Top 10 Salesforce Non-Profit Partners
Learn about the different resourcing options for getting Salesforce Non Profit work done. Explore the top Salesforce Nonprofit Partners or connect with FoundHQ to hire Non Profit Consultants directly.
The Salesforce ecosystem is massive.
Finding the right Salesforce Partner can be an overwhelming process, especially if you’re just getting started with the platform. How exactly do you find a Partner?
In this FoundHQ guide, we'll be speeding up the research process by introducing you to ten of the best Nonprofit Salesforce Partners around.
Benefits of Salesforce for Non Profits
Salesforce offers a dedicated solution for Nonprofit organizations - Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), which is separate from the other core products they offer. NPSP shares the same architectural foundation, but it’s designed to support the nonprofit sector with a number of purpose-built features and modules, including:
Grants Management
Salesforce's grant management feature helps nonprofits streamline their grant processes by centralizing all grant-related information in one system. This includes grant applications, documentation, deadlines, and reporting requirements. It enables nonprofits to track the entire lifecycle of grants, from application to approval and reporting, making the process more efficient and transparent.
Case Management
Case management in Salesforce allows nonprofits to track and manage various types of interactions or requests from constituents, beneficiaries, or donors. It provides a centralized system to log, prioritize, and assign cases, ensuring that each request or inquiry is addressed in a timely manner.
Nonprofits Insight Platform
The dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of important metrics across different areas, such as fundraising, donor management, program effectiveness, and constituent engagement.
Marketing Cloud Engagement for Nonprofits
Marketing Cloud Engagement in Salesforce for Nonprofits focuses on engaging with constituents, donors, and supporters through targeted and personalized marketing efforts.
These are powerful, specialized products designed to be tweaked, customized, and optimized for the needs of your nonprofit.
How To Choose a Salesforce for Nonprofit Partner
Salesforce Nonprofit Partners should be specialized in Nonprofit and not generalists. Your ideal Partner should have teams of Certified Experts, who have a deep understanding of Salesforce’s capabilities and specifically understand the internal Operations of Nonprofit organizations so you can best leverage the technology.
The typically offer a range of services aimed at boosting adoption and ROI, including:
Implementation
Project Management
Integrations and Customization
On-demand Support
Training and Best Practices Consulting
Rescue Projects
Things To Consider When Choosing a Salesforce Partner
Industry Knowledge
Salesforce is a very flexible tool. While that is one of the biggest benefits, it also presents a challenge: experience with one Salesforce Product doesn't always translate perfectly across industries and use cases.
You need a Partner that understands how Salesforce benefits nonprofit and possesses the technical skills to fully leverage those features.
Transparency
Nonprofits are transparent by default. Your Salesforce Partner should be, too—look for one that is transparent about their process, their pricing terms, and any limitations.
Take FoundHQ, for example. We make everything transparent from the start, including our process, hourly rates, freelancer experience, and compliance info. That gives nonprofits all they need to make a smart, informed decision about our offering.
Ongoing Support
What good is an implementation that falls apart as soon as the consultant exits the metaphorical building?
The complexity of the Salesforce platform requires ongoing maintenance and fine-tuning to get the most out of it. Make sure that your chosen partner offers ongoing support services to ensure everything works the way it should.
This might include follow-up calls, maintenance packages, bug fixes—whatever your organization needs to keep things running smoothly.
Customization
Your nonprofit organization likely needs special features, integrations, automation, or custom objects to meet its unique needs.
Find a Salesforce Partner who offers the ability to customize the platform to your business needs—and at a reasonable cost.
Data Security & Compliance
Security is critical for nonprofits—for legal and ethical reasons.
Make sure that your Salesforce Partner has experience in meeting the data security requirements of nonprofit organizations and is up-to-date on privacy regulations.
Your Partner should provide a clear plan on how they will protect the organization's data as well as help you meet any applicable compliance standards.
Ask about their process—documentation is always a good sign!
FoundHQ vs Consulting Partners
Companies are told that Salesforce Partners are the only place to go for quality guidance or reliable execution. But that’s simply not true. At least anymore.
