About HonestReporting
HonestReporting is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating anti-Israel bias in the media. With a team of around 20 people, they monitor English-language media outlets such as the New York Times, BBC, Guardian, and CNN for biased reporting on Israel. Their mission involves promptly addressing inaccuracies, requesting corrections, and highlighting instances of biased reporting to their audience of approximately 80,000 subscribers, primarily located in the United States.
The Business Needs
As HonestReporting grew and its operations became more complex, the organization faced several critical challenges that necessitated a robust CRM solution. When Maya Levy-David, a senior project manager, joined HonestReporting four years ago, the organization had just transitioned to Salesforce.Their initial transition however, proved to be challenging. Several attempts with different service providers resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes. Data migration was particularly problematic, and previous partners struggled to effectively handle their specific nonprofit needs. After trying multiple setups, HonestReporting recognized the urgent need to find a competent Salesforce implementation partner who could understand and address their unique requirements.
In addition to resolving these implementation challenges, HonestReporting required solutions for:
- Efficient Donor Management: As a nonprofit, HonestReporting relies heavily on donations. They needed a robust system to track donor information, donation history, and engagement.
- Data Cleanup and Deduplication: The organization struggled with flawed processes, duplicate accounts, and inefficient data display in their previous CRM setup.
- Integration with Other Systems: HonestReporting required seamless integration between their CRM and other tools such as their website, email marketing platform (Salesforce Account Engagement Pardot), and webinar hosting service (Zoom).
- Customized Reporting: The team needed the ability to generate specific reports and receipts directly from their CRM system.
- Scalability: As the organization grows, especially following recent events that increased their international reach, they needed a system that could scale with them.
The Solution
To address HonestReporting’s complex needs and overcome their previous CRM challenges, AllCloud implemented a comprehensive set of solutions leveraging Salesforce’s powerful capabilities:
- Salesforce Refining Process: AllCloud helped refine and optimize HonestReporting’s Salesforce setup, ensuring it met their specific requirements as a nonprofit organization.
- Data Cleanup and Process Improvement: The team at AllCloud conducted a thorough cleanup of the existing data, eliminating duplicates and streamlining processes within the system.
- System Integrations: AllCloud facilitated integrations between Salesforce and other crucial systems:
- Website integration for capturing new subscriber information
- Pardot integration for email marketing
- Ongoing implementation of Zoom integration for webinar management
- Custom Development: AllCloud created custom solutions within Salesforce, such as a grant proposal and receiving process, to match HonestReporting’s specific workflows.
- Responsive Support: The AllCloud team provided quick, attentive support, addressing urgent issues promptly and offering guidance on system improvements.
The Results
The partnership between HonestReporting and AllCloud has significantly improved the organization’s ability to manage its operations efficiently. By implementing a well-optimized Salesforce CRM, HonestReporting has overcome previous challenges with data management, donor tracking, and system integrations. The responsive and knowledgeable support from AllCloud has been crucial in addressing the unique needs of this nonprofit organization.
The new system has enabled HonestReporting to streamline its processes, from capturing new subscribers to managing donor relationships and generating essential reports. As they continue to grow and expand their reach, the scalable and customizable nature of their Salesforce implementation will support their mission to combat media bias and engage with their supporters effectively.
Next Steps and Future Plans
Building on the success of their Salesforce implementation with AllCloud, HonestReporting has identified several key areas for future development and enhancement of their CRM system:
- Zoom Integration: The immediate next step is to complete the integration of Zoom with Salesforce to capture webinar attendee information automatically.
- Continuous Improvement: HonestReporting plans to continue prioritizing and addressing various aspects of their Salesforce setup to enhance efficiency and functionality.
- Scaling Operations: As the organization grows, they aim to leverage Salesforce’s capabilities to support their expansion and increased international reach.
- Advanced Reporting: Future plans include setting up more specific and advanced reports to support decision-making and donor engagement strategies.
