Episode DescriptionIf you’re an aspiring Salesforce admin, you may have heard that nonprofits are a great place to kickstart an admin career.But the truth is, if you don’t know nonprofits, you can’t just build out their Salesforce platform from scratch. Salesforce provides plenty of great features specifically designed for nonprofits — like the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) — but admins need to know how to use those features in order to get the most out of them.“Salesforce is free like a puppy, not free like a beer, for nonprofits,” says Michael Kolodner, an independent nonprofit Salesforce consultant. “You are going to have to put some resources into learning the system, customizing the system, possibly hiring a consultant like me, to help you implement and really get the most out of it.” In this episode, Michael joins Salesforce MVP and Host Kristi Campbell to chat about all things Salesforce for nonprofit organizations.Listen to this episode to learn: How to get the most out of the NPSPHow Salesforce helps nonprofits manage programsHow you can get involved with nonprofit admin work — even with no experience ##Episode Summary If you’re a Salesforce admin, or someone who hopes to be an admin one day, you may have heard that volunteering at a nonprofit is a great way to start. But that is a sentiment that has bothered Salesforce users in the nonprofit sector for a long time, says Michael Kolodner, an independent nonprofit Salesforce consultant.“Volunteers are wonderful and nonprofits thrive with volunteers, but you have to know what you're doing,” Michael says. “It's not like showing up to do a garden clean-up and knowing how to wield a shovel.”The nonprofit world operates far differently from the for-profit world — so differently, in fact, that Salesforce has created a separate set of tools specifically catered toward nonprofit and non-governmental organizations: the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP). The nonprofit cloud is decked out with features designed to track fundraising and influence, and help nonprofit leaders better manage their activities. And while the NPSP is a game-changer, there’s still a lot that admins need to know about how to use it.“Salesforce is free like a puppy, not free like a beer, for nonprofits,” says Michael Kolodner, an independent nonprofit Salesforce consultant. “You are going to have to put some resources into learning the system, customizing the system, possibly hiring a consultant like me, to help you implement and really get the most out of it.” Tune in to this episode of Serious Insights for Salesforce Admins as Host Kristi Campbell, Senior Salesforce Admin & Salesforce MVP, sits down with Michael to chat about the NPSP’s best features, and the best ways to get involved in nonprofit work.##Key Takeaways Nonprofit Salesforce management is not just a passion project. There’s a popular idea within the Salesforce community that early-career prospective admins should volunteer with a local nonprofit to gain experience. But many in the nonprofit world “push back hard on that idea,” says Michael.Being a Salesforce volunteer at a nonprofit is a bit like volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity build: if you don’t have the proper experience, you won’t be building the critical infrastructure. You may be able to help out with some smaller projects, but nonprofits should not be treated as a training ground.Salesforce's Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) allows nonprofits to easily track their influence.Through the NPSP, nonprofits can track their donors’ influence through the use of hard credits and soft credits. A hard credit is issued when a donation is made directly to the organization, while soft credits are given if a donor influences someone else to make a donation. For example, if an individual directly donates $50 and their donation is matched by a third-party organization, that additional $50 donation match is considered a soft credit.Tracking this type of data is important for tax and accounting purposes, but also so organizations can identify who influences the biggest, or highest quantity, of donations. Check out Michael’s blog for more information on hard and soft credits in the NPSP.Not everyone can be a nonprofit Salesforce admin — but anyone can join a sprint. If you’re an aspiring Salesforce admin who wants to get into nonprofit work, Salesforce sprints may be a better place to start. Sprints are special events open to anyone — even those with no previous Salesforce experience, or companies considering Salesforce for the first time — where people come together to brainstorm and build ideas and solutions for Salesforce. Sprints have led to real results, like the Summit Events App, which allows NGOs to plan and execute events smarter. Join the Nonprofit Hub group in Trailblazer to stay in the loop on upcoming sprints you can participate in. ##Featured Guest: Michael Kolodner, independent nonprofit ...
