Projects

In 1987, Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC) was faced with the need to replace their fund accounting business process.  FIS had installed their GRATIS system at Chicago Community Foundation two years earlier.  FFTC wanted to adopt GRATIS using a Microsoft Windows networked platform.  FIS committed to convert their existing Convergent Technology system to a Novell networked PC based platform.

FFTC needed the capability to offer fund options to their clients to meet different investment liquity requirements.  FIS adapted experience from designing pension participant accounting to mutli-pooled fund accounting and added it to their GRATIS software.

Since that initial work engagement, FIS has served in numerous technology planning and implementations roles.

Assess how a long term relationship with FIS has paid off for Foundation For The Carolinas

Project background and engagement:

Grand Haven was mid-conversion from FIMS to Blackbaud and needed additional assistance to complete this project.  The landscape was a conversion process that was incomplete and year-end processing needed to be completed.  An additional constraint was the retirement of the current Director of Finance in the 1st quarter of the new year.

• Assess the state of the conversion and outstanding tasks
• Review the project plan to complete the conversion and become operational on the new software
• Develop a plan to complete the conversion and train the foundation staff
• Negotiate the project completion with other project vendors

Deliverables:

• Audit all of the data conversions and reconcile to FIMS, Blackbaud and foundation’s audited financials
• Close the 2013 FIMS books and continue FIMS until Blackbaud was operational for 2014
• Recommend changes to the conversion that were not discussed or implemented
• Train a new Director of Finance

Read CEO's and Director of Finance's comments about their experience with FIS

Project background and engagement:

TCF has been a FIMS client for almost 20 years during which they have experienced substantial growth and challenges of serving their evolving client community.  Management was focused on ensuring optimal alignment and effectiveness of its major software and technology resources to best serve the Foundation’s continued growth.  With changing donor needs, TCF wanted to do a comprehensive review of all technology platforms.

• Perform analysis of foundation back-office software options
• Perform review and analysis of current business processes
• Offer recommendations for changes and new solution adoptions
• Direct the activities of the foundation’s project team

Deliverables:

• Analysis of current vendor solutions and related technologies
• Recommend changes to business processes
• Recommend new or replacement software solutions
• Develop a three to five year technology strategy and related budget considerations

Project background and engagement:

Tampa Bay has used Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge since the late 1990s.  They have struggled to use their cafeteria of software solutions that were not installed and configured to maximize the ability to use their software effectively.

• Review and offer recommendations to business processes and data coding
• Review the options and assessment of vendors for the adoption of a donor portal
• Analyze and propose revised design for General Ledger

Deliverables:

• Conduct a vendor review and selection process
• Assist in the adoption of a new donor portal solution
• Propose and assist in the simplification of financial operations
• Create capability to support additional client investment options
• Convert existing financial data to new general ledger configuration

Under the leadership of Jason Mata, the San Antonio Area Foundation(SAAF) Information Management Officer, FIS worked with the foundation to complete a total server transition.  This project involved bringing all of the server infrastructure from a remote site into the new offices of the foundation.  Overseeing the hardware implementation was Kamin Associates who also transitioned the foundation to a new cloud based IP phone system.  The entire project started with detailed planning sessions with each of the project parties. The project culminated with a very smooth and successful transition that occurred in less than 24 hours.  FIS has been engaged by SAAF to work on various other data and business process projects.

See what Jason had to say about working with FIS