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Case Study: Transforming Operations at the Community Foundation of North Central Washington

CF of north central washington
beth stipe headshot

Beth Stipe

Executive Director

“CommunitySuite is now the backbone of our Community Foundation. It has transformed how we manage funds and engage with our donors.”

$67M

in assets managed

100

Scholarship funds

About Toronto Arts Council

  • Client: Community Foundation of North Central Washington
  • Industry: Community Foundation
  • Key Stakeholders: Beth Stripe (Executive Director), Jennifer Dolge (Director of Donor Services & Communications)
  • Client Since: 2016
  • Tools Used: Foundant’s CommunitySuite, GLM, SLM 
 



Overview 

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington, a Foundant client since 2016, has grown to manage approximately $67 million in assets across over 400 funds, including nearly 100 scholarship funds. In 2019, CFNCW transitioned from the outdated FIMS database to Foundant Technologies’ CommunitySuite to modernize operations and enhance donor services. 

Challenges 

  • Unhappy with Current System: The lack of integration between FIMS and Blackbaud led to fragmented data and inefficient workflows. 
  • Inefficient Donor Relationships: Both systems offered minimal donor access and engagement tools, hindering relationship-building efforts. 
  • Difficulty Tracking & Reporting: Generating reports was cumbersome and time-consuming, affecting decision-making processes. 

Solutions

CFNCW implemented CommunitySuite, a comprehensive nonprofit management software by Foundant Technologies, to address these challenges. 

Key Features Implemented: 

  • Integrated Fund Management: Unified grantmaking and financial accounting streamlined operations and improved accuracy. 
  • Online Donor Portal: Donors gained 24/7 access to their fund information, enhancing engagement and reducing administrative workload. 
  • Grant Catalog: The catalog facilitated public support for local nonprofits, significantly increasing donations. 
  • Event Management: The events module allowed for efficient RSVP tracking and communication, supporting CFNCW’s capacity-building programs. 
  • Real-Time Reporting: CFNCW staff can now access detailed financial data and donor histories instantly, improving responsiveness and donor relations. 

Results 

  • Increased Efficiency: Staff time spent on administrative tasks decreased, allowing for more focus on strategic initiatives. 
  • Enhanced Donor Satisfaction: Donors appreciated the ease of accessing their fund information and the improved communication channels. 
  • Improved Morale: Staff morale improved significantly after transitioning to CommunitySuite, with frequent expressions of satisfaction regarding the new system. 

In their words: Client testimonials

We switched to CommunitySuite because it’s awesome! It fully integrates our grantmaking and financial accounting, as well as reporting, online donor access, and the grant catalog, which has been very successful for engaging the public in supporting local nonprofits.” 


— Community Foundation of North Central Washington

Key Takeaways

CommunitySuite empowered the Community Foundation of North Central Washington to overcome the limitations of their previous systems. The integrated platform enhanced operational efficiency, improved donor engagement, and facilitated impactful community support initiatives.