There’s something magical about walking under the rainbow-coloured Dreamforce gates for the first time. After years of streaming sessions from my desk, I finally joined over 50,000 Salesforce enthusiasts in San Francisco, and the atmosphere was electric. It wasn’t just the scale; it was the shared curiosity, the connection and the buzz of people all there to learn how technology can make a real difference.
For me, Dreamforce 2025 was all about seeing how nonprofits around the world are transforming with Salesforce and what lessons we can bring back home to Australia.
The Big Picture: Connection, Courage and Coffee
The conference opened with Marc Benioff’s keynote and the exciting launch of Agentforce 360, Salesforce’s new AI platform built on Data 360. The focus was on uniting humans, data, apps and AI agents in one connected ecosystem. Benioff made one thing clear: AI on its own isn’t enough. Without context, connection, and trust, it can’t truly serve people and for nonprofits, that message hit home.
Next came a burst of inspiration from Mel Robbins, author and podcaster, reminding us that success isn’t about massive leaps but small daily choices. A good reminder that digital transformation, like personal growth, is a journey built step by step.
Learning from the Leaders
Reimagining Grantmaking with National Geographic Society
This session was a standout. The National Geographic Society shared how it rebuilt its grantmaking process using Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, bringing multiple legacy systems into a single, streamlined interface.
By combining Experience Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Tableau, plus integrating with Amazon S3 for media asset management, they created a seamless way for explorers to manage applications, reviews, and funding.
The shift reduced system complexity, improved collaboration between technical and non-technical teams, and ensured the solution stayed mission-driven, a reminder that simplicity often powers the biggest impact.
Key Takeaways:
⭐ Unified platform improved efficiency and user experience.
⭐ Smart integrations supported petabyte-scale media management.
⭐ Standard Salesforce functionality reduced complexity and costs.
Data Driven Care at Victor Community Support Services
Closer to home, Victor Community Support Services demonstrated how technology can drive dignity in service delivery. Using Nonprofit Cloud, MuleSoft, Tableau and Slack, Victor created a “common front door” intake process across 24 sites.
Clients are now assessed holistically and connected to all eligible services through one entry point. MuleSoft enables real-time integration between Salesforce and the organisation’s electronic health records, while Tableau dashboards track care delivery and performance metrics in real time. Slack adds collaboration allowing staff to make faster, better-informed decisions.
Key Takeaways:
⭐ A unified intake process creates a single view of every client.
⭐ Real-time data flow between systems improves service efficiency.
⭐ Live dashboards help teams deliver timely, targeted support.
Taming Data Chaos with Blue Star Families and LifeMoves
The “Taming Data Chaos” session showed what happens when mission meets technology.
Blue Star Families, which supports 400,000 families of U.S. service members, implemented Agentforce to cut data entry time by 50% and improve accuracy by 100%. That means 400 hours saved every week, time that now goes back to supporting families instead of managing spreadsheets.
Meanwhile, LifeMoves, a nonprofit tackling homelessness used Nonprofit Cloud to unify disparate data systems, enabling predictive insights that help staff focus on people, not admin.
Key Takeaways:
⭐ Automation can return thousands of staff hours to mission-critical work.
⭐ Unified data environments enable prescriptive insights.
⭐ Smart systems scale impact without scaling overheads.
The Nonprofit Cloud Roadmap: AI for Good, Made Simple
The Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Roadmap session showcased the sector’s evolution and it’s moving fast. Nonprofit Cloud has grown from 2,000 to nearly 6,000 customers in a single year.
New tools include volunteer management, gift entry grids and AI-powered donor support and participant management agents. These innovations reduce administrative load, simplify setup, and use automation to keep staff focused on relationships, not record-keeping.
Key Takeaways:
⭐ 6,000 nonprofits now rely on Nonprofit Cloud worldwide.
⭐ AI-driven tools automate key donor and program workflows.
⭐ Roadmap emphasises simplicity, data integration, and measurable impact.
Nonprofit Keynote: Welcome to AgentForce Nonprofit
The Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Roadmap session showcased the sector’s evolution and it’s moving fast. Nonprofit Cloud has grown from 2,000 to nearly 6,000 customers in a single year.
New tools include volunteer management, gift entry grids and AI-powered donor support and participant management agents. These innovations reduce administrative load, simplify setup, and use automation to keep staff focused on relationships, not record-keeping.
⭐ Prospect Research Agent – for smarter donor identification.
⭐ Participant Management Agent – for program engagement.
⭐ Volunteer Capacity and Coverage Agent – for resource optimisation.
Together, they showed how AI can simplify the complex, automate the repetitive, and free humans to do what only humans can – build relationships and change lives.
Final Reflections
As I boarded the flight home, I couldn’t help reflecting on how aligned Dreamforce felt with the heart of the nonprofit sector. Every session, whether from a global NGO or a local community organisation reinforced one message: technology should enable humanity, not replace it.
For those of us at SalesFix, that’s exactly what drives our work every day. Whether it’s helping an organisation better understand its donors or streamlining service delivery for an organisation on the front line, we believe the right Salesforce solution should feel human-first and mission-ready.
Dreamforce 2025 wasn’t just inspiring, it was a call to action. The tools are here, the possibilities are growing, and for nonprofits ready to embrace AI and automation, the future is bright, connected and deeply purpose-driven.
Bethany Smith
SalesFix For Purpose
Subject Matter Expert
Bethany is one of SalesFix’s Not-For-Profit Subject Matter Experts, dedicated to helping organisations create greater impact with Salesforce over the past four years.
With a background working inside
Not-For-Profits, she brings genuine understanding and passion for the sector’s mission and challenges.