How to Prepare for the Transition from foundationConnect

Change can be hard, especially when it involves new technology. With the announcement from Salesforce that foundationConnect will be retired January 31, 2026 (with subscriptions no longer renewable after January 31, 2025) many foundations and nonprofits are reviewing their options for a new grant management system (GMS). We know that big systemic changes like these are daunting. Our team of experts is here to help ensure organizations have a smooth transition to their new GMS.

Finding the Right Replacement for foundationConnect

Salesforce-based GMS Solutions

As foundationConnect nears retirement, there are a few Salesforce-based GMS options to consider: the new Nonprofit Cloud for Grantmaking, a fully customized solution on the Salesforce platform, or Outbound Funds Module, a tried and true open source product that uses existing Salesforce features and tooling.

Which Solution is Best?

While it’s important to know what GMS options are out there, we think that understanding what replacement is right for you really comes down to knowing the ins and outs of your organization. To do this, consider the following questions:

• What processes does your organization need to support, and what kind of growth is planned for the future?
• Does your organization have the capacity to own and maintain the system in-house, or will you need to hire a managed services consultant for support? Keep in mind that the more custom the solution, the more your organization will need the internal capacity to own and enhance the system in the future.
• Do you have a clearly defined budget? This includes licenses, as well as ongoing support and maintenance of the system.

We know that big questions like these can be daunting, and you might not have all the answers right away. Not to worry! Our team has broad marketplace knowledge, deep technical expertise and years of experience leading organizations to their right-fit Salesforce Grants Management System. We can draw on this well of expertise to guide your team every step of the way.

Planning for the Transition from foundationConnect

Start Preparing Now

2025 might feel far away, but now is the time to begin preparing for the transition from foundationConnect. It’s important to remember that moving to a new GMS is a big systemic change that could take a year or more to complete. You’ll want to make sure you have enough lead time to get it done well, while ensuring that staff have adequate time to onboard and feel comfortable with the new system.

Know Your Organizational Needs

Knowing what your organization needs and doing due diligence around options will ensure you have a strong foundation to work from when it’s time to make the transition to a new GMS. The following five steps are a good starting point, and you can branch off from there.

1. Review (or write out for the first time) your processes
2. Establish your goals, understand your organizational values, and prioritize
3. Understand your current system – how much of foundationConnect do you use, what do you really need?
4. Review historical data – what is essential, do you need everything?
5. Set a budget and include all costs associated with the transition -implementation, training, ongoing support

Spending some time on these five steps will help ensure you can hit the ground running when it’s time to start the transition away from foundationConnect.

North Peak Solutions is a Trusted Implementation Partner

Transitioning from foundationConnect to a new GMS is a big undertaking. As a trusted implementation partner with more than 10 years of experience in the field of Salesforce consulting, we’re ready to work with foundations that value and invest in their GMS as a core operational tool. 

At North Peak Solutions, we believe that the best grant management systems meet your administrative needs while aligning with organizational values. While there are many paths that can lead to a successful implementation, we have found that starting with a Discovery establishes a strong plan for your transition to a new system. Our Discovery service helps you understand how processes play out on a day to day basis, provides a deep audit of existing systems, and lays out what staff and grantees need to support them in their work. Beyond that, a thorough Discovery provides peace of mind and confidence that you are on the right path. Contact us today to get started.

We’ve helped many organizations successfully make the transition from foundationConnect to Outbound Funds Module. Please see the following case study for more information on the experience and outcomes we provide our clients.

The Bush Foundation Case Study