US-based global development organization faced a problem. It could not fully trust its own data. Subaward and grantee information lived across disconnected systems and document repositories, with no shared data model and no clear owner. Duplicate and conflicting records eroded confidence in financial controls and complicated compliance reporting. And when leadership wanted to see how subrecipients had performed over time, there was no central place to look.
BluJuniper began with a financial controls and data flow analysis across the full subaward lifecycle, surfacing duplication, inconsistency, and integration gaps. We then designed a consolidated data and systems architecture that retired redundant data stores and centralized grant and grantee tracking. Enterprise architecture and data modeling practices connected subaward management to the core financial and contracts systems. We also closed the loop, channeling past-performance data back into the design of future grants and programs.
Technology & Methods Used
Enterprise data governance and architecture, including data modeling, master data management, financial data controls, data lineage, system/data-flow mapping, and governed performance reporting pipelines for subrecipient oversight
About the Client
The client is a U.S.-based global economic development organization managing grants and subawards across dozens of countries, with data historically distributed across many systems, repositories, and field locations.
Industry
International Development, Nonprofit
Outcomes at a Glance
One Governed Model for Grants Data
First Integrated View of Subrecipient Performance
Business Problem
- Fragmented Data Landscape: Subaward and grantee data lived across multiple disconnected systems and repositories, with no consistent data model or ownership.
- Duplicate and Inconsistent Records: Redundant, conflicting data undermined confidence in financial controls and complicated compliance reporting.
- No Performance Tracking: Leadership needed to track subrecipient performance over time to inform grant design, but no centralized mechanism existed.
Solution Approach
- Controls and Data Flow Analysis: Analyzed financial controls and data flows across the subaward lifecycle to identify duplication, inconsistency, and integration gaps.
- Consolidated Architecture: Designed a data and systems architecture that eliminated redundant data stores and centralized grants and grantee tracking.
- Enterprise Data Modeling: Introduced data modeling practices connecting subaward management to core financial and contracts systems.
- Continuous Feedback Loop: Established a mechanism that feeds subrecipient past-performance data back into future grant and program design.
Value Delivered
In place of fragmented, duplicative data stores, the organization now runs on a single, governed model for subaward and grantee data. For the first time, leadership can see subrecipient performance history in one integrated view. Every future grant-making decision is better informed for it.
The work also built the foundation for an enterprise Subawards Management Program Office, which sustains these data governance practices today. A one-time cleanup became a lasting capability the organization owns and operates.
Where This Fits in North*Star©
Data Governance & ML Ops
This embodies the Data Governance discipline. BluJuniper replaced fragmented data stores with a single governed model and enterprise architecture, establishing the trusted data foundation the organization still operates on today.