Key Nonprofit Highlights
For Kenter Canyon Elementary Charter—a small, community-driven school in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, CA—the Parents Support Group (PSG) is the driving force behind every fundraiser and family event. The group faced operational inefficiencies from fragmented solutions, causing compliance risks and wasted time. They adopted Bloomerang’s all-in-one Giving Platform to better integrate donor data, giving forms, events, and QuickBooks. Bloomerang’s AI tools and mobile-friendly features also helped facilitate a smooth transition from their old systems. This change led to improved efficiency, better engagement, and more effective fundraising, hitting a 70% email open rate which put them on track to exceed their annual giving goal. The success found with Bloomerang enables the PSG to better focus on their mission of supporting enhancements for students.
Challenge
Struggling with fragmented systems led to inefficiencies and compliance issues
As Operations Board Member Jorge Caicedo explained, running Kenter Canyon PSG wasn’t always easy. “We were using multiple solutions for our donations. We had a CRM where we’d transfer the data into the fundraising tool, and then we’d transfer the data into the email application. So everything ended up in an Excel file, going from one side to the other. And that is a compliance issue, it could lead to a customer protection breach.”
Beyond the risks, the inefficiency was exhausting: multiple different logins and manual reporting in disconnected systems. For a parent volunteer-led group, that meant too much time troubleshooting and not enough time focusing on their students and community. “We are all volunteers,” said Caicedo. “We don’t have all the time in the world just to sit down and learn an application.” The board needed a solution that was simple, secure, and built for purpose, especially when their community was impacted by the Palisades wildfires.
Solution
Gaining easy-to-use fundraising tools with outstanding service from Bloomerang
After reviewing multiple options—including Microsoft Dynamics—Caicedo and the board found what they needed in Bloomerang. “There are many platforms in the industry that do the same thing. So the level of attention that Bloomerang shows to customers is what differentiates them from the rest of the competition with their service, support, and flexibility.” Bloomerang’s intuitive giving platform replaced a patchwork of disconnected systems with one integrated solution connecting donor data, giving forms, fundraising events, and QuickBooks—all in one place. “One login and one application, everything in one place is amazing.” Plus, Bloomerang’s unified giving platform keeps PSG’s nonprofit compliant and their data secure.
The platform’s AI tools also helped Caicedo and his fellow parent volunteers easily create donor communications that inspired engagement. “The fact that I can actually access the Email Builder, drop a few words to your AI content tool, and it gives me a paragraph? That is insane! The time we’re saving is enormous.” And thanks to Bloomerang’s mobile-friendly tools, event volunteers can now manage check-ins and donations seamlessly at their fundraising events: “We put the app on cell phones and everybody—all the volunteers—were checking people in, scanning QR codes. It was outstanding.”
Implementation for Kenter Canyon began under extraordinary circumstances. “The first phone call was January 7, the day the wildfires started here in Los Angeles,” explained Caicedo. “And we had to be live before May for our annual fundraising event. I wanted to run everything through Bloomerang by that time, and my project manager was extremely proactive, professional, and responsive, so we got it up and running in time.”
That dedication—and Bloomerang’s intuitive design—helped the Kenter Canyon team hit the ground running. “It took me five minutes to figure out the dashboard, reporting, filters… whatever I needed to do,” Caicedo shared. “Bloomerang is flexible, which is just what we wanted. My mom can use Bloomerang, whereas with Microsoft, you have to have a minimum knowledge to use it. It was a no-brainer.”
Results
Increasing donor engagement and hitting fundraising goals using Bloomerang
With Bloomerang powering their operations, Kenter Canyon PSG has transitioned all of donor management and fundraising systems to Bloomerang, reaching new heights of efficiency and engagement. Automated reporting, integrated financials, and clear donor visibility transformed their weekly workflow—and fueled outstanding fundraising results. In one recent event with Bloomerang, the team raised more than 100% of their goal, nearly hitting their stretch goal as well. Now, they’re on pace to exceed their annual giving goal too!
“It’s a night and day difference,” said Caicedo. “We deployed the event, people started paying, and we made money. Events are so smooth with Bloomerang.” Just as importantly, the platform empowers every parent volunteer—regardless of technical experience—to step in and succeed. “You don’t need a background in technology. You can rely on Bloomerang 100%,” said Caicedo. And the all-in attitude from volunteers has also enabled better supporter engagement with PSG newsletters and communication, with a 70% open rate on their email newsletters to parents.
For Caicedo, implementing new donor technology means more than efficiency—it means legacy. “When my kids graduate from the school and I leave the group, I’m hoping that the legacy of this board is going to be reflected in the simplicity that the software brings to the school.” Bloomerang is proud to be part of that legacy, helping Kenter Canyon Parents Support Group volunteers spend less time managing systems and more time enhancing students’ daily lives—because when purpose is this clear, impact is unstoppable.
