Transforming Fundraising Together

Challenge

As one of the nation’s leading universities, George Washington University (GW) sought to strengthen its fundraising operations and modernize the technology supporting its philanthropic mission. With multiple schools and units managing advancement activities, GW faced challenges in achieving consistency, breaking down silos, and streamlining business processes across the institution.

The university recognized that to enhance engagement and increase efficiency, it needed a solution designed specifically for higher education fundraising—one that combined powerful technology with deep sector expertise.

“We wanted to look at all of the business processes that support fundraising,” said Nadine Francis, Founder of Betterverse Consulting and Principal Consultant for GW’s Advancement CRM project. “It’s much more than just implementing a new CRM system. It’s actually transforming the way people do their work.”

Solution

After a thorough evaluation of multiple platforms, GW selected Ellucian CRM Advance as its advancement solution.

“We started that process by looking at a number of other platforms,” Francis said. “When we looked at CRM Advance, we saw not only that the functionality was really rich, but that it was built by people who understand philanthropy and the complexities of higher ed fundraising.”

According to Francis, the decision was driven by CRM Advance’s purpose-built design for higher education advancement, with features tailored to complex multi-unit university structures, and it’s foundation on Microsoft Dynamics, offering flexibility, scalability, and deep integration across systems.

Equally important was Ellucian’s collaborative approach.

“Ellucian went way above and beyond, more than any of the other potential partners, in wanting to be a true partner with us,” Francis said.

Results

By implementing Ellucian CRM Advance, George Washington University is laying the foundation for a more connected, data-driven, and strategic approach to philanthropy.

Key outcomes include:

• Streamlined Business Processes: Improving efficiency and clarity across fundraising operations.
• Unified Data and Definitions: Creating consistency across schools and units to strengthen collaboration.
• Purpose-Built Functionality: Leveraging tools designed specifically for higher education advancement.
• Strategic Partnership: Gained a trusted partner committed to innovation and the university’s mission.
• Empowered Teams: Staff can now focus on building relationships and driving impact rather than managing data silos.

“We’re looking at an opportunity to create consistency of definitions across silos, to revamp business processes, and make them more efficient,” Francis said. “It's much more than just implementing a new CRM system. It's actually transforming the way people do their work.”

Looking Ahead

With Ellucian CRM Advance, George Washington University is redefining how technology supports philanthropy, building a future where data, collaboration, and partnership empower more effective fundraising across the institution.

“Ellucian’s team understands higher ed fundraising, understands philanthropy, and has built out functionality that reflects that understanding,” Francis said. “That’s what made them the right partner for us.”