From ERP Frustration to Seamless Support: How Easter Seals Goodwill ND Found Their Perfect Microsoft Dynamics Partner 

As one of five organizations in the United States with dual affiliations with Easter Seals and Goodwill, Easter Seals Goodwill ND (ESGWND)’s employees must wear many hats. They provide critical in-home services to people with special needs while running six retail locations across North Dakota.   

Read Their Story Here  

Managing finances for the complex nonprofit was a full-time job for Cathy Metz, CFO. However, since 1992, she was also the de facto technology officer overseeing their Microsoft Dynamics GP system.   

Despite her extensive experience with Dynamics GP, Metz found herself frustrated with her previous technology partner. “I just didn’t feel like they thought I knew what I was talking about,” Metz said. When her main contact left that company during a major project, the relationship deteriorated further.  

That’s why she found herself attending the Dynamic Community Summit 2023, and a serendipitous meeting changed everything. Metz happened to sit down for lunch with some team members from Enavate. The connection was immediate, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  

The Immediate Impact: Out of the Middle  

The first project Enavate tackled was implementing ESGWND’s annual GP update — a task Metz used to handle herself. “There was a point in time when I used to do it myself, and eventually I was like, ‘That’s just too much of my time,’” she said.  

Enavate’s ability to collaborate effectively with ESGWND’s other technology partners really sets it apart. “I didn’t have to be the middleman,” Metz said. “I could just say, ‘Hey, you guys work together. I give both of you approval to do your thing.’ And so it all just kind of happened in the background.”  

The result? A major project completed with minimal involvement from Metz: “They kept me up to date, but it just saved me a ton of time. I really wasn’t involved. And that’s what I really liked about it — just being able to hand a big project over and have them take it from there.”  

Real Support When It Matters Most  

When unexpected challenges arise, having a responsive partner makes all the difference. At one point, the system processed payroll three times which created a tangle of redundancies. Enavate’s support leader walked Metz through the SQL code to identify the issue and implement the best solution.  

“If I would’ve done it on my own, I bet it would have taken me two days,” Metz said. “With Enavate, it took a couple of hours.”  

What Metz values most about working with Enavate is their approach to problem-solving: “There’s a willingness to listen to understand what I’m asking for, and then they’re upfront and honest. Either they can do it or they can’t do it and say ‘this is how we can make it work in a different way,’ but still get the results I’m asking for.”  

A Pricing Model That Makes Sense for Nonprofits  

For nonprofits with limited budgets, predictable IT costs are essential. Enavate’s tiered pricing plan allows ESGWND to pay a flat amount for unlimited support calls.  

“It’s nice to have that flexibility,” Metz said. “I don't have to worry that it’s going to be $120 just to make a phone call. I can call about the simplest thing, or I can call about a bigger problem, and it’s just that ease of mind, knowing that whatever it is, they’re going to get this taken care of.”  

The organization also chose to move their Dynamics GP to Enavate’s cloud hosting environment, which promises better security and monitoring at a lower cost than their previous Azure setup.  

The Bigger Picture: More Time for What Matters  

With Enavate handling the technical aspects of their ERP system, Metz has been able to refocus on her primary role as CFO. She’s now tackling important financial projects, improving metrics and enhancing reporting capabilities.  

Most importantly, this partnership has allowed Easter Seals Goodwill ND to better fulfill its mission of serving high-need clients across North Dakota.  

Finding the Right Partner  

Metz’s advice is clear for other nonprofits looking to improve their ERP services: find a partner who listens. “They listen to what I’m asking, understand why I'm asking it, and offer the best way to do it,” she said. “They've been more than upfront and honest and accommodating to whatever I need.”  

In the end, what started as a chance meeting over lunch has evolved into a partnership that’s making a real difference — for the organization’s operations and for the communities they serve.