Introduction

Vera Solutions – An overview in their own words.

Vera Solutions is a global social enterprise and Certified B Corporation on a mission to amplify the impact of the social sector using cloud and mobile technology. We work with nonprofits, foundations, impact investors, social enterprises, and UN agencies/multi-laterals to deliver solutions that save time, money, and headaches. Our consultants and developers blend social sector and technical expertise to tailor flexible, scalable solutions, transforming the way organizations collect, manage, analyze, and utilize data. We envision a social sector driven by outcomes, accountability, and data-informed decisions – a sector in which data systems help organizations deliver better results.

Amp Impact is a grants management and impact measurement tool built on the Salesforce platform. It leverages Salesforce’s enterprise CRM, workflow capabilities, and reporting tools to deliver robust grants management and reporting functionality. Amp Impact allows funders to define and collect a variety of outcome data from grantees during the application and reporting process and easily track progress toward defined goals across grants, geographies, and programs. You can create a wide variety of reports, visualizations, and dashboards and also integrate seamlessly with business intelligence tools like Microsoft PowerBI and Tableau. The system is used globally across 150+ countries to manage over $12.5bn of international development and global health programs. That means the system provides strong multi-currency support, as well as other features of interest to global grantmakers, like a native integration with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Vera Solutions

Vera Solutions

Integrations

Data Next-Level Practice #1

Develop system defaults that make existing data sources easy to find and use.

  • Build functionality to support easy data discovery, reuse, and sharing that funders and nonprofits opt into by default.
  • Develop real-time data sharing pipelines with data providers, utilizing various application programming interfaces (APIs), including read/write, webhook/event-driven, and/or firehose APIs.
  • Offer easy-to-use data catalogs.

Defaulting to easy discovery and reuse of existing data saves time, reduces burden, and ensures access to accurate, up-to-date information.

Third Party Data Integrations

Third-party data integrations streamline workflows by automatically populating applications and reports with information, reducing manual entry and administrative burden. They also enhance decision-making by providing richer organizational insights and enabling easier data comparison across applicants.

Data Source Integration Type Model for Access Integration Process
360Giving API (Read/Write) Paid Service Custom Integration (Paid)
Candid API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
CauseIQ API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
Charity Navigator API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
GivingTuesday API (Read/Write) Paid Service Custom Integration (Paid)
GlobalGiving Using Self-Serve Tools Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
GreatNonprofits - - -
Impact Genome - - -
Impala - - -
Nonprofit Open Data Collective API (Read Only) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
NGOsource API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
OrgHunter API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
Philanthropy Data Commons API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
ProPublica API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
UpMetrics - - -
Urban - - -
US Census Bureau API (Read Only) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
US IRS API (Read/Write) Pass Through API Key Using Self-Serve Tools
United Nations Other Free To All Integrated by Default for All
Other Data Source - - -

Amp Impact is 100% native to the Salesforce Platform, so it integrates seamlessly with any Salesforce-based solutions (eg Nonprofit Cloud, Experience Cloud, PDF Butler, etc) and can be further integrated with other third-party tools by leveraging the APIs. Amp Impact comes with PowerBI Dashbaord Templates to facilitate data visualization using PowerBI.

Available Nlp

External Data Sharing

Build real-time data pipelines (read/write/webhook APIs).

Offering read/write, webhook, or firehose APIs for external data sharing makes it easy for funders to set permissions and automatically share data directly with the entities they choose.

Amp Impact is built on the Salesforce platform, which offers robust APIs (REST API, SOAP API, Bulk API, Connect API, etc.)

Available Nlp

Data Catalogs or Documentation

Provide easy to use data catalogs.

Providing easy-to-use data catalogs demystifies which third-party data sources a system integrates with, helping users understand their options before creating custom grant applications or reporting features.

Salesforce integration capabilities are available here.

Not Currently Nlp

Reusing Data As A Primary Source

Use existing data before requesting new data entry.

Prioritizing existing third-party data as a primary source means making it the default—encouraging customers to use available data first and add custom questions or reporting features only as needed. This helps funders start with what exists and build from that baseline.

Available Nlp

On-Platform Nonprofit Profiles

Support nonprofit profiles that can be reused on multiple grant applications.

Storing nonprofit profile information collected by other funders is a strong first step in reducing burden—especially if nonprofits can reuse that data for applications and reports. Sharing it with central data repositories and providers takes the effort even further.

Organization and Contact data can be saved and applied to new LOIs, applications, or grant reports. Other organizational data previously saved can be applied to future LOIs, applications, or grant reports (including bank accounts, organizational reviews, and risks).

