akoyaGO 2025 Year in Review: Delivering Confidence, Consistency, and Clarity

In 2025, akoyaGO clients granted more than $1.8 billion in support of communities and initiatives across the globe. As the year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on that incredible impact—and the partnership, shared learning, and steady progress that made it possible. Foundations across the country continue to inspire us with their commitment to community, and we’re honored that akoyaGO plays a part in supporting that work.

Each year, akoyaGO helps foundations do good better by approaching everything with core values in mind:

  • Positive: We do what it takes with good intentions while inspiring others to do the same.

  • Team: We know success is best achieved when we work together.

  • Energy: We initiate with intensity to maximize potential.

  • Customer Centric: We place clients’ needs at the heart of all decisions.

  • Solutions: We focus on results to garner the greatest impact.

This year, your feedback guided platform enhancements, informed new resources, and strengthened the support you depend on. Together, we built momentum toward more efficient operations, clearer workflows, and a more unified experience for the teams and stakeholders who rely on akoyaGO every day.

Rooted in Partnership, Driven by Purpose

“This year reminded me that technology alone doesn’t create transformation — people do."

- Mark Montoya, President

Product & Platform: Empowering Foundations with a Unified Solution

akoyaGO remains a powerful, all-in-one system designed to unify grantmaking, donor and fundholder relationships, fund accounting, and CRM functions. In 2025, we continued refining and expanding the platform to better support the full lifecycle of philanthropic operations. 

Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, akoyaGO provides the scalability, security, and flexibility foundations need to evolve their processes over time.

Client Voice Drives Product Innovation

Meghan Davignon, Director of Product akoyaGO

“At akoyaGO, product innovation starts with listening. Our clients are at the center of every improvement we deliver, helping us build tools that let foundations focus on what matters most. This year, we launched 43 new features and 255 enhancements across five releases, a significant leap from last year’s 18 new features and 121 enhancements. Your insights make this possible.”

  • Ease of Use
    Enhancing simplicity and accessibility across every touchpoint—grantors, grantees, reviewers, and stakeholders alike—ensures akoyaGO delivers a seamless and intuitive user experience for all.
  • Client-Driven Enhancements
    It’s worth celebrating that many updates to akoyaGO come directly from client feedback. This underscores our belief that the best innovations come from listening to those who use our tools daily.
  • Product Subcommittees
    To streamline client input, we introduced internal subcommittees dedicated to each GOsuite solution (GOapply, GOdonate, GOfund, and more). These groups prioritize client feedback, ensuring every suggestion is carefully considered.
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365
    As a Microsoft-based platform, akoyaGO benefits from Microsoft 365 enhancements, keeping us at the forefront of modern software solutions for foundations.
  • Product Suggestions
    Through the GOsupport portal and Community Forums, users can submit product suggestions and vote on ideas from other foundations. Top-voted suggestions are reviewed by the Product Committee, offering clients a direct voice in shaping the akoyaGO platform.

Foundations Joining the akoyaGO Community

Community is at the heart of akoyaGO. In 2025, we maintained our nearly 30% growth rate and are continuing to expand the number of foundations joining akoyaGO.

And with a retention rate of over 99%, we’re honored to continue earning the trust of our clients.

In 2025, the Implementation and Data Migration teams worked tirelessly to streamline the onboarding process, providing clear steps, resources, and guidance from start to finish. This year, 32 total clients (19 akoyaGO with accounting and 13 akoyaGO) went LIVE! We are grateful for our community’s continued growth.

Guiding Foundations Through a Seamless Transition

Supporting Philanthropy Across the Nation

Our dedication to the philanthropic sector extended well beyond our platform. In 2025, we supported and participated in 19 industry events nationwide, helping foster connection, knowledge-sharing, and sector-wide growth.

Investing in Client Success through Training and Support

In 2025, we strengthened our training and education efforts—expanding learning opportunities, improving knowledge resources, and elevating communication to help clients use the platform with confidence and clarity.

Learning Together: Expanding Client Knowledge & Confidence

  • Training Sessions
    355 virtual and on-site training sessions were delivered, including 122 sessions outside the implementation process. In total, one-third of akoyaGO clients chose to engage in additional training for their teams this year (in addition to over 100 foundations who joined us at EMPOWERED this year).
  • User Groups
    In 2025, akoyaGO hosted 31 User Group sessions, offering tailored discussions where clients can connect with peers, exchange best practices, and learn from one another.
  • GOsupport Knowledge Hub
    241 Knowledge Articles were published, and 311 Documentation Requests were completed in GOsupport, expanding resources available for training, troubleshooting, and workflow optimization.
  • Community Forums & Client Advisory Group
    In 2025, akoyaGO launched Community Forums, a space for client interaction, user group discussions, and shared learning as well as the new Client Advisory Group, which serves as communication between clients and akoyaGO leadership.

“Across the board, everything feels more organized — support, knowledge resources, and especially events. User groups are better hosted, supported by community forum insights, and led with stronger content. Thanks to Addie and the team, the sessions feel much more valuable now.”

Overall Experience Rating

EMPOWERED USER CONFERENCE 2025 | Detroit, MI

This year’s annual user conference was special as we took EMPOWERED on the road for the very first time to Detroit, Michigan! With the most attendance ever before and a fresh experience in a new city, EMPOWERED 2025 was one we won’t forget.

EMPOWERED 2025 was client centered AND client led. From impactful keynotes to user group discussions and picking up tips and tricks from staff and peers, the positive energy and collaboration was at an all-time high.

Overall Experience Rating

99%

Would Recommend EMPOWERED to Others

Keynotes by staff and users made for a special conversation.

  • Place, Purpose, and Philanthropy: A dynamic conversation between urban and rural foundation leaders explored shared goals, distinct community needs, and the role technology plays in bridging divides. The panel featured Keith Fulcher (Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi), Nick Pjevach (Madison Community Foundation), Kimberly Glick (Community Foundation of Elkhart County), and Michelle Goodthunder (Vitalyst Health Foundation). 

  • Responsible AI for Grantmakers: Chantal Forster (Annenberg Foundation) and Ann Puckett (Grand Rapids Community Foundation) shared practical frameworks for adopting AI responsibly in philanthropy—from governance to real-world applications—with a memorable cameo from Chantal’s dog, Kory, reminding us that innovation is ultimately about people and the moments that connect us.

  • Ready for Transformation: Marissa Filippo (Steans Family Foundation) and Chindaly Chounlamountry (Stream Life Consulting) highlighted how aligning people, processes, and platforms can turn a system implementation into meaningful organizational transformation.

  • Breakout sessions featured peer-led expertise from foundations and partners across the country.

Support Services: Faster, Clearer, and More Connected.

In 2025, Support delivered its strongest year yet. With faster response times, clearer communication, and a more streamlined experience, the team showed what it means to truly walk alongside foundations. The result? More capacity, more consistency, and more confidence for clients when it matters most.

94% of clients rated our support services 3 out of 3 stars

How Support Teams are Shaping a Positive Client Experience

I’ve really seen the Support Team grow this year in both capacity and consistency. The improvements in responsiveness, clarity, and understanding how priorities are managed have made a noticeable difference on our end. The streamlined communications from both Support and Account Management have been instrumental in keeping our work moving and making even the more complex items feel manageable. The combination of the two teams really reflects the positive direction the akoyaGO team is moving in.

Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum

As we close out 2025, we’re proud to be the partner to so many wonderful foundations and grant makers across the US, Canada, and Europe. We are proud to be a part of a network that supports the people on the ground making a difference.

Each year, we strive to improve, and in 2026, we look forward to amplifying the impact even more.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re not just managing philanthropy—we’re shaping its future.

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