How IPS Helped a Jewish Philanthropy Nonprofit Modernize Their Data for Growth
Data modernization is essential for nonprofits striving to scale their impact and improve operational efficiency. IPS Consulting partnered with a Jewish philanthropy nonprofit based in New York, founded in 1990, to modernize their data infrastructure in preparation for growth. With an extensive network of philanthropic organizations to support, the nonprofit struggled with managing increasingly complex data spread across outdated legacy systems. These systems were no longer capable of meeting the demands of their expanding network, creating a bottleneck that hindered real-time decision-making and resource allocation.
The Challenge: Fragmented Data Systems and Slow Decision-Making
The nonprofit’s data was fragmented across several disconnected systems, which made consistent reporting and insights nearly impossible. Manual data processing was time-consuming, prone to errors, and delayed their ability to respond quickly to the needs of their network. They required a modernized, scalable solution that could integrate data from diverse sources, offer real-time insights into operations, and adhere to rigorous data security standards. Their goal was clear: streamline operations, improve decision-making, and prepare for future expansion—without compromising the quality of services provided to their partners.
Our Approach: Implementing Medallion Architecture for Flexibility and Security
IPS Consulting implemented a strategic, customized approach to address the nonprofit's unique needs. We adopted Medallion Architecture, organizing their data into secure, flexible layers. The Gold Layer was reserved for sensitive data, such as donor information and financial records, ensuring the highest levels of security. The Silver Layer held cleaned and enriched data, enabling the nonprofit to efficiently monitor and optimize its operations in real-time. Finally, the Bronze Layer was used for raw data, allowing the organization to experiment with new initiatives without impacting core systems. This tiered approach gave the nonprofit the flexibility to innovate while ensuring strict control over critical data.
The Solution: Integrating Powerful Tools for Seamless Data Management
To execute this vision, we selected Snowflake as the core platform for data storage and management, leveraging its scalability, ease of integration, and cloud-native capabilities. For real-time analytics and dynamic reporting, we integrated Microsoft Power BI, enabling key stakeholders to access insights anytime. These tools automated reporting, significantly reducing the time spent on manual data management and improving the accuracy of financial and operational reports. This automation allowed the nonprofit to track the success of their philanthropic initiatives, allocate resources more effectively, and adapt strategies in real time. The new infrastructure also enabled seamless scalability as the organization expanded its network and took on new partners, providing a foundation for sustainable growth.
Empowered for Growth: Key Outcomes from Our Data Modernization Partnership
With the help of our Data and Analytics team, the Jewish philanthropy nonprofit can now:
Gain real-time visibility into operational and financial data for faster, more informed decision-making.
Generate financial reports in minutes, enhancing responsiveness to donor trends and financial inquiries.
Scale their data infrastructure seamlessly as they grow and add new philanthropic partners.
Automate data collection and reporting, reducing manual work and improving operational efficiency.
Enhance collaboration and data sharing across their network to improve service delivery and support.