Blog
April 10, 2026
Key Takeaways and Insights from CASE DRIVE 2026
Attain Partners recently returned from CASE DRIVE 2026, and the conversations made one thing clear: Advancement organizations are no longer asking whether they need better data and reporting. They’re trying to figure out how to build it the right way.
Why Reporting Maturity Starts After CRM Go-Live
Many institutions are finding that reporting maturity begins after implementation. Teams are rebuilding reporting stacks, investing in data warehouses, and consolidating legacy reports into standardized dashboards.
Many institutions have now completed CRM implementations over the past two to five years. But very few would say the work is done. In fact, for many teams, the most important phase—building a scalable reporting environment—started after go-live.
Organizations described:
- Rebuilding reporting stacks to align with new data models
- Investing in data warehouses and more powerful BI platforms
- Reducing hundreds of legacy reports into a smaller set of standardized dashboards
The takeaway is straightforward: CRM implementation establishes the foundation for everything that follows.
Emerging Data Architecture Models in Advancement
While there is no single correct approach, most mature teams are converging on one of two models:
1. Best-of-breed ecosystem. Some organizations are choosing the best tool for the need and investing in custom engineering to integrate these platforms.
2. Single-platform approach (Salesforce ecosystem). Other organizations are exploring how to concentrate on a single vendor that they can grow with as AI capabilities mature.
Comparing Best-of-Breed and Single-Platform Approaches
The distinction between these approaches becomes clearer when viewed across core components.
| Platform | Best-of-breed ecosystem | Single-platform approach (Salesforce ecosystem) |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | Salesforce or Blackbaud | Salesforce/Kindsight ascend |
| Data Warehouse | Snowflake or Azure | Salesforce Data 360 |
| BI Tool | Tableau or PowerBI | Salesforce Tableau Next |
| AI Layer | Copilot, ChatGPT, or Claude | Salesforce Agentforce and/or Kindsight Intelligence |
Today, many analysts prefer the flexibility and performance of tools like Snowflake and Tableau. However, these organizations typically have strong analytics teams with the time and talent to build the architecture and integrations necessary for a multi-vendor approach.
But the appeal of a fully integrated platform is growing, especially as AI capabilities evolve. There can be efficiencies in centralizing your architecture on one platform. However, this does contribute to vendor lock-in and will make it challenging to switch providers if a clear winner in the AI race emerges in two to five years.
For Advancement leaders, the key question is no longer just “What tools should we use?” but “What ecosystem are we committing to over the next five or more years?”
Fewer Dashboards and Stronger KPI Alignment
High-performing organizations are not building more dashboards but rather building fewer, better ones aligned to core KPIs and standardized processes. Many mature organizations have fewer than 30 core dashboards, with some having fewer than 10.
What sets these teams apart is alignment. These teams have heavily invested in:
- Defining a small set of core KPIs that are aligned to organizational goals
- Standardizing business processes across teams (e.g., prospect research, capital giving, donor relations)
- Creating consistent definitions across the organization
The result is reporting that is easier to trust, easier to use, and more actionable. Teams that have prioritized this alignment work are able to simplify their reporting environment, contributing to long-term sustainability and trust in data.
The Current State of AI in Advancement
AI was a major topic of discussion, but most organizations are just beginning to experiment with AI capabilities.
Early use cases where organizations are seeing meaningful contribution from AI include:
- Drafting prospect briefings
- Generating summaries and reports
- Identifying donor segments and signals of engagement
- Building predictive models for the likelihood to give
However, most of these workflows still rely on manual steps happening in a chat window. Users are exporting data from a CRM and uploading it into an AI tool like ChatGPT or Copilot, and possibly creating agents to systematize repeatable workflows. Only a very small number of institutions are beginning to embed AI directly into their systems and processes.
Why AI Requires a Strong Data Foundation
Furthermore, the organizations that were most advanced in their AI experimentation all started with a strong foundation of well-structured and governed data. AI is incredibly capable, but it needs a great deal of context that must come from your organization’s data.
Successful organizations follow a progression:
#1
Establish clean, complete data in the CRM
#2
Align on definitions and governance
#3
Build standardized reporting and dashboards
#4
Then, layer in AI and advanced analytics
Skipping steps in this process creates more noise than value.
How Attain Partners Can Support Advancement Data and Reporting Strategy
If any of these challenges sound familiar—whether you’re planning a CRM transition, rethinking your reporting environment, or trying to make sense of where AI fits into your roadmap—you’re not alone. These are the exact questions Advancement teams across the industry are working through right now.
At Attain Partners, we work with institutions at each stage of that journey. We can help you:
Integrate reporting into your CRM transformation from day one
Ensure reporting requirements, data structures, and KPIs are defined early—so you’re not rebuilding everything post-go-live.
Design the right data architecture for your organization
Evaluate whether a best-of-breed stack (e.g., Snowflake + Tableau) or a single-platform approach (e.g., Salesforce Data 360 + Tableau Next) aligns with your goals, resources, and long-term strategy.
Establish data governance and KPI alignment
Define consistent metrics, reporting standards, and ownership models that reduce confusion and improve trust in your data.
Build high-impact dashboards for different user groups
Develop streamlined, executive-ready dashboards and operational tools that support decision-making across leadership, development officers, and analytics teams.
Rationalize and modernize your reporting suite
Consolidate legacy reports into a smaller, more effective set of dashboards that are easier to maintain and adopt.
Create a roadmap for advanced analytics and AI
Identify practical, high-value use cases and ensure your data foundation is ready before investing in more advanced capabilities.
Attain Partners – Advancement Advisory for Mission-Driven Organizations
Whether you’re early in planning or several years post-implementation and looking to evolve your approach, we help Advancement organizations move from fragmented reporting to a more intentional, scalable data strategy.
Discover how we can serve your institution.
About the Author
Adam Dowell is a Senior Manager at Attain Partners with over 10 years of experience in data analytics, reporting, and data management across government and education organizations. He specializes in enterprise reporting and analytics implementation, helping organizations transition to data-driven decision-making and improve operational visibility.
