The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation
“Spreadsheets simply aren’t meant to be a CRM. I spent a massive chunk of my time just managing spreadsheets. It was clear we needed a solution that could grow with us.”
- Natie Shevel, CEO, Ronson Foundation Services.
Introduction to The Ronson Foundation
The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation, also known as 'The Ronson Foundation' is a private family foundation dedicated to advancing impactful initiatives and supporting disadvantaged individuals, aiming to create equality of opportunity and promote social mobility.
With a rich legacy of thoughtful philanthropy, the Foundation supports diverse causes and plays a pivotal role in fostering community development. Led by Natie Shevel, an experienced CEO with a strong belief in the power of technology, the Foundation sought to modernise its operations, replacing manual systems with a robust, scalable solution. The result was a transformative partnership with Salesforce and Hyphen8.
Challenges With Their Old System
Before adopting Salesforce, The Ronson Foundation relied heavily on linked spreadsheets to manage grant data, payment schedules, and reporting. This system created significant challenges:
- Complexity and Error-Prone Processes: Updating spreadsheets often led to broken links and inconsistencies, requiring constant cross-checking and making accurate reporting difficult.
- Inefficient Data Management: With 500,000 data points spanning several decades , managing and consolidating information was overwhelming.
- Stressful Reporting: Preparing reports for trustees and audits was time-consuming and fraught with uncertainty, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary stress.
- Dynamic Needs: The Foundation’s work, including applications, payments, grant schedules, and relationships, required a CRM that could adapt to its fast-paced environment.
“Spreadsheets simply aren’t meant to be a CRM,” Natie shared. “I spent a massive chunk of my time just managing spreadsheets. It was clear we needed a solution that could grow with us.”
“Hyphen8 stood out because of their thought leadership and deep understanding of our world.
I’ve implemented several CRMs in my career, and Hyphen8 was, by far, the best I’ve worked with.
They didn’t just build a system—they guided us with honesty, wisdom and nuance, ensuring we achieved the best possible outcomes,” Natie said.
The Transformative Impact
The Foundation has seen remarkable improvements since implementing Salesforce with Hyphen8. Key benefits include:
- Unified System: A multiplicity of spreadsheets were consolidated into a single, centralised platform, eliminating errors and inefficiencies.
- Streamlined Grant Management: Salesforce now supports all aspects of grant management, from applications to payment schedules and tracking, with greater precision and ease.
- Trustee Portal: Hyphen8 developed a snapshot portal that provides trustees with high-level grant information, ensuring transparency and compliance while streamlining the approval process.
- Improved Reporting: Dashboards and automated reporting replaced the manual, time-consuming processes of the past. Reports are now accurate, credible, and easy to generate.
- Operational Efficiency: With tools like online applications and reporting, the Foundation has significantly reduced administrative burdens, allowing the team to focus on strategic and operational goals.
- Governance Excellence: Salesforce enhances governance by providing an audit trail for approvals and highlighting potential conflicts of interest among trustees.
“Our lives have completely changed!” Natie reflected.
"The integrity of our data and the confidence in our reporting is night and day compared to before.
I used to have a knot in my stomach every time I had to prepare a report—now, it’s seamless.”
A Future-Proofed Approach
With this robust foundation in place, The Ronson Foundation can continue to focus on what truly matters—supporting meaningful causes and making a lasting difference in the communities they serve.
The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation’s adoption of Salesforce has not only addressed their immediate challenges but also positioned them for long-term success by replacing thousands of records which lived in spreadsheets previously. By leveraging Salesforce’s scalable technology and Hyphen8’s expertise, the Foundation has built a system that is intuitive, adaptable, and ready to grow with their needs.
“Salesforce and Hyphen8 have given us the tools to operate with credibility, transparency, and accountability at all levels,” Natie said. “It’s not just about managing grants—it’s about transforming how we work, think, and deliver impact.
"For any foundation or charity looking to streamline operations and truly transform how they manage grants and relationships, I cannot recommend Hyphen8 enough. Their expertise, guidance, and commitment to understanding our unique needs made all the difference. Partnering with Hyphen8 isn’t just about implementing a system—it’s about building a smarter, more impactful way of working."
– Natie Shevel, CEO, Ronson Foundation Services.
