Scaling Government and Nonprofit Programs Without Increasing Overhead

Running a public program with limited staff and growing demand? 

You’re not alone. 

For governments and nonprofits, the challenge isn’t just delivering services—it’s doing it faster, smarter, and more equitably without adding administrative burden.

In our recent webinar, “Scaling Impact, Not Overhead: Smarter Operations for Government and Nonprofit Programs,” FORWARD’s Senior Program Systems Strategist, Em Coffman, walks through best practices and technology solutions to help teams launch programs efficiently, reduce manual processes, and strengthen audit readiness.

Why This Matters: Public Sector and Nonprofit Leaders Are Facing More, With Less

Leaders across government and nonprofit sectors are being asked to do more with less, fewer resources, tighter timelines, and growing community needs.

Yet many still manage services using a patchwork of systems, including spreadsheets, shared drives, manual emails, that increase risk, slow down service, and make reporting harder.

This webinar provides a blueprint for transforming your program operations from manual and reactive to automated, centralized, and scalable.

Key Takeaways for Smarter Program Operations

1. How to Launch Programs Efficiently

A successful launch starts before your application goes live.

• Define goals, eligibility criteria, and data needs early

• Create a simple process map or logic model

• Use no-code tools to build applications fast

Case Study: LAUSD Wildfire Relief Program

In response to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, FORWARD partnered with the LAUSD Education Foundation to launch a $3M relief fund for displaced student families, in just under two weeks. The team defined fixed award tiers, automated student verification, and launched a mobile-friendly portal with no document uploads required.

Result: 2,500+ households reached with equitable, fast tracked aid, and zero burnout for staff.

2. Reducing Manual Work With Streamlined Systems

Eliminate platform sprawl and replace disconnected tools with one centralized platform.

• Consolidate program data, applications, and communications in one system

• Set up automated emails and SMS for status updates

• Define role-based workflows for reviewers, approvers, and case managers

Example in Action

LAUSD’s wildfire recovery program used the FORWARD platform to manage the full workflow: from intake to outreach to reporting. Auto-reminders kept applicants informed, while reviewers tracked all activity in-system—no more “Did we email them back?” moments.

📌 Pro Tip: If your team uses more than 3 systems for one program, it’s time to consolidate.

3. Improving Reporting and Audit Readiness

Strong data = strong programs. To future-proof your programs and satisfy auditors:

• Identify key performance metrics before launch

• Standardize data inputs across all forms and programs

• Schedule recurring reports with visual dashboards and downloadable exports

Audit-Ready from Day One

With LAUSD, all eligibility decisions, reviewer notes, and approvals were timestamped and stored within the platform. Dashboards provided real-time oversight to funders, and weekly exports kept leadership in the loop, without time-consuming data pulls.

📌 Bonus Tip: Run a mock audit quarterly to catch reporting gaps early.

Ready to Streamline Your Program Operations?

If you’re ready to reduce administrative overhead and increase your program’s reach, let’s talk.

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