Capacity Building

Data Next-Level Practice #3

Build funder and nonprofit data capacity through integrated educational resources that help them understand data reuse and sharing.

Educational resources build funder and nonprofit capacity to reuse and share data effectively, reducing duplication and improving decisions.

Planned Nlp

Integrated Educational Resources

Demystify data reuse and sharing with helpful educational resources.

Educating funders and nonprofits about where their data resides, how to update it, and empowering them to control their narratives across multiple platforms is essential. This not only helps keep information current but also reduces burden when the same data is reused by multiple funders.

In Progress Nlp

Data Reuse Onboarding & Training

Data reuse concepts integrated as part of onboarding and training.

During onboarding, showing new customers how the system supports data reuse helps them embed better data practices across the grant lifecycle, reducing nonprofit burden and strengthening overall data quality.

Data can be reused in organizational profiles, grant applications, and grant reporting to reduce grantee data entry. The Amp Impact data model and the power of the Salesforce CRM capabilities support populated data. Vera Solutions both designs the system to leverage existing data and further offers user guides, training videos, and personalized training programs post-system go-live to encourage data reuse.

In Progress Nlp

Data Sharing Onboarding & Training

Data sharing concepts integrated as part of onboarding and training.

During onboarding, showing new customers how the system supports data sharing helps them embed better data practices across the grant lifecycle, reducing nonprofit burden and strengthening overall data quality.

Data sharing is possible through dashboards and reports, which use a wide variety of charts and visualizations. You can integrate the system with PowerBI, Tableau, or other data visualization tools for public data analysis and visualizations; Amp Impact comes with pre-built Power BI Starter Dashboard templates to extend Amp Impact’s public analytical capabilities. Reporting and visualization capabilities are embedded into the product.

Available Nlp

Data Reuse In Place of Manual Collection

Actively encourage data reuse in place of manual collection.

Actively promoting data reuse in your materials, trainings, and system outreach sets a new standard and helps shift expectations away from customization and bespoke data collection.

Organizational and contact data is reused for future LOIs, applications, and grant reports. Additionally, through Amp Impact’s download/upload functionality (via Excel) data can be used in a standard format across various tools for grant budgets/actuals, indicator targets & results, and frameworks. This Excel data could be further submitted to other funders.

Taxonomies

Data Next-Level Practice #4

Default to modern, common taxonomies and support interoperability.

  • Develop default functionalities that support the use of modern, common taxonomies (e.g., GeoNames, Impact Genome Standards, Candid Philanthropy Classification System, UN SDGs, etc.).
  • Develop the functionality to map/crosswalk custom taxonomies—e.g., those proprietary to your system or those custom to individual organizations—to modern, common taxonomies for interoperability.
  • Develop the functionality to map/crosswalk legacy taxonomies —e.g., the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE)—to modern, common taxonomies for interoperability.

Using common taxonomies with crosswalks ensures interoperability, prevents silos, and makes data easier to compare and integrate across systems.

Integrated Taxonomies

A platform’s ability to support modern, widely adopted taxonomies makes it easier to align with sector standards and conduct “apples to apples” analysis while reducing data collection burdens on nonprofits. As NTEE is no longer updated and contains offensive and outdated language, it is not considered a modern, common taxonomy.

Taxonomy Type Availability Mappings/Crosswalks
Candid Philanthropy Classification System (PCS) Multi-Faceted Not Available -
Geonames Geographic Integrated by Default for All Not Currently
International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) Aid Tracking Integrated by Default for All Available
Impact Genome Standards Impact Measurement Not Available -
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Development Goals Integrated by Default for All Available
System Proprietary Taxonomies Custom Not Available -
Bespoke Custom Taxonomies Custom Not Available -

In Progress Nlp

Taxonomy Educational Resources

Help funders understand the benefits of modern, common taxonomies.

Educating funders about available resources encourages them to build on existing frameworks rather than designing their own. This helps the sector move toward a more common understanding of its activities.

Amp Impact’s Knowledge Base speaks to the benefits of using standard data taxonomies.

In Progress Nlp

Taxonomy Catalogs or Documentation

Provide clients with a taxonomy catalog to encourage discovery.

Providing clients with a taxonomy catalog or documentation of integrated modern taxonomies helps demystify system options and encourages funders to build on common frameworks.

Amp Impact’s Knowledge Base speaks to the benefits of using standard data taxonomies.

Not Currently Nlp

Multi-Taxonomy Coding

Support coding data into multiple modern, common taxonomies.

Supporting the ability to code into multiple modern, common taxonomies allows funders to compare apples-to-apples data and impact across the sector and around the world.

