EHTC Technology Solutions
Case Study:  United Way Produces Financial Reports with Ease, a Customer Success Story

Featured software:

• Microsoft^® Dynamics^™ GP
• Microsoft^® FRx^™ - Financial Reporting and Analysis Software

Customer Profile

Heart of West Michigan United Way (HWMIUW) is a non-profit health and human service organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. United Way’s mission is to build a stronger community and improve lives. Their vision is to lead the community in understanding and eliminating the underlying causes of community problems so they can improve the quality of life of all people in West Michigan.

Business Situation

Federally-mandated reporting standards for not-for-profit organizations make preparing financial reports complicated and time-consuming. When HWMIUW upgraded to the Microsoft Dynamics GP finance and accounting solution, they needed a quick and cost-effective way to access, analyze, and report on the critical financial data necessary for operating a large, human services organization. In addition to requiring accurate and comprehensive data for managing daily operations, management also needed a flexible tool to aid in making pro-active decisions for ensuring the organization's ongoing success.

Selection Process

HWMIUW chose Microsoft's GP finance and accounting solution not only because it met their specific requirements, but also because other United Way organizations have had great success using the product. Knowing they would need to produce financial statements shortly after installing their new system, they purchased the Microsoft FRx product, which works automatically with GP and produces robust and flexible reports. HWMIUW also chose to work with EHTC Technology Solutions, a Gold Certified Microsoft business partner, because of their consulting skills and attention to customer service.

Business Solution

Microsoft FRx is a comprehensive reporting and analysis application that helps organizations manage all the financial aspects of their business. FRx increases the productivity and effectiveness of everyone involved in the reporting process, giving the finance, accounting, and management staff the necessary information to support their decisions. After just one FRx training session, senior accounting manager, Toni Steele, was able to produce sophisticated financial reports. She is proud to say, "I have developed a reporting tree that rolls out expenses to other departments by line item based on FTE, thus producing our year end Functional Expense Report for our Audited Financial Statements with the push of a button."

Value/Benefits

In 2006, Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, awarded HWMIUW, for the third year in a row, 4 out of 4 stars for organizational efficiency. Earning the highest four-star rating shows their exceptional financial health and their ability to outperform most of their peers in managing finances in the most fiscally responsible way possible. Credit for this can be attributed to HWMIUW's talented staff, Microsoft's superb GP and FRx products, and EHTC Technology Solution's ongoing customer support.