The right tech starts with the right team
Meet the people who will build you a better donor database
Since 2014, we’ve helped nonprofits navigate one of the most frustrating parts of running a thriving organization: making tech work the way it should.
Along the way, we’ve learned something important: it’s not really about the tech at all. Understanding the people who use the software and how they work is the bridge to better workdays, happier teams, and strong fundraising operations.
We meet you where you are, take the time to listen and understand, then build systems that will help you spend less time fighting with tech and more time advancing your mission.
A combined 140 years of experience, 4 dogs and cats who join our calls, and countless cups of coffee imbibed.
President
Steve Gray
Our fearless leader. With 25+ years in nonprofit, Steve combines insight and perspective with his signature warmth and intention.
What’s it like to work with us?
Here are the core values that drive us each day.
Technology should serve the mission
A donor database is a tool. It shouldn’t be the focus of your organization or a daily frustration.
And yet most nonprofits end up adapting themselves around mismatched tech. They spend hours figuring out workarounds, cleaning up messy data, and recreating inaccurate reports.
They deserve better. You deserve better.
We believe the best tech is the kind that gets out of the way. It serves you, supports you, and doesn’t show up as another task on your to-do list.
When your donor database is aligned with your team’s needs, workflows, goals, and budgets, you all spend less time second-guessing reports and untangling spreadsheets — and you’re freed up to focus on the work you came here to do: strengthen donor relationships and advance the mission.
We build confidence, not dependency
A consultant shouldn’t be the only person who understands your systems.
Our role is to guide your team through important decisions, turn technical complexity into practical application, and help you build systems you feel confident managing long after our work together is complete.
That means we don’t just focus on the technical work. We want to leave your team stronger than we found you, because we don’t own your success — your team does.
If you want ongoing support, we’re here for it. But we’ll never use overreliance as a way to extend your contract.
Experience matters. So does relevance
Our team has spent decades helping nonprofits navigate fundraising tech. That experience gives us perspective: We’ve seen what works, what creates unnecessary complexity, and what it takes to build a donor database that really supports you.
We’re also wise enough to know that experience alone isn’t enough. The tech world continues to change, platforms evolve, and fundraising teams face new challenges. Nonprofits need systems that reflect how they work today, not how they worked a decade ago.
We stay current on emerging tools, changing features, and evolving best practices so we can help you make smart, sustainable decisions.
"More than satisfied with the work of Advancement Tech Services. Our mid-sized nonprofit identified a need to assess our technical infrastructure, business processes, reporting and compliance requirements in order to better align our systems and processes with ever-changing organizational needs and desired growth. Infrastructure, data integrity, gift processing, communication guidance, and training were among the identified needs for improvement following their comprehensive initial assessment.
The team at ATS was thorough, expert, consistent, responsive, and personable. They quickly learned the specifics of our mission and structure and its various nuances and required refinements. Data clean-up was a major concern and the suggested modifications were spot on and set the tone for the work that followed. Their work was streamlined and adhered to the agreed upon timelines. ATS was also right there to offer staff coaching and training when it came time to implement new processes.
Steve Gray and his entire team provided exceptional expertise and capitalized on their well-rounded experience in the nonprofit arena. I recommend ATS very highly!"
Kevin Radelet,
Leukemia Research Foundation