Unifying Constituent Data and Building a Connected Fundraising Ecosystem in Higher Education
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Foundation plays a critical role in advancing the university’s mission to expand access to education, foster innovation, and drive community impact. Supporting one of the most diverse and fastest-growing student populations in the United States, the Foundation is focused on building lifelong relationships with students, alumni, and donors to fuel institutional growth and opportunity.
But as UNLV’s vision evolved, so did the complexity behind delivering it.
To continue scaling its advancement efforts and deliver a more connected experience, UNLV Foundation partnered with Cloud for Good to implement Salesforce Education Cloud, creating a unified, data-driven foundation for fundraising, engagement, and long-term impact.
The Challenge: Siloed Systems and Limited Visibility
UNLV’s advancement ecosystem reflected a common higher education challenge: disconnected systems limiting strategic impact.
Data lived across platforms like Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT (fundraising and donor management system), PeopleSoft (student information system), Financial Edge (financial and accounting system), and EverTrue (advancement engagement platform), often resulting in fragmented constituent data across systems.
Reporting was not real-time. And understanding a constituent’s full journey required stitching together information from multiple sources.
As the institution continued to grow, this fragmentation made it harder to scale fundraising efforts and deliver personalized engagement.
As Tiffany Vickers, Interim Executive Vice President, UNLV Foundation, Senior Associate Vice President, COO & CFO, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, explained:
“We had strong systems in place, but they operated in silos. Our goal was to create a seamless, integrated experience across the entire lifecycle—from early student engagement through alumni and donor relationships, and ultimately into gift planning.”
The Solution: A Unified Salesforce Advancement Platform
Cloud for Good partnered with UNLV Foundation to design and implement a comprehensive Salesforce solution centered on Education Cloud.
The initiative focused on modernizing legacy systems, integrating core platforms, and enabling a more unified and centralized view of constituent data.
Key Elements of the Solution Included:
- Migration from Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT to Salesforce Education Cloud
- Integration with PeopleSoft (student information system) and Financial Edge using UNLV’s existing Omatic solution, supported by Cloud for Good to ensure alignment with the broader Salesforce architecture
- Expansion of Salesforce Marketing Cloud with a dedicated business unit for the UNLV Foundation, enabling more targeted engagement and automated communications
- Expanded reporting capabilities through standard Salesforce reporting and CRM Analytics, giving teams more self-service access to advancement data and insights
Cloud for Good followed an iterative delivery approach across discovery, build, and transition phases to ensure alignment with stakeholders and long-term success
Carrie Trentham, Assistant Vice President for Digital Enablement, Information Technology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, highlighted the importance of this approach:
“Cloud for Good really helped us understand what we needed, not just from a technical perspective, but from a business process standpoint. They built solutions that were flexible, scalable, and aligned to where we want to go.”
A True Partnership Built on Collaboration
This transformation was not just about technology. It was about navigating change together.
UNLV was undergoing leadership transitions and organizational shifts while implementing a new advancement platform. Cloud for Good stepped in as a strategic partner, working closely with both IT and advancement teams to ensure alignment and progress.
Tiffany Vickers reflected on the experience:
“They quickly became a true extension of our team—bringing deep technical expertise, thoughtful guidance, and the added capacity needed to navigate complexity and adapt alongside our evolving needs.”
From discovery workshops to change management and training, the partnership emphasized collaboration, transparency, and long-term value.
The Results: A Connected, Data-Driven Advancement Strategy
With Salesforce as the foundation, UNLV is already seeing meaningful improvements across advancement operations.
A More Unified View of Constituent Data
- Unified profiles across alumni, donors, parents, and friends
- Reduced duplication and improved data quality
- Clearer visibility into relationships and engagement history
Improved Reporting and Insights
- Near real-time dashboards for fundraising performance
- Faster, more accurate reporting to leadership and boards
Empowered Teams with Self-Service Capabilities
- Development officers can access and manage their own data
- Reduced reliance on technical teams for reporting
Scalable and Future-Ready Architecture
- Flexible system design that supports continuous growth
- Easier enhancements and long-term maintainability
Today, the impact is already visible in how teams operate and make decisions.
As Tiffany Vickers shared:
“Being able to see our data in real time and report on where we stand has been a huge shift for us. It’s helping us make better decisions and move faster.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Value and Driving Adoption
With the foundation in place, UNLV is now focused on maximizing adoption and expanding capabilities across its Salesforce ecosystem.
Key Priorities Include:
- Increasing user adoption across advancement teams
- Expanding marketing automation and engagement journeys
- Enhancing reporting and analytics capabilities
- Continuing to refine integrations and data strategy
The journey is ongoing, but the transformation is already reshaping how UNLV approaches advancement.
Driving Impact in Higher Education with Cloud for Good
UNLV’s story reflects a broader shift across higher education institutions: moving from disconnected systems to unified, data-driven engagement strategies.
By partnering with Cloud for Good, UNLV Foundation has built a scalable platform that supports its mission today while preparing for future growth.
Ready to Transform Your Advancement Strategy?
Connect with Cloud for Good to learn how Salesforce Education Cloud can help your institution unify data, strengthen engagement, and drive greater fundraising impact.
