Why Change Management Should Run Alongside Your Salesforce Nonprofit Project
January 27, 2025
This article was written by Anita Pinto, Delivery Team Lead.
Implementing Salesforce in a nonprofit is a big undertaking. It’s not just about introducing new technology — it’s about fundamentally changing how your team operates day to day. Without a plan to guide your team through these changes, even the most powerful tools like Salesforce can fail to deliver their full potential. That’s where change management comes in. It’s a process that makes sure your team isn’t just aware of the new system, but fully prepared to integrate it into their workflows, so your project succeeds both technically and operationally.
What’s Change Management and Why Does It Matter?
Change management is the process of helping your team adjust to new tools and ways of working. In a nonprofit, where resources are limited and getting everyone—from volunteers to board members—on board is crucial, it’s a step you can’t skip.
Why? Because the success of your Salesforce project isn’t just about setting up the technology—it’s about making sure your team can actually use it. Change management helps ensure everyone understands the system, feels comfortable using it, and integrates it into their daily work, which is key to the project’s long-term success.
The Benefits of Running Change Management as a Parallel Stream
Running change management as a parallel stream means it happens alongside your Salesforce implementation, not after the technical setup. While your team works on configuring Salesforce, your staff is simultaneously preparing for the changes ahead. By addressing adoption, training, and alignment throughout the project, you avoid delays, reduce resistance, and ensure a smoother, more effective transition once the system is live. Here are some more benefits:
Nip Resistance in the Bud
Let’s be real, change is challenging and people naturally push back against it. By running change management alongside your Salesforce project, you can identify and address any hesitations before they turn into major obstacles. Getting ahead of this means smoother sailing when you reach critical moments — like system launch, major training sessions, or the rollout of new processes — in the project.
Match the Tech with Your Culture
Technology isn’t a magic wand; it needs to fit how your team works. When you run change management alongside your Salesforce project, you help make sure that your organizational culture — basically, how your team collaborates and what values they share — aligns with the new system. This gives you a chance to recognize the skills and knowledge your team already has, so you can tailor training to build on their strengths and fill in any gaps.
Plus, it’s really important to set realistic expectations about what the transition will look like. By being open about potential challenges and highlighting the benefits of the new system, you help your team see that, while there might be a bit of a learning curve, this technology is here to make their lives easier.
In the end, the new system becomes a valuable tool that fits right into their daily routine instead of feeling like an unwelcome change.
Boost User Adoption Early
One of the keys to a successful Salesforce project is making sure your team actually uses it. When you implement change management alongside the project, you’re setting the stage for success from the very beginning. This means that from day one, your team is engaged, trained, and prepared to embrace the new system. When everyone feels confident and ready to dive in, adoption rates soar. This not only helps your team get the most out of the new tools but also leads to a greater return on your investment. After all, a system is only as good as the people who use it!
Build for the Long Haul
Think of launch day as the starting line, not the finish. Sure, it’s exciting to roll out Salesforce, but to really make it work for your nonprofit, the system needs to grow and evolve alongside your organization. That's where running change management as a parallel stream really pays off. It sets the foundation for long-term success by building practices, training, and feedback loops right into the project from the beginning. So, as your nonprofit changes, your team will already have the tools and processes in place to adapt, keeping Salesforce a sustainable, effective solution well into the future.
How to Make Change Management Work as a Parallel Stream
In the nonprofit world, every dollar and every person counts. That’s why it’s so important to get ahead of change. Running change management alongside your Salesforce project isn’t just about setting up new software; it’s about making sure that this tool really helps you achieve your mission and lets your team do their best work.
Ultimately, change management isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a way to invest in your organization’s future and ensure your efforts make a real difference.
About the Organization
Belmar Consulting is an award-winning Salesforce implementation partner, who works with various organizations and enables them to succeed in their digital transformation journey. We combine our intimate knowledge of the public sector and the nonprofit industry with Salesforce to create and implement innovative solutions for our clients. Belmar’s dedication to delivering successful client projects means our clients are more effective in their role to fulfill their organizational missions.
