AdEx Partners News, CR/ESG
„Data is no longer just a technical responsibility – it is a shared strategic asset“
How the AdEx Digital Bootcamp of the World Scout Foundation helped to sustainably strengthen their donor relationships through data-driven fundraising and a CRM transformation
Flor Cagliero, Fundraising Officer, and Mischa Rychener, Director of Philanthropy at the World Scout Foundation, attended the AdEx Digital Bootcamp in Switzerland. There, they worked on key challenges related to data management within their organization.
In the interview, they discuss the most important digital hurdles their non-profit organization faces, how the bootcamp and subsequent consulting helped them make concrete progress, which tools and strategies they already use in their daily work, and what advice they would give to other NGOs on their journey of digital transformation.
Mischa Rychener (l.) and Flor Cagliero from the World Scout Foundation report in an interview how they benefited from the AdEx Digital Bootcamp.
AdEx Partners: What challenge did you face when starting the Digital Bootcamp?
Mischa Rychener: Our biggest challenge was to make better use of the tools we already had—Salesforce, marketing automation, social media channels, and our website. We wanted to collect, manage, and enrich our data more intelligently in order to build more donor-centered communications and foster long-term relationships. Ultimately, this supports our ambitious goal of raising $100 million by 2030.
AdEx Partners: Why was this topic so crucial for your organization?
Mischa Rychener: We work with a wide variety of donor segments—from first-time donors to long-standing major donors who make correspondingly large contributions. Each of these groups requires a tailored approach. As a small team with limited resources, we compete with large aid organizations and the private sector, which can offer highly personalized user experiences. To build lifelong loyalty, we must ensure that our donors feel understood and valued.
AdEx Partners: How did you define success when you applied for the bootcamp?
Flor Cagliero: We sought external guidance and support in setting priorities. For us, success meant developing a clear roadmap: fully understanding our data infrastructure, building internal expertise, and crafting messages based on data that truly resonate with our donors.
AdEx Partners: What were the biggest CRM and data challenges?
Flor Cagliero: We lacked a comprehensive overview of our systems and their integrations. At the same time, we had only limited personal donor data. This led to incomplete donor profiles and inconsistent data quality—which made segmentation and targeted communication significantly more difficult.
AdEx Partners: How did the bootcamp format help turn ideas into action?
Mischa Rychener: The kick-off workshop was a real turning point. Seeing our entire digital infrastructure visualized made us realize for the first time just how complex it really was. That brought clarity and fostered trust and alignment within the project team.
Flor Cagliero: The sprint meetings helped us stay focused. By breaking down tasks into manageable steps, we were able to make progress tangible and realistic to implement.
AdEx Partners: What key insights have you gained from analyzing your data landscape?
Flor Cagliero: We realized just how complex our setup actually is—and where specific gaps exist. In some cases, responsibility for data flows wasn’t clearly defined, and we identified missing steps in data collection. This transparency alone was incredibly valuable.
AdEx Partners: Has the bootcamp changed the way you work with data on a daily basis?
Flor Cagliero: Absolutely. Today, we view every donor interaction as an opportunity to enrich our data. We have implemented regular quality checks, improved our documentation, and are much more disciplined in our data entry.
Mischa Rychener: Furthermore, a genuine shift in mindset has taken place: Data is no longer viewed as a purely technical task, but rather as a shared strategic asset for the entire organization.
AdEx Partners: What specific results were you able to achieve?
Flor Cagliero: We have improved our donor segmentation, streamlined our reporting, and implemented an internal CRM issue-tracking system. In addition, thanks to newly developed dashboards, we now have significantly greater transparency regarding donor engagement.
AdEx Partners: In your opinion, what made the project particularly successful?
Flor Cagliero: Close collaboration, an outside perspective free of internal bias, and clearly defined responsibilities for tools and processes. Everyone knew exactly what role he or she played.
AdEx Partners: What's next for you?
Mischa Rychener: We are planning another donor survey, developing a scoring model and additional segmentations in Salesforce, and continuing to work on improving our data quality. We will also more clearly define the roles and responsibilities related to CRM management.
AdEx Partners: What advice would you give to other NGOs that want to follow a similar path?
Mischa Rychener: Go ahead and do it—and appoint someone internally to take charge of the process. Full commitment makes all the difference.
The interview was conducted by Friederike Keuter-Thies and Hans-Peter Heuser.
About AdEx Partners
As a trusted advisor for digital transformation and IT strategy, AdEx Partners helps leading companies actively shape Europe’s digital future. The company was founded in Hamburg in 2012 and now operates throughout the DACH region. Approximately 300 consultants, with an average of 13 years of industry experience, develop and implement customized solutions in the areas of ERP, data value management, and business transformation.
In 2025, AdEx Partners further strengthened its position through AdEx Intelligence and our subsidiary BMC Strategy Consultants, expanding our expertise in AI transformation and strategic management consulting with a focus on financial services. As a result, we offer our clients a comprehensive end-to-end service portfolio—from strategy development to the implementation of complex transformation programs. More than 60 % of DAX-listed companies across industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and financial services rely on our expertise.
AdEx Partners has been named a „Hidden Champion“ four times in a row by the business magazine *Capital* and has received seven „Best of Consulting“ awards from *WirtschaftsWoche*. In 2025, we ranked among the top 20 in Great Place to Work®„s “Germany’s Best Employers 2025” competition.
AdEx Partners Digital Bootcamps
Digital inclusion is not a privilege. In an increasingly technology-driven world, it is a shared responsibility—and must be designed to be inclusive. Our boot camps are a vivid expression of this commitment: To date, we have shared our expertise, methods, time, and trust with over 40 nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, and foundations in Germany and Switzerland.
With each new edition, AdEx Partners reaffirms its commitment to social responsibility by helping NGOs strengthen their digital resilience. Interested organizations in the DACH region should stay up to date on future bootcamp sessions.
For more information about the boot camp, please feel free to contact us at: [email protected]
About the World Scout Foundation
The World Scout Foundation strengthens the global impact of the Scout movement by providing financial and other resources to the World Organization of the Scout Movement. It unites selected philanthropic institutions, corporate investments, and government support with an exceptional global network of committed individuals—known as „Baden-Powell Fellows.“ These individuals contribute their time, financial resources, and networks to support young people worldwide in building a better world.
Our supporters are at the center of everything we do. Through their dedication, they drive the foundation's goals forward and help continuously expand our network. Together, as part of our 2022–2030 Strategy, we are pursuing the ambitious goal of raising an additional 100 million US dollars and further growing our network. This enables us to increase resources for World Scouting so that even more young people and their communities worldwide can benefit.