The Contingent turns to Microsoft Dynamics 365 to modernize program delivery

Nonprofit organizations faced their own unique challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic began. While early signs in 2020 pointed to continued strength in terms of giving, organizations faced new hurdles in how they executed on programs, worked with partners, and maintained relationships with their communities.

At The Contingent, a nonprofit that supports a range of government and community programs across the state of Oregon, the pandemic's impact became apparent early on as shutdowns left vulnerable groups without access to critical services. The organization was able to rely on three years' worth of experience developing management solutions atop Microsoft Dynamics 365 to accelerate their pandemic response while still supporting systems that manage existing programs and planning for even more projects in the state.

The Contingent's technology evolution, led by director of data and technology Peter Kim, has been built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement apps, Power Apps Portals, and the Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator. Kim spoke with MSDW about building out systems to serve the organization's expanding portfolio of programs while working with a small IT team.

Working with limited internal resources, the organization has steadily grown its Dynamics 365 and Power Platform usage to support programs and their own operations as a nonprofit organization. And when COVID-19 created new and urgent support needs, the team's rapidly evolving tools and skills allowed them to rescue programs that might have otherwise stopped serving those in need.

When he joined the organization, Kim inherited the type of rudimentary systems that are common for small teams with limited resources. Old standalone databases and big, complex Excel spreadsheets were the norm, he ...