Changing Children’s Lives Using Technology, How SOS Children’s Villages Portugal Partnered with Raise N’GO

Since 2014, SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal has relied on Salesforce as a cornerstone of their operations, but by 2016, it became evident that unlocking its full potential required specialized support. As the organization’s fundraising ambitions grew, they needed a partner to help scale their plans effectively. Enter Raise N’GO.

With a vision to transform how they engaged donors and managed their fundraising, the SOS Children’s Villages team sought not just a consultant but an internal collaborator—they wanted a Salesforce partner who could act as an extension of their team. They needed a partner who could work closely with their Fundraising Director, offering strategic advice on how to harness Salesforce to its fullest potential. The goal? To maximize the impact Salesforce could bring to their mission, elevating both the scale and quality of their fundraising efforts.

Raise N’GO stepped in, bringing expertise in Salesforce architecture and nonprofit-specific challenges. By integrating seamlessly with the SOS Children’s Villages team, they didn’t just provide technical solutions—they became trusted advisors, paving the way for the organization to achieve its goals and unlock new opportunities for growth.

Through collaboration the team wanted to focus on the following areas:

Maximizing Salesforce’s Potential: Since implementing Salesforce in 2014, the SOS Children’s Villages team recognized its vast capabilities but wanted to ensure they were using it to its fullest potential. They sought a partner to help them unlock its power and align the platform with their fundraising and organizational goals.

Collaborative Support for Growth: As their fundraising ambitions expanded, they identified the need for a partner to act as an extension of their team.
Building a Tailored System Architecture: To enhance efficiency and meet their objectives, SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal wanted to construct a robust system architecture. They needed guidance in integrating essential tools like payment providers and marketing automation while updating their data model to better serve their nonprofit needs.

Empowering Internal Teams: They aimed to develop internal autonomy in managing Salesforce while benefiting from expert support. They wanted to work with a partner that shared knowledge openly to ensure their team gained the skills and confidence needed to make the most of their systems.

Focusing on Fundraising Quality: The organization was ready to shift from focusing solely on increasing funds to building meaningful donor relationships. They wanted a partner to support their transition toward personalized donor engagement and centralized communication.

Strategic Partnership and Vision Alignment: SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal sought a partner who understood the unique context of nonprofits and could advise them effectively. They valued a partner who shared their vision and could collaborate seamlessly to achieve both short-term and long-term objectives.

Working with the Raise N’GO team

“The organization found a true partner in Raise N’GO. Their collaborative approach was instrumental in transforming their fundraising operations. They helped us potentialize the impact Salesforce could bring,”

explains João Feijão, who coordinates the Data Intelligence and IT team at SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal.

“They enlightened us on how to maximise this technology to reach our goals and objectives, ensuring we were equipped to navigate our fundraising ambitions effectively.”

The partnership extended beyond implementation, as our team worked closely with the SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal team to construct a robust enterprise architecture tailored to their needs. This included integrating critical systems into Salesforce, such as multiple payment providers, marketing automation tools, and an updated data model designed specifically for nonprofit operations.

“They didn’t just provide a service—they became an extension of our team,” says João. “We didn’t have the technical capacity internally, so Raise N’GO acted as both advisors and collaborators, helping us make informed decisions and build a system that works for us.”

By streamlining their systems and offering tailored advice, Raise N’GO empowered SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal to maximise the potential of Salesforce, creating a solid foundation to scale their fundraising efforts and achieve their mission.

The impact of investing in their Salesforce platform with Raise N’GO

The collaboration with Raise N’GO has transformed how the organization approaches fundraising, allowing them to be able to communicate in a much more personal way with their donors. Before, the team were only able to look at quantitative data, this strategic shift has laid the foundation for more meaningful and lasting connections. “We’re now working on constructing better relationships with our donors, moving toward a more meaningful and personalized approach,” explains João Feijão.

Raise N’GO’s expertise and open sharing of technical knowledge have played a crucial role in this transformation. Their collaborative approach empowered SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal, equipping them with the tools and understanding needed to maximize Salesforce’s potential. “They don’t just deliver solutions—they share knowledge that helps us become more autonomous,” João shares. This has streamlined processes and introduced impactful automations, making their operations more efficient and agile.

Key impacts of the collaboration include:

Streamlined Processes through Automation:

Automations have saved time and increased operational efficiency, allowing the team to focus on strategic initiatives.

“The improvements in automation have brought more agility and made our teams happier,” notes João.

Knowledge Sharing and Empowerment:

Raise N’GO provided ongoing training and guidance, enabling the organization to handle certain technical aspects independently.

“Their willingness to share technical knowledge with us contributes to a healthy and trusting relationship.”

A Trusted and Collaborative Partnership:

We are glad that we have a deep understanding of nonprofit challenges, and their tailored advice has made them an invaluable extension of the team at SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal.

The team shared, “Raise N’Go are not just a service provider but truly part of our team. We’re very satisfied and would absolutely recommend them to any nonprofit wanting to help scale their work, fundraising or programs.”

This partnership has left SOS Children’s Villages in Portugal better equipped to build lasting donor relationships and achieve their mission