Burden Reduction

Data Next-Level Practice #5

Develop tools, systems, and feedback loops to monitor and reduce burdens.

  • Develop tracking metrics and opportunities for feedback so that funders can take informed actions that proactively reduce burdens in their systems and processes.
  • Develop tools, such as performance dashboards and in-line recommendations in application editors, that can guide funders to reduce burdens and incorporate Data Next-Level Practices proactively.

Tracking tools and feedback loops make burdens visible so funders can take action to reduce them and improve nonprofit experiences.

Available Nlp

Estimated Time and Effort to Completion Tracking

Offer tools and systems for proactively reducing burdens.

Providing funders and nonprofits with estimates of the time and effort required for processes like LOIs, surveys, and applications helps all stakeholders manage these types of processes more effectively.

Estimated timeframes (as estimated by funders in system design) can be embedded into LOIs, application pages, etc.

Available Nlp

Burden Reduction Performance Dashboards

Offer dashboards that give insight into burden reduction efforts.

Providing funders with performance dashboards or metrics to track burden reduction helps them better understand how their processes impact nonprofit partners.

Salesforce Reports and Dashboards are used to monitor performance. Metrics can be related to application & performance efficiency (e.g. average application completion time, average report turnaround time, reduction in duplicate data requests), staff & grantee time savings (e.g. average internal processing time per grant, average grantee hours per reporting cycle), data reuse & interoperability (e.g. frequency of duplicate record merges), and stakeholder experience and feedback (e.g. number of feedback loops closed).

Available Nlp

In-Line Burden Reduction Guidance

Proactively reduce application burden with immediate feedback and help.

Offering funders in-line guidance within application editors proactively encourages them to reduce applicant burden.

Amp Impact can can actively coach funders towards low-burden practices through embedded, context-aware guidance. When funders are creating or editing application forms, the GMS can include real-time prompts and best-practice hints that encourage burden reduction. Some of these may include question-level tooltips or inline burden indicators. Automation can also be embedded to provide reviewer workload alerts. Salesforce InApp Guidance and Help Text provide guidance directly within workflows.

Available Nlp

Applicant Feedback Loops

Offer ability for applicants to provide feedback on systems and processes.

Allowing applicants to provide (optionally anonymous) feedback on funder systems and processes captures fresh, real-time insights and enables continuous improvement.

Salesforce Chatter supports grantees ability to provide anonymous feedback.

Data Governance

Data Next-Level Practice #6

Offer transparent data governance and update processes.

  • Publicly share your data governance policy on your website.
  • Be open about your governance processes with stakeholders (e.g., funders; data, taxonomy, and infrastructure providers; and nonprofits) as you plan to update data systems, processes, and taxonomies.
  • Offer the ability for stakeholders to provide suggestions and input on a rolling basis.

Transparent governance builds trust and accountability while inviting stakeholder input to keep data practices fair and responsive.

Available Nlp

Data Governance Policy Available Online

Publicly share data governance policy.

Publicly sharing your data governance update process lets users know when they can provide feedback and how actively the company reviews its policies.

Available Nlp

Transparent Data Governance Update Process

Be open about governance update processes with stakeholders.

Sharing information about how and when data governance policies are updated shows that the organization is actively maintaining and improving its practices. It helps nonprofits and funders understand how decisions are made, when changes might affect them, and how they can stay aligned. Transparency in the update process builds trust, ensures accountability, and signals that governance is not static but responsive to evolving needs and standards in the sector.

Available Nlp

Governance Feedback Loops

Offer the ability for stakeholders to provide input on a rolling basis.

Offering the ability for stakeholders to provide suggestions and input on a rolling basis ensures that users feel heard and respected while building a culture of learning and partnership.

The regular Amp Impact Client Convenings provide an open forum for feedback and discussion. The Client Convenings regularly shape our product roadmap and policies.

Share Feedback

We welcome your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.

Get Involved

Participate in user focus groups, visioning sessions, and more.

Fund This Work

We’re only getting started, let’s make history together.

Editorial Notes

About the Directories
The NLPs are aspirational and forward-looking, designed to move the sector beyond current practice. Not all vendors or providers have adopted them yet, that’s expected. We encourage you to engage your chosen partners around the NLPs.

Join the Directories
We welcome and encourage new participants. Together, our community of GMS vendors and data providers are working to make philanthropy’s data more connected, equitable, and reusable. To get started, visit Join the Directories.

Disclaimer
Information in these directories was voluntarily shared by the providers. It is for reference only and does not imply endorsement. For updates or corrections, please contact us.