There is absolutely a time and place to leverage Consulting Partners but that is primarily limited to projects that will require a Delivery team of 10+ Consultants engaged simultaneously. More often than not, stakeholders turn to Firms when a better option is hiring a small team of Independent Consultants.
FoundHQ was born out of a very real need: a way to engage the same Salesforce Consultants you get from a Partner at a fraction of the cost.
How Consulting Partners Work
There are a few key aspects to the way Salesforce Partners work with you to get the work done. This is a simple reality of their business model.
Deliver the Work and Leave
Their business runs on delivering projects efficiently so they can manage their workload and move on to the next project. Obviously, you're looking to get the work delivered quickly as well but you want to make sure it's done right before they leave - and if the Partner has another project lined up for their Consultants, the final stages can get rushed.
Not to mention, most Partners simply don't have a cost-effective model to support you after go-live. They will either charge astronomical rates for access to an individual Consultant or they will hand everything over and wish you luck.
All Deliverables are Scoped Upfront
In order to achieve the fastest possible deployment, the start of an engagement with a Partner involves scoping the entire project from start to finish and solidifying a timeline for when everything is scheduled to be completed.
Again, project planning is critical for success but it leaves very little room to maneuver. As you learn new things along the way, you might want to change some of the original plans and Partners make it very difficult to do so.
Partners Execute 100% of the Work
Perhaps you have a capable Salesforce Administrator or Developer in-house that would love to get their hands on this new project. It would give them experience and bring the cost of the project down but Consulting Partners don't want to do things that way.
They want to staff an entire team on the project and get as many Consultants billable as possible in order to maintain control. It means means that regardless of what expertise you have within your company - or who on your team you'd like to get some Salesforce exposure - the Partner will be push as many of their Consultants as possible, increasing the overall cost of the project and making knowledge transfer harder during go-live.
Partners are Very Expensive
The typical bill rate per Consultant from a Partner is $200/hour to $350/hour.
They will justify it by saying quality comes at a cost but it's really because Consulting Partners have a lot of overhead, which needs to accounted for in their price. In contrast, Independent Salesforce Consultants charge a significantly lower hourly rate - typically in the range of $100/hour to $175/hour.
And don't be fooled, their experience is identical to the Consultants you get from a Consulting Partner since many Independent Salesforce Consultants used to work for a Partner!
When To Hire Who: FoundHQ vs Consulting Partners
The Partner approach is ideal for larger transformation projects where the team being engaged across strategy, business process optimization, and systems work exceeds 10+ Consultants engaged simultaneously.
At this scale, it's beneficial to have a single vendor accountable for managing the all workstreams and keeping things organized.
But you should strongly consider engaging Independent Consultants for any initiative that requires fewer than 10 Consultants - and especially those that only need a team of 2-3.
In these scenarios, you can take a surgical approach to hiring only the experience needed, while also partnering with someone that remains available to you long after the project is delivered.
Why FoundHQ
Our approach gives you the best of both worlds.
The expertise of a Consulting Firm. The collaboration of an FTE.
And cost savings only a Freelancer can offer.
FoundHQ brings 10+ years of experience building Salesforce teams, including work with some of the top Partners globally. By partnering with us, you get access to a network of 8,000+ pre-vetted Salesforce Consultants, including talent from Slalom, Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, Kicksaw, Coastal Cloud, Salesforce, and hundreds of other Consulting Firms.
We possess the single largest Salesforce knowledge base and the ability to help you identify the right team needed to deliver any scope of work.
Common Challenges When Working With Nonprofit Partners
Working with traditional Nonprofit Partners can present some challenges, and it's better to be upfront about your concerns around these.
When leaders come to FoundHQ after having had a bad experience with Partners, it's usually something to do with:
Costs/Budget
Implementing and customizing Salesforce for Nonprofit can be expensive. Nonprofits may face budget constraints, and it's important to clearly define project costs and expectations upfront to avoid financial challenges.
FoundHQ's Solution: We believe that it's not always necessary to go through an overly complex implementation or project to set up Nonprofits for success. Our model allows Nonprofits to build by blocks, prioritizing and establishing a roadmap that keeps costs under control. Since we don't operate as a Salesforce Partner, our Consultant's hourly rates are a lot more accessible than those of a Partner.
