5 Ways to Use Salesforce Without Breaking the Bank

When small and medium organizations hear “Salesforce,” they often think of enterprise-grade software with enterprise-level price tags. However, with the right strategies, Salesforce can be an affordable and transformative tool for nonprofits, local governments, and private education institutions. Here are five practical ways to leverage Salesforce on a budget without sacrificing functionality or effectiveness.

Leverage Salesforce’s Power of Us Program

For nonprofits, Salesforce offers the Power of Us Program, which includes 10 free Salesforce licenses, along with deep discounts on additional products and services. This program allows nonprofits to access the robust Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP), designed specifically to help manage donors, programs, and volunteers.

Additionally, tools available on the AppExchange can simplify tasks such as data migration and integration, enabling nonprofits to transition seamlessly to Salesforce while staying within budget.

Quick Tip: If you’re new to Salesforce, focus on using these free licenses to build a strong foundation—start with basic CRM functionality before scaling up.

Use Out-of-the-Box Features

Salesforce is packed with built-in capabilities that eliminate the need for costly customizations. Features like Automation Rules, Reports & Dashboards, and Salesforce Flows can help streamline processes, generate insights, and save time.

For example:

• Automate repetitive tasks, such as lead assignment or follow-up reminders, using Salesforce Flow.
• Build visual dashboards to track key performance indicators without requiring a developer.

Quick Tip: Explore Salesforce’s AppExchange for free or low-cost apps that add functionality without requiring custom development.

Adopt Prebuilt Solutions for Local Governments and Education

Prebuilt solutions can save significant time and money when compared to building custom applications. For example:

• Local governments can utilize pre-configured templates for citizen service management and permit tracking.
• Private education institutions can use Salesforce’s Education Cloud to manage student enrollment, alumni engagement, and marketing campaigns efficiently.

These prebuilt solutions reduce the time and effort required for setup, allowing your organization to focus on implementation and adoption rather than development.

Quick Tip: Partner with Salesforce experts who understand these prebuilt frameworks and can help tailor them to your needs without unnecessary costs.

Focus on Training and User Adoption

One of the most significant barriers to maximizing Salesforce ROI is poor user adoption. Investing in training ensures that your team fully utilizes the platform’s capabilities, avoiding the need for expensive workarounds.

Consider creating in-house training sessions or using affordable platforms like Trailhead (Salesforce’s free learning portal) to upskill your team.

Quick Tip: Identify a Salesforce champion within your team who can serve as the go-to expert, providing ongoing support and reducing reliance on external consultants.

Implement in Phases

Rather than trying to do everything at once, take a phased approach to Salesforce implementation. Start with core functionality, such as CRM and donor management, and gradually expand to include advanced tools like Marketing Cloud or custom integrations.

This incremental approach allows you to spread costs over time while ensuring that each phase delivers measurable value before moving to the next.

Quick Tip: Regularly review your progress and adjust priorities based on your organization’s evolving needs.

Final Thoughts

Salesforce doesn’t have to be out of reach for small and medium organizations. By leveraging programs like Power of Us, focusing on out-of-the-box features, and adopting cost-effective strategies, nonprofits, local governments, and private schools can unlock the power of Salesforce without stretching their budgets.

Are you ready to transform your operations with Salesforce? Let’s connect! Together, we can create a solution that works for your goals and budget.