CASE STUDY
Connecting Communities: Nationwide Grants Management on Salesforce
INTRODUCTION
Expanding access to high-speed internet is essential for economic growth, education, and opportunity. A nationwide broadband initiative set out to close the digital divide through large-scale public grants, but success depended on a platform that could manage complex program rules, high application volume, and continuous change.
The Challenge
- Build a grants management system that reviews, scores, and approves hundreds of applications per program.
- Balance unique requirements across multiple broadband and digital equity initiatives.
- Keep delivery moving in a multi vendor environment with more than forty specialists on the project team.
Work We Did
M&S Consulting joined as the only external contractor beyond the prime consulting group, providing senior business analysis and hands on Salesforce configuration.
Iterative Development Lifecycle
Guided user stories through Dev, QA, UAT, and Prod with GitHub traceability and automated test scripts.
Dual Role Deliver
Combined BA duties with Salesforce development, creating page layouts, flows, and validation rules directly in the org to speed feedback.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Ran mockups, demos, and working sessions to translate policy requirements into intuitive portal features.
Scalable Architecture
Helped design data models and permission sets that flex for new grant programs without rework.
The Solutions
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Customized Salesforce Grants Management to receive 234 broadband infrastructure applications and more than 700 digital equity submissions
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Built reusable scoring components so reviewers can evaluate applications consistently across programs
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Implemented dashboards and reports for real time oversight and compliance tracking
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Established agile ceremonies and Jira boards, improving visibility and decision making for forty plus team members
the results
Streamlined Processing
Applications move smoothly through review and approval, reducing turnaround time.
Enhanced Transparency
Stakeholders track status and funding outcomes in dashboards rather than spreadsheets.
Continuous Improvement
The platform evolves every sprint, ready to support additional grant waves.
Conclusion
Grants management is a living process that grows with program goals and public needs. By pairing technical depth with a service-first mindset, M&S Consulting is helping deliver a connected future for communities nationwide. Work continues on new features and additional grant tracks.