Quickbase Application and Case Study: Empowering Nonprofits: CAST LA’s Journey with Sympo

You’ll find this valuable if you:

Oversee multiple programs or departments that rely on interconnected systems
Manage sensitive client data where confidentiality and security are essential
Depend on legacy or volunteer-built applications that need sustainable support
Want to streamline reporting and compliance without adding administrative work
Believe in partnerships built on trust, empathy, and collaboration

What you’ll learn:

How CAST LA transitioned from a volunteer-managed Quickbase system to a sustainable, multi-application environment supported by Sympo, maintaining continuity, improving efficiency, and building a foundation for future growth while safeguarding sensitive survivor data.

Transformation results:

40% reduction in administrative time for case managers
Seamless handover from a retiring volunteer developer to a professional support team
Improved data accuracy and faster reporting for grants and compliance
Integrated system connecting legal, housing, and emergency response programs

When a long-time volunteer developer prepared to retire, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST LA) faced a challenge that many nonprofits eventually encounter: how to sustain and grow a mission-critical system built by a single, deeply trusted individual.

For over a decade, that volunteer had designed and maintained CAST’s custom Quickbase ecosystem, a system that connected programs, tracked grants, and housed sensitive client data. It wasn’t just software. It was the operational heartbeat of an organization providing lifesaving services