Case Study: Streamlining Operations at the Moravian Ministries Foundation of America
Chris Spaugh
CEO
“You listen to your users, take that feedback, and make changes based on that feedback. That’s great. And it just improves your user experience tremendously. I think you do that better than anybody I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with different software companies throughout my entire career. I appreciate that with a system that we’re using and supporting our work, that there’s enhancements always happening with it.”
20
hours per week saved
About Toronto Arts Council
- Client: Moravian Ministries Foundation of America
- Industry: Private Foundation (Faith-based)
- Key Stakeholders: Chris Spaugh (CEO)
- Client Since: 2022
- Tools Used: Foundant’s CommunitySuite & GLM
Overview
Chris Spaugh, president and CEO of Moravian Ministries Foundation of America, discusses previous system challenges and the decision to implement Foundant’s Community Suite in October 2023. Prior to Foundant, Moravian Ministries used Raiser’s Edge for CRM and FIMS for accounting. Raiser’s Edge was dated and didn’t speak with their other system. FIMS was slow processing and fragmented. Chris said his main goal was to find something more integrated that could manage the online donation process. Other reasons included reducing the high employee workload caused by manual data entry as well as needing more positioning for growth. Chris found out about Foundant from other nonprofits that recommended it, including the Triangle Community Foundation. The foundation also pursued Blackbaud but ultimately found the solution too expensive and was met with a lack of responsiveness.
Foundant significantly improved their operational efficiency and donation processing capabilities. Chris also expressed satisfaction with Foundant’s responsive support and ongoing system improvements, noting that their organization has seen year-over-year growth in giving since 2022. As staff became more comfortable with Foundant systems and donors became used to virtual donations, the foundation steadily grew. CSuite helped the foundation save 20 hours a week by eliminating the double data entry.
Donors frequently requested a system that allowed them to give to multiple things in the same place. With the changes to the system that allow customization of each giving page, the foundation is able to customize for each organization. Chris praised Foundant for how they listen to their uses, take feedback, and make changes based on what clients tell them.
Tools that have contributed to the success of the Moravian Ministries Foundation include the fund advisor portal, Giving Hub, and Grant Life Cycle Manager. The accounting support from CSuite has allowed the foundation to grow from an investment standpoint and repurpose staff to promote productivity and efficiency.
Challenges
Before transitioning to Foundant, Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (MMFA) relied on Raiser’s Edge for CRM and FIMS for accounting. These legacy systems presented several operational challenges:
- Outdated CRM: Raiser’s Edge lacked modern functionality and required complex data bridges to integrate with other systems.
- Fragmented Accounting: FIMS was slow and inefficient, leading to delays and fragmented financial processes.
- Manual Workload: Staff faced high workloads due to manual data entry and system limitations.
- Limited Growth Capacity: The existing infrastructure hindered scalability and donor engagement.
Chris Spaugh, President & CEO, sought a more integrated solution that could streamline donation processing, reduce staff burden, and position the foundation for sustainable growth.
Solutions
MMFA explored multiple options, including Blackbaud, but found it cost-prohibitive and lacking in responsiveness. Ultimately, Foundant’s CommunitySuite was recommended by peer organizations such as Triangle Community Foundation.
Key factors influencing the decision:
- Peer Recommendations
- Affordability
- Responsive Customer Support
- Integrated Functionality
The implementation of Foundant’s CommunitySuite in October 2023 came with typical challenges:
- Data Cleanup: Migrating from legacy systems required significant data refinement.
- Staff Training: Onboarding staff to the new system took time and effort.
Despite these hurdles, Foundant’s support team was responsive and proactive, helping MMFA navigate the transition smoothly.
Results
- Operational Efficiency: Eliminated double data entry, saving approximately 20 hours per week.
- Donation Growth: Year-over-year giving has increased since 2022, aided by virtual donation capabilities.
- Donor Experience: Customizable giving pages allow donors to contribute to multiple causes in one place.
- Staff Productivity: Freed up staff time for strategic initiatives and donor engagement.
- Financial Management: Enhanced accounting tools supported investment growth and resource reallocation.
In their words: Client testimonials
The giving hub makes it easy for us to add something new to the platform, in terms of when we have a new organization that’s created, adding them is a piece of cake. Before, that was a whole process, it took 3-4 days. We don’t have that now, so I think that’s a huge win.”
— Chris Spaugh, CEO
It’s one of those situations where you get all the negative, none of the positive. So being able to process that efficiently for us was a key, and it probably saved 20 hours a week that one person was doing dedicated to that work. It saved us. Add to that the efficiencies just from the fund accounting, being able to process statements quicker for our investors and clients. Huge wins, this system. The accounting side of Community Suite was a huge step up for us, as well as the efficiency and time and processing”
— Chris Spaugh, CEO
Key Takeaways
Foundant’s CommunitySuite has transformed MMFA’s operations, enabling the foundation to better serve its mission, donors, and staff. By replacing outdated systems with a modern, integrated solution, MMFA is now equipped to grow sustainably and efficiently.