CASE STUDY | NONPROFIT

Turning GPCA’s Fragmented IT Into a Platform for Growth

How Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance consolidated three technology environments, modernized security and infrastructure, and gave its team more time to focus on its mission.
Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance
Philadelphia, PA | 360 Employees
Services Digital Transformation  Managed IT Support  Cybersecurity  Strategy & Alignment Cloud Backup

Transformation at a Glance

3 → 1

IT environments consolidated

94%

Reduction in downtime

95%

Billable at launch

150

Modern laptops deployed

“Proper Sky made our employees' work easier by transforming IT from a hurdle into a helpful tool. They streamlined our daily operations, improved security, and freed up our team to focus more on what truly matters — serving our community.”

Dr. Connie Alston, Chief Financial Officer
Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance

"Proper Sky was the perfect solution to how we could manage our technology. They're excellent. We were able to bring in the whole Proper Sky team for less than it cost us to manage the IT ourselves and we're saving even more money now after they reviewed our vendors and contracts then when we started!"

Lori
Intercommunity Action

"We love Proper Sky. Every time I text him or call them, they're always there for us. They're amazing. I don't know what to say better than that I think they're incredible. I can't even remember the last time our server was down but I know just having a team to take care of our IT frees me up to focus on what we're best at. I recommend them to anybody I can."

Rick
Gitomer & Berenholz, CPA

The Challenge

Three Organizations. Three IT Environments. One 90-Day Deadline.

GPCA brought together three organizations with more than a century of combined community service. But the consolidation also brought together fragmented technology environments, aging infrastructure and security gaps.

With 360 employees depending on technology to deliver critical community services, GPCA needed to become operational quickly — without allowing IT disruption to put service delivery or revenue at risk.

Aging Infrastructure

Legacy hardware, outdated operating systems and aging servers created reliability and support challenges.

Productivity Bottlenecks

VPN-dependent file access, inconsistent Wi-Fi and frequent downtime slowed employees down.

Security & Compliance Risk

Limited access controls, outdated endpoint protection and untested backups created unnecessary exposure.

Unnecessary IT Spend

Legacy vendor contracts and aging infrastructure consumed dollars that could have gone toward GPCA's mission.

The Approach

Stabilize First. Then Build for What Comes Next.

Proper Sky began by mapping GPCA's entire technology environment — including systems and contracts that had been overlooked — before developing a modernization plan designed around three priorities:

Keep the organization operating. Protect critical data. Build an environment that could scale.

01
Move to the Cloud

Migrated email, files and identity management to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint while eliminating legacy on-premises servers and VPN dependency.

03
Strengthen Security

Implemented MFA, endpoint protection, advanced email security, mobile device management, zero-trust controls and continuously monitored cloud backup.

02
Modernize the Environment

Deployed 150 laptops, implemented a Cisco Meraki network, improved wireless connectivity and modernized printing and physical security infrastructure.

04
Create Long-Term IT Alignment

Added full-service IT support, regular strategic planning and an IT committee to provide greater visibility into priorities, budgets and future investments.

The Results

IT Stopped Being a Barrier to the Mission.

94% Less Downtime

Cloud-based systems, standardized technology and improved infrastructure dramatically reduced disruption for GPCA employees.

95% Billable

GPCA maintained strong billability through the transition, protecting cash flow while the new environment came online.

Stronger Security & Compliance

Improved governance, security controls and continuously tested backups helped GPCA preserve cyber insurance coverage and meet regulatory and funding requirements.

Lower Ongoing Costs

Infrastructure modernization and vendor consolidation eliminated unnecessary expenses and created meaningful monthly savings.

More Capacity to Grow

GPCA now has a scalable technology foundation that can support additional employees, locations, programs, partnerships and funding opportunities.

More Time for the Mission

Employees spend less time dealing with technology issues and more time serving Philadelphia communities.

IT the Proper Way™

 

Before Proper Sky

  • Trash
    Three fragmented IT environments
  • Check
    Aging on-premises servers
  • Cloud
    VPN-dependent file access
  • Wrench
    Frequent downtime
  • Alert
    Inconsistent security + untested backups
  • Gear (1)
    Reactive IT + disconnected vendors

After Proper Sky

  • x2
    One standardized environment
  • x2
    Microsoft 365 + cloud-first infrastructure
  • x2

    Secure access from anywhere

  • x2
    94% reduction in downtime
  • Layered security + continuously tested backup
  • Strategic IT partnership + consolidated vendors
Proper-Sky-BKG-Swell-Iso-1

Technology Should Advance Your Mission. Not Get in Its Way.

Proper Sky helps nonprofits simplify IT, strengthen security and build technology environments that support where they're going next.

From Philadelphia with love