basics and is excited to learn more.
• The Tech-Savvy Person: An IT staff member or someone else who feels most comfortable with software.
• The Big-Picture Thinker: Ideally an executive leader at some level who understands your organization’s high-level goals and can connect Salesforce to the bigger picture.
• The User Advocate: Someone who represents the needs of other staff using Salesforce and can offer feedback.

Getting your CoE off the ground:

1. Set clear goals: What are the top 3 things you want Salesforce to do better?
   Gather your team: Talk to staff and identify folks who fit the roles above.
2. Schedule regular check-ins: Even 30 minutes a week can make a huge difference.
   Start small: Tackle one goal at a time, celebrate wins, and learn as you go.
3. Keep learning: Salesforce offers free resources, webinars, and communities where you can connect with other nonprofits.
4. Choose a representative: Having a representative who can ask for help from leadership or attend regular meetings with the organizational CoE helps keep Salesforce aligned with your mission and strategic goals.

Bottom Line

You don’t need a big budget or a team of experts to create a Salesforce Center of Excellence. By fostering collaboration and a focus on learning, you can create a powerful tool that helps your nonprofit achieve more with Salesforce.