To efficiently enter and de-duplicate donor information received from a vendor's monthly spreadsheet, the NPSP Data Importer is the recommended tool. This tool helps in importing data and associating individuals with Opportunities and Campaigns while handling deduplication. Here's how to do it:
Prepare the Spreadsheet:
Ensure the spreadsheet contains columns for donor information, donation amounts, and solicitation campaign details.
Access NPSP Data Importer:
Go to the App Launcher.
Search for and open "NPSP Data Importer".
Configure the Data Importer:
Map the columns in your spreadsheet to the corresponding fields in Salesforce, such as Contact, Opportunity, and Campaign fields.
Ensure the NPSP Data Importer settings are configured to check for duplicates based on criteria like email or name.
Upload the Spreadsheet:
Upload the prepared spreadsheet to the NPSP Data Importer.
Review and confirm the data mapping.
Run the Import:
Run the import process.
The Data Importer will create new records and update existing ones, associating Opportunities with Contacts and linking them to the appropriate Campaigns.
Verify and Clean Up:
Use the NPSP Contact Merge tool to handle any potential duplicates that might have been missed.
Verify that all data has been imported correctly.
"NPSP Data Importer" from Salesforce Help: NPSP Data Importer
"Managing Duplicates with NPSP" from Salesforce.org: Managing Duplicates

To provide each affiliate and the national nonprofit the ability to see only its own donor data in a single Salesforce org, the consultant should use Criteria-based Sharing. Here's why:
Criteria-based Sharing:
This feature allows for defining sharing rules based on specific criteria, such as record ownership or certain field values.
By setting up criteria-based sharing rules, each affiliate and the national nonprofit can be restricted to viewing only the records that meet the specified criteria, such as records tagged with their specific region or affiliate identifier.
Salesforce Sharing and Visibility Guide
Salesforce Criteria-based Sharing Rules Documentation

To collect information online about new volunteers, including names, contact details, skill sets, and availability, and create a report with this information, the following solutions are recommended:
Collect Contact Information During Job Sign Up:
Use the Job Listings feature in Volunteers for Salesforce to capture volunteer information during the job sign-up process.
Ensure that the sign-up form includes fields for contact details, skill sets, and availability.
Steps to Set Up Job Listings:
Navigate to the Volunteers for Salesforce setup.
Configure job listings and ensure the sign-up forms capture all necessary information.
Add the Volunteer Sign Up Form to the Nonprofit's Website:
Create a Volunteer Sign Up form and embed it on the nonprofit's website.
Use the Volunteers for Salesforce Web-to-Volunteer feature to automatically capture and create records in Salesforce.
Steps to Set Up Web-to-Volunteer:
Go to Volunteers for Salesforce settings.
Set up the Web-to-Volunteer form with the required fields.
Embed the form on the nonprofit's website.
These methods ensure that all relevant volunteer information is captured and stored in Salesforce, allowing for easy reporting and management.
Volunteers for Salesforce Documentation
Salesforce Help: Setting Up Web-to-Volunteer Forms
Top of Form
Bottom of Form

To configure Salesforce to handle recurring volunteer schedules, the Volunteer Recurrence Schedules feature in Volunteers for Salesforce (V4S) is the ideal solution. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Install Volunteers for Salesforce: If not already installed, you need to install the Volunteers for Salesforce package from the Salesforce AppExchange.
Navigate to Volunteer Jobs: Go to the Volunteers tab and create or select a Volunteer Job that requires a recurring schedule.
Set Up Volunteer Recurrence Schedules:
In the Volunteer Job record, find the "Recurrence Schedules" related list.
Click "New Volunteer Recurrence Schedule."
Define the recurrence pattern, such as weekly, and specify the start and end times for the volunteer shifts.
Assign Volunteers to Recurrence Schedules:
Once the recurrence schedule is created, assign volunteers to this schedule.
Volunteers assigned to a recurrence schedule will automatically be registered for the specified shifts without the need to sign up repeatedly.
Review and Manage:
Periodically review the schedules to ensure they align with any changes in volunteer availability or job requirements.
By using Volunteer Recurrence Schedules, the nonprofit can efficiently manage volunteers who work on a regular basis without needing them to sign up for each shift manually. This feature ensures that the volunteer management process is streamlined and volunteers have a consistent schedule.
Salesforce Volunteers for Salesforce Documentation: This official documentation provides detailed instructions on setting up and managing volunteer schedules. Salesforce V4S Documentation.

When rolling out a new implementation of Salesforce and NPSP containing custom code, especially near a Salesforce release date, it's critical to consider the following points about using a preview sandbox:
API Version Differences:
The API version in the preview sandbox may differ from the production instance. This difference can cause inconsistencies or issues when deploying code developed or tested in the preview environment to the production environment.
It's essential to test the compatibility of your custom code and integrations with the new API version in the preview sandbox to ensure they work seamlessly once the Salesforce release is live in production.
Project Planning:
Ensure that any development or testing done in the preview sandbox accounts for potential changes introduced by the new release. Plan for additional testing post-release to verify everything functions as expected.
Deployment Strategy:
Develop a clear deployment strategy that includes thorough testing and validation in both the preview sandbox and a post-release production environment.
Salesforce Release Notes
Salesforce Sandbox Preview Guide