Miriam’s Kitchen
Working to end chronic homelessness through advocacy and direct services
Optimizing data for greater impact
Miriam’s Kitchen (MK) had been using Salesforce since 2013, but growth in programs, staff, and data systems had outpaced the platform’s configuration. Leadership sought a clearer path to leverage Salesforce strategically and build internal capacity for data stewardship. MK partnered with Fíonta for a strategic technology consultation focused on maximizing value from its Salesforce ecosystem.
Challenges
- Manual processes
- Inconsistent and inaccurate data
- Underutilized integrations
- Siloed communications
Solutions
- Conduct platform assessment
- Create a strategic roadmap
- Build staff capacity to use Salesforce
- Consolidate email platforms
- Create accessible, branded templates
- Establish sustainable data and process ownership
Results
- Improved data quality, visibility, accuracy, and reporting
- Increased automation and reduced reliance on manual processes
- Increased staff capacity and confidence
Project highlights
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Process automation
Designed automated workflows for receipts, acknowledgments, and reporting.
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Data cleanup
Consolidated duplicate records, cleaned up legacy fields, and restructured layouts.
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Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) adoption
Transitioned custom legacy fields to standard NPSP objects.
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Training and governance
Developed user training plans and supported internal governance setup.
Project Summary
Fíonta led a cross-functional discovery process involving six departments and nearly 100 user stories. Using diagnostic tools like Field Trip and Xappex, alongside interviews and documentation review, Fíonta uncovered critical improvement themes and designed a phased approach. The engagement transitioned into an Accent-managed services contract, enabling deeper backlog resolution and operational optimization.
Outcomes
Miriam’s Kitchen now benefits from improved data hygiene, with reduced duplicates and standardized fields supporting more reliable reporting and analytics. Streamlined workflows, including automated gift acknowledgments and key system integrations, have significantly decreased time spent on manual processes. Cross-departmental visibility and confidence in data quality have increased, empowering staff to generate and analyze performance data with ease.
