Nonprofit

Optimizing Data for Greater Impact

Miriam’s Kitchen (MK) is a Washington, DC–based nonprofit working to end chronic homelessness through a combination of advocacy and direct services. Known for its dignity-first approach, MK supports individuals with housing, health care, and connection to community resources, while advocating for systemic change in homelessness policy. The organization engages a diverse network of supporters, including donors, volunteers, and policymakers.

MK partnered with Fíonta for a strategic technology consultation focused on maximizing value from its Salesforce ecosystem. The engagement began with a high-level assessment and evolved into a phased implementation roadmap. Fíonta provided comprehensive diagnostics, strategic recommendations, and managed services to modernize Salesforce, streamline operations, and support internal capacity-building.

Client needs

Miriam’s Kitchen had been using Salesforce since 2013, but growth in programs, staff, and data systems had outpaced the platform’s configuration. Staff reported challenges with manual processes, inconsistent data, underutilized integrations, and siloed communications. Leadership sought a clearer path to leverage Salesforce strategically and build internal capacity for data stewardship.

01
Platform Assessment

Identify gaps, outdated configurations, and missed opportunities in Salesforce

02
Strategic Roadmap

Define a prioritized set of actions to improve efficiency and data accuracy

03
Staff Empowerment

Build internal Salesforce knowledge and reduce reliance on ad hoc support

04
Email Communication

Consolidate email platforms and create accessible, branded templates

05
Governance Framework

Establish sustainable data and process ownership across departments

Fíonta’s plan

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.

Macro Assessment

Evaluated tech stack, business processes, and Salesforce configuration

Process Automation

Designed automated workflows for receipts, acknowledgments, and reporting

Data Cleanup

Consolidated duplicate records, cleaned up legacy fields, and restructured layouts

NPSP Adoption

Transitioned custom legacy fields to standard Nonprofit Success Pack objects

Training and Governance

Developed user training plans and supported internal governance setup

Managed Services

Launched a 6-month Accent contract to implement recommendations incrementally

Results

The collaboration yielded immediate usability improvements and long-term planning capacity. Miriam’s Kitchen gained confidence in its data, increased cross-team visibility, and reduced staff time spent on manual tasks. Governance structures and staff training positioned the organization to maintain and extend improvements independently.

  • Improved Data Hygiene
    Reduced duplicates and standardized key data fields
  • Streamlined Workflows
    Automated gift acknowledgments and integrated major systems
  • Enhanced Reporting
    Enabled departments to generate and analyze performance data more easily
  • Stronger Internal Capacity
    Trained staff and clarified roles for Salesforce administration
  • Future-Proofed CRM
    Transitioned to NPSP standards for better scalability and support
Fíonta team members
Our resourcing team staffs each project with care. Team members involved in this initiative included the following:
Project manager

Steering all project facets like budget, schedule, scope, and risk management while collaborating with technical leads on risk handling, our project managers serve as the primary liaison with clients, offering frequent updates on project progress.

Technical lead

Leading project solution implementation and coordinating technical processes, our technical leads manage the design, build, internal QA, user acceptance testing, and deployment activities, thus ensuring timely, quality deliverables. Sometimes doubling as solution architects, they work closely with project managers to manage risks and serve as primary client contacts.

Solutions success manager (SSM)

Partnering with clients to develop and maintain technical and operational strategies for Salesforce system growth, our SSMs are committed to continuous enhancements, supportive training, and innovatively leveraging Salesforce to surpass client expectations.

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