As we look back on 2024, it’s incredible to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved together with our community of foundations. This year, akoyaGO continued to grow, innovate, and support the philanthropic sector in meaningful ways. From exciting product enhancements to deepening our commitment to client success, every step we’ve taken has been about helping foundations do good better.
In this year-in-review, let’s take a look at how we’ve advanced our software solutions, strengthened community connections, and enhanced support systems for foundations.
Product: Innovation Driven by Client Collaboration
One of the highlights of 2024 was the communication and collaboration between our product team and clients. Meghan Davignon, our Director of Product, summed it up best:
We work hand-in-hand with our clients to bring their feedback to life, delivering 18 new features and 121 product enhancements across eight product updates focused on enhancing ease of use. Our commitment to innovation ensures foundations have intuitive, powerful tools to drive impact today and shape the future of philanthropy.
Key Product Insights
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Ease of UseEnhancing simplicity and accessibility across every touchpoint—grantors, grantees, reviewers, and stakeholders alike—ensures akoyaGO delivers a seamless and intuitive user experience for all.
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Client-Driven EnhancementsIt’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.
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Product SubcommitteesTo 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.
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Microsoft Dynamics 365As a Microsoft-based platform, akoyaGO benefits from Microsoft 365 enhancements, keeping us at the forefront of modern software solutions for foundations.
Consistent Updates Throughout the Year
This year brought consistent enhancements to our product suite, addressing key functions like grants, donor, relationship, and financial management.
Every update is a step forward in making philanthropy more efficient and impactful.
- Enhanced CRM tools for simplified document creation and streamlined stakeholder communication
- User creation in CRM from GOapply for streamlined grant management
- Launch of recurring donations in GOdonate
- Streamlined navigation and processes in Business Central
- Enhanced grant recommendation form in GOfund
Community: Growing Together for Greater Impact
Community is at the heart of akoyaGO. In 2024, the number of foundations leveraging akoyaGO grew by 30%, contributing to an impressive 100% growth over the last three years.
Even more rewarding? A retention rate of over 99%. This speaks volumes about the strength of our partnerships and the trust our clients place in us.
EMPOWERED 2024
This year’s annual user conference was a defining moment for our community. Over 200 philanthropic leaders gathered for EMPOWERED 2024, making it the networking event of the year.
In fact, EMPOWERED 2024 saw nearly 75% more attendees, a testament to the growing enthusiasm and value our community finds in this event. This incredible turnout reflects the energy and growth within our user community as a whole. Seeing everyone gathered together in person? It was truly moving.
Overall Experience Rating
Would Recommend EMPOWERED to Others
Keynotes by Mark Montoya, President of akoyaGO, and Tatiana Hernandez, CEO of Community Foundation Boulder County, set an inspiring tone, while breakout sessions and panel discussions offered practical insights.
The event reaffirmed the power of bringing the philanthropic sector together to learn, share, and innovate.
Supporting Philanthropy Across the Nation
Our commitment to advancing the philanthropic sector extended beyond our tools and services. We actively participated in and supported 16 industry events hosted by leading associations across the country. These gatherings provided invaluable opportunities to connect with foundation professionals, share insights, and contribute to the growth of the philanthropic community.
Supporting Our Community: Putting Foundations First
Our clients’ success is our success, and we’ve worked hard to ensure our support systems match the complexity of our tools, including a comprehensive restructure of our internal processes. These strides have set a strong foundation, and continuing to better these services will remain a priority in the coming year.
Enhanced Client Portal and Support Services
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GOsupport Knowledge HubIncreased modifications and updates to Knowledge Articles and videos aligned with product enhancements, ensuring clients have accurate resources to maximize akoyaGO.
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Faster Response TimesInternal improvements streamlined our processes, reducing resolution times and increasing satisfaction.
Nearly 90% of clients rated our support services 3 out of 3 stars
User Groups for Deeper Connections
This year, we hosted 30 individual user group sessions, focused on key topics:
- Grants and Scholarships
- Finance
- Donor Relations
- Administrators and Power Users
- Private Foundations
These sessions provided tailored discussions, allowing clients to connect with peers, share best practices, and learn from one another.
Webinars That Educate and Empower
We hosted over 10 targeted webinars in 2024, covering topics like budgeting, dashboards, and donor management. Each session provided actionable insights, helping clients maximize akoyaGO’s capabilities.
Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum
As we close out 2024, we’re filled with gratitude for the partnerships we’ve built and the impact we’ve supported. But we’re not slowing down. In 2025, we’re doubling down on innovation, community, and support to help foundations achieve even greater things.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re not just managing philanthropy—we’re shaping its future.
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