How Salesforce Helped Newark Senior Center Streamline Operations and Grow Participation

Since 1966, Newark Senior Center (NSC) has supported adults 50 and older in Newark, Delaware, helping them stay active, independent, and connected. What began as a small group meeting in a department store has grown into the state’s only nationally accredited senior center, now serving more than 3,000 members. 

The nonprofit offers a wide range of programs, including fitness, Meals on Wheels, early memory loss services, transportation, and social activities. About 25 staff members lead the work, but volunteers play a key role in supporting daily operations. Funding comes primarily from memberships, activity fees, donations, and events. 

As membership and programs grew, NSC needed a way to scale and streamline operations to keep up with demand. While the Center thrived as a vibrant part of the community, its disparate systems and limited technical resources told a different story. Like its members preparing for the next stage in life, NSC knew it needed to do the same. Salesforce, implemented with the help of Galvin Technologies, provided that next step so both NSC and its members could keep “Celebrating life after 50.”

The Challenge

As NSC expanded, its systems could no longer keep pace with its needs. Membership and donor information was split across eTapestry and a parks and recreation software, creating inefficiencies and missed opportunities to collect valuable data. The lack of integration made it difficult to maintain accurate donor records, leaving fundraising disconnected from member engagement. 

Event registration also created barriers. The existing system was internal-facing only, which required participants to call or visit the center to enroll in activities. Joining a class meant signing in on paper, which staff later re-entered into the database. The process limited accessibility while adding hours of extra work. 

Financial tracking was just as fragmented. Programs recorded payments in different ways. Automated billing for monthly fitness memberships and the memory care program did not exist. Even something as routine as reserving and paying for a meeting room was time-consuming and manual.

Staff and volunteers were spending too much time on administrative tasks and too little time supporting the people they served. NSC needed more than just patches to current processes—it needed a new approach to streamline operations.

The Solution

To overcome these challenges, NSC partnered with Galvin Technologies to implement Salesforce as a unified system to manage membership, events, finances, and donor relations. The goal was to streamline operations, improve efficiency, create better visibility into operations, and make participation easier for members—all while ensuring a system simple enough for staff and volunteers to use. 

Centralized Data Management

The first step was consolidating information. Galvin migrated member and donor data from the separate systems into Salesforce. With many members also serving as donors, the unified approach provided staff with more complete information to foster donor engagement while assessing member needs. This eliminated cross-checking multiple systems and helped staff better leverage existing data. 

Event and Payment Integration

Galvin helped NSC streamline its events and payment processes. Implementing Blackthorn Events in Salesforce made it easy for staff to create programs and sessions. Salesforce Experience Cloud then enabled members to self-register online for the first time. Blackthorn Payments simplified the collection of dues, donations, and event fees, including sending automated invoices for monthly charges. Galvin also configured General Accounting Units (GAUs) to route transactions for better financial reporting and tracking. Staff can now reconcile the daily till with Salesforce reports in real time. 

Barcode Registration and Reporting 

One of the most significant improvements came with the introduction of barcode scanning for members, replacing manual sign-in sheets. Members scan in, select their activities, and the data flows directly into Salesforce for accurate reporting.

Volunteer-Friendly Design

Ease of use was a priority throughout the project. As NSC staff explained, “You need to think about this as if your grandmother is going to use it.” With Nana in mind, Galvin designed a custom homepage for volunteers to easily access the day’s activities and perform tasks. Salesforce’s drag-and-drop interface made it easy for staff to update the page so volunteers always have the most current information. 

Phased Rollout and Training

Training staff and volunteers was an important implementation component. During the first month, staff worked the front desk to refine processes. Once comfortable with the system, they integrated the volunteers using group sessions, one-on-one coaching, and a desk reference for help. NSC encouraged feedback and adjusted along the way, ensuring a smoother transition and long-term success. 

The Results

Since implementing Salesforce with Galvin Technologies, Newark Senior Center has seen measurable improvements across its operations and member experience. 

• Higher Participation – With easier registration options, participation increased 17% from 2023 to 2024. NSC is on pace for another 8% increase in 2025, projecting more than 10,000 registrations. 
• Improved Volunteer Support – Volunteers now work with a system designed for simplicity and confidence. The new interface cut training time, reduced errors, and improved volunteer retention. 
• Stronger Financial Oversight – Staff no longer spend hours reconciling spreadsheets or chasing down discrepancies. Instant Salesforce reports give leadership clear visibility into NSC’s finances and support smarter decision-making.
• Reliable Data for Growth – With attendance and participation data in Salesforce, NSC benefits from reliable reporting to use for grant writing, program evaluation, and board updates—evidence that strengthens funding requests and strategic planning.
• Looking Ahead – The work completed so far has NSC positioned to take advantage of future opportunities with Salesforce. Staff are exploring ways to integrate volunteer management and the Meals on Wheels program into the platform, as well as testing AI for bus route optimization and automated communications.

Modern Tools to Serve an Aging Population

For Newark Senior Center, Salesforce provided more than a new database—it created a connected system that supports both current needs and future growth. With the help of Galvin, NSC was able to streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and make participation easier for the community it serves. 

Galvin Technologies helps nonprofits get the most out of Salesforce by aligning the platform’s capabilities with each organization’s unique mission. Salesforce’s nonprofit products provide the foundation, and Galvin customizes the platform to seamlessly fit each client’s goals and the work required to achieve them.

Whether your organization focuses on senior care, education, health, or the arts, Galvin can help you integrate your data, improve member and donor engagement, and free up staff time from manual tasks for more mission-driven work.

Ready to explore how Salesforce can support your nonprofit? Connect with Galvin Technologies today and build a system that celebrates your mission—at every stage and age.

WANT TO TALK WITH OUR CONSULTING TEAM?

We’d love to work with you on your Salesforce needs. Our team of certified Consultants can work closely with your team to close more deals. Call us at 317-297-2910 or complete the form below.