True Understanding of Needs
While there are some great Salesforce Partners for Non Profits, others don't have the ability or willingness to truly understand the customer needs. Often, it's a result of the Partner trying to do what they've done before - this domain knowledge is valuable but every situation is unique. Perhaps you may have a unique use case, specific systems constraints, or you may be looking to do things as cost effectively as possible, getting "close enough" to the ideal solution.
FoundHQ's Solution: FoundHQ is NOT a Salesforce Partner, therefore we don't operate as one. We act as a guiding partner in your search for the best Salesforce talent depending on your needs. We listen to your needs and questions, provide our recommendations, tips and analysis (for free) and then match you accordingly to the right Salesforce Contractors who'd be able to help.
Scalability and Maintenance
When working with a traditional Salesforce Partner, customers will usually depend on that Partner to maintain their Salesforce instance after implementation unless there is an internal resource. Salesforce Nonprofit Partners are somewhat incentivized to propose solutions that keep them in the mix for the long haul and even when they are needed, it's cost prohibitive to do so.
FoundHQ's Solution: Our model allows for customers to only pay for the work our Contractors get done. You are in charge of the workload you want your Contractor to take on and you are who signs off on the hours the Contractor charges.
There are no minimums, no commitments and no rigid SOWs when you work with FoundHQ.
Get Matched to the Right Salesforce Consultant
FoundHQ is the easiest way to get work done in Salesforce.
Our List of Salesforce Non Profit Partners
As we highlighted in our Guide to Selecting a Partner, finding a Consulting Firm with expertise in the specific Product you need is only one piece of the equation.
Don't overlook the importance of vetting Partners on the specific type of work they deliver and how they will engage with you throughout the engagement.
If you're looking for guidance or an outside opinion on vendor selection, book a call with our team any time.
FoundHQ
New York, NY
Consultants:
8,000+
FoundHQ - The Largest Network of Salesforce Support Experts
Quick Stats
500+ completed Salesforce projects
8,000+ pre-vetted Salesforce Freelance Consultants
No minimum project size
No rigid SOWs
No matching fees
Founded in 2020
Serves United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia with Salesforce Consultants in 30+ Countries
FoundHQ provides access to the single largest network of Salesforce support experts in the world. This unique positioning allows FoundHQ to serve startups, mid-market, and enterprise organizations with a wide range of Salesforce services. Our model supports customers looking to identify project-based Salesforce contractors that function as embedded members of their team.
Getting started with FoundHQ is easy:
You tell FoundHQ about your project needs.
Within 24 hours, we match you with 2-3 Salesforce support consultants specifically identified for your project.
You choose the consultant(s) to interview.
Kick off the project — and FoundHQ will support you every step of the way.
To learn more about if FoundHQ is the right fit for your project, you can Create an Account, List a Quick Project, or Book an Intro Call.
Arkus
New York, NY
Consultants:
70
Arkus is a Salesforce consulting firm with a strong focus on helping nonprofits through Salesforce implementations, platform development projects, and custom automation.
On top of the service above, Arkus emphasizes training and education in its approach. Their goal is to empower nonprofit teams to take full advantage of the Salesforce platform. And with an AppExchange rating of 4.9/5, the company has the track record to make a real difference for your organization.
Cloud Creations
Los Angeles, CA
Consultants:
15
Cloud Creations is a leading provider of Salesforce strategy, implementation, and support services.
Their main nonprofit service package is Salesforce Quick Start for Nonprofits, which (as the name suggests) is designed to get your nonprofit set up with Salesforce essentials as quickly as possible—roughly 4 weeks on average.
This package includes business process reviews, household and contact setup, customized donation setup, and ongoing training.
Cloud for Good
Asheville, NC
Consultants:
183
Founded in 2010, Cloud for Good is a Certified Salesforce Partner and one of the leading Consulting Firms for Non-Profits with a team of 150+ Salesforce Consultants.
They are a Global Premium Partner that works exclusively with Non Profit organizations, Higher Education institutions, and Healthcare foundations to implement transformational Salesforce solutions.
According to AppExchange data, they have completed 355 projects total (verified by Salesforce) and have a total of 627 Salesforce Certifications across the Practice.
Cloud for Good's Salesforce Focus
These are the core areas Cloud for Good identifies as their focus and specialization within Salesforce: Non Profit Organizations, Higher Education Institutions, Human Services Organizations, Environmental & Animal Organizations, and Arts & Cultural Organizations.
Craftsman
Boston, MA
Consultants:
65
Craftsman is a Salesforce Consulting Firm that offers a range of Salesforce services—all specifically tailored to nonprofit organizations.
The firm offers solution & roadmap design, custom solution deployment, solution enhancements, and ad hoc requests. They also offer fully managed services that can be customized to meet unique Salesforce admin needs.
Exponent Partners
San Francisco, CA
Consultants:
42
Exponent Partners offers nonprofits access to a team of talented strategists, system architects, project managers, and implementation specialists with the experience to make lasting impacts.
The firm's focus is arming nonprofit organizations with the ability to put their data to work—whether that's through simple training programs or fully custom solutions. The team is experienced in the full range of Salesforce for Nonprofit products, so they'll be able to create the right solution for your organization.
Since its founding in 2005, Exponent Partners has helped over 700 clients scale up their impact through the Salesforce platform.
Heller Consulting
Oakland, CA
Consultants:
23
Heller Consulting is a Salesforce consulting and implementation firm that has specialized in helping nonprofits optimize their operations since 1997. The company has racked up 3,000+ successful projects and has become a go-to partner for big names like the Humane Society and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Their services range from strategic planning to implementation to change management. The firm will work with you to come up with a service package that meets your needs and budget.
Kell Partners
Austin, Texas
Consultants:
20
KELL Partners is a Salesforce implementation and consulting partner with 1,200+ projects under its belt.
The company offers two packages designed specifically for nonprofits. The first is KELL360™—a bundled implementation service that aims to get nonprofits up and running with Salesforce as quickly as possible. This package has all the essentials, including key products and apps as well as ongoing support.
The second is a fully custom implementation service designed for organizations with unique needs that are migrating from an existing CRM.
OpenTent
Denver, CO
Consultants:
15
OpenTent is a Salesforce consulting subscription for nonprofit teams. For a flat quarterly rate, nonprofits get access to the exact services they need—from data modeling and migration to interface design and workflow automation.
The main appeal of this model is transparency. You don't need to worry about getting stuck with an unexpected bill or unfinished work if the scope of your project changes—your subscription covers it automatically.
The company has worked with a range of impactful nonprofits over the years—from the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund to Gather DC.
Yurgosky
New York, NY
Consultants:
28
Yurgosky is a technology, strategy, and analytics company that helps nonprofits develop Salesforce solutions that generate results. They offer a pre-built analytics tool (Loom) along with a range of services—from Salesforce starter packages to custom applications and strategies.
Despite its smaller size (only 28 certified experts on staff), the company has built up a reputation as a valuable nonprofit partner.
Finding the Right Salesforce Partner
Not sure where to start? Book a Call with FoundHQ or List a Project to get started.
There's a direct correlation between the efficiency of your underlying systems and the amount of good your organization can do. Nonprofits that adopt Salesforce have a massive opportunity to streamline their operations, increase productivity, and maximize the effectiveness of their operations.
Hiring Salesforce Nonprofit Consultants
FoundHQ has a network of over 8,000 Salesforce Consultants ready to jump in and make an impact on your Salesforce projects.
Hiring pre-vetted Salesforce for Nonprofits Consultants has never been easier.
How it Works:
We take the time to fully understand your requirements.
We guide you and offer recommendations on your specific Nonprofit needs.
We then match you to 1-3 Salesforce Consultants specialized inNonprofit work.
You interview them, and decide who you like best.
FoundHQ handles the heavy lifting:
All Freelancers are subcontractors of FoundHQ
We handle all on-boarding, timesheets, payroll, and compliance
Pay a flat hourly rate for all approved hours, invoiced at the end of each month
To learn more, tap the bubble button on the right or schedule a call here.
Get Matched to the Right Salesforce Consultant
FoundHQ is the easiest way to get work done in Salesforce.
