Case Study: Great Nonprofits
Case Study: Great Nonprofits
Stabilizing a critical donation platform in two weeks, during peak giving season.
Stabilizing a critical donation platform in two weeks, during peak giving season.
Client: Great Nonprofits
Role: Fractional CTO (temporary engagement)
Timeframe: Dec 2025 - Jan 2026
Client: Great Nonprofits
Role: Fractional CTO (temporary engagement)
Timeframe: Dec 2025 - Jan 2026
The Challenge
On December 12, 2025, I got a call from GreatNonprofits about a critical donation-flow failure. Donations had been collected from donors all year but since August had not reached the nonprofits. With the calendar year ending in two weeks, the stakes were immediate: tax implications for donors, reputational risk for the organization, and the holidays compounding everything. I started that Monday.
The Challenge
On December 12, 2025, I got a call from GreatNonprofits about a critical donation-flow failure. Donations had been collected from donors all year but since August had not reached the nonprofits. With the calendar year ending in two weeks, the stakes were immediate: tax implications for donors, reputational risk for the organization, and the holidays compounding everything. I started that Monday.
My Approach
I came in with no prior relationship with the team, no context on the systems, and a globally distributed organization with holiday schedules and multiple external vendors already in motion. I onboarded fast, clarified ownership across a multi-party environment where accountability had been unclear, and kept technical reality aligned with what leadership was communicating externally. My role was both a technical fix and a steady hand at the wheel.
My Approach
I came in with no prior relationship with the team, no context on the systems, and a globally distributed organization with holiday schedules and multiple external vendors already in motion. I onboarded fast, clarified ownership across a multi-party environment where accountability had been unclear, and kept technical reality aligned with what leadership was communicating externally. My role was both a technical fix and a steady hand at the wheel.
Results
Donation flow restored and the incident resolved before the end of the calendar year
Coordinated across distributed teams, time zones, and multiple external vendors with no additional disruptions
Organization came out of the crisis with greater clarity on its systems, architecture, and resilience
Results
Donation flow restored and the incident resolved before the end of the calendar year
Coordinated across distributed teams, time zones, and multiple external vendors with no additional disruptions
Organization came out of the crisis with greater clarity on its systems, architecture, and resilience
"She was a true partner during a high-stakes moment, and her leadership made a meaningful difference for our organization."
Perla Ni, Founder and CEO, CommunityCX (former manager)