Blog
December 6, 2024
Attain Partners’ Key Takeaways from aasp Summit 2024
Attain Partners’ Advancement experts were out in force at the 2024 aasp Summit in New Orleans and came away energized and ready to help education institutions begin planning their CRM transformations.
Pictured: Doug Barrow, Alanna Steffens, Christopher Campbell, Alexander Brown, Andrew Whittaker, Reshma Patel-Jackson, Leidy Smith, Jessica Schein, Henry Attaway, Greg Baroni
The week began with gather, an invite-only event with our friends at Kindsight to forge new connections in Advancement and brainstorm ideas around important topics affecting fundraising and Advancement services today. The week went on to include insightful conversations at aasp Summit, lively dinners, and an exciting happy hour with our colleagues at Blackthorn.io.
As we discussed the future of operations at higher education institutions, one topic stood out—CRM implementation and preparation.
Whether openly discussing vendor solutions or quietly beginning the information-gathering process, it’s clear that preparing for a CRM transition is top of mind for many Advancement teams as we move into the new year.
Let’s dive into three of Attain Partners’ key takeaways from aasp Summit and explore actionable advice to help your team prepare for the road ahead.
Three Priorities for Higher Education Advancement
1. CRM conversations are front and center
From vendor options to implementation strategies, CRM is a hot topic for Advancement professionals right now. Many Advancement teams at aasp Summit 2024 were excited to connect about which CRM systems align with their goals and the features and benefits of each.
Attain Partners’ expert advice: Begin your CRM journey with a clear understanding of your unique organizational needs. Ask yourself: What challenges are we trying to solve? What functionalities are must-haves for our team? Knowing these answers will guide you toward the right solution and help prioritize your efforts. Our experts would be happy to help guide these conversations. If interested, send us a message here.
2. Data management is a pre-implementation priority
Data management and governance emerged as a significant theme at aasp Summit 2024, with many Advancement teams focused on how they’re handling their existing data ahead of a CRM implementation.
Questions included:
- Who is responsible for the data? Who owns it?
- Is our data structured in a way to maximize a transition to a new CRM?
- Where should we store it? (e.g., in the CRM, a data warehouse, or elsewhere)
- What are the costs associated with storing and cleaning our data?
Attain Partners’ expert advice: Start your CRM evaluation process with a Data Health Assessment. The assessment will help you better understand the state of your data and identify areas for cleanup before the implementation begins. Clean, well-organized data can make or break a successful CRM project.
3. Institutions are reorganizing for successful implementation
As CRM implementations loom, many Advancement teams are revisiting their organizational structure. Some are consolidating roles previously scattered across departments, while others are working to ensure their teams are equipped with the skills and resources needed for a smooth transition.
Attain Partners’ expert advice: Evaluate your current team structure with the following questions in mind.
- Are we set up for success during the implementation process?
- Do we have the right roles and skillsets in place for post-implementation needs?
- Do we have an organizational culture excited about pursuing this large and complex project?
Taking time to assess and adjust your team’s structure now can prevent inefficiencies and roadblocks during the implementation process. If you’re unsure whether your team is equipped for success, our Advancement team has been in your shoes and would be happy to help.
Thinking about a new CRM? Start here!
Our conversations at aasp Summit 2024 underscored the importance of taking proactive steps before diving into a CRM implementation. By focusing on foundational projects like data health and team alignment, you can enter the process more prepared and with greater confidence.
Things to do before choosing a CRM:
- Request a data health assessment. Start by cleaning your data environment, identifying gaps, and standardizing processes.
- Reevaluate your organizational structure. Ensure your Advancement operations are centralized and your team is equipped to handle both the transition and long-term CRM management.
- Talk with experts who have made the transition. At Attain Partners, many of our consultants have been in your shoes, executing CRM implementations for Advancement teams at institutions like yours. As part of our service to you, we would also love to introduce you to our growing community of peer institutions who have already made the transition.
The shift to a new CRM is a significant undertaking and will prove to be a huge asset to your institution. As you plan, focus on setting the groundwork through Phase 0 initiatives like data assessment and team alignment. Not only will these efforts set your organization up for success, but they will also help you maximize the impact of your new CRM system in the years to come.
Attain Partners – Advancement Experts
No matter where your institution is in process of choosing and adopting a new CRM, Attain Partners is here to help you achieve your goals. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you advance your mission by harnessing the power of Salesforce.
To learn more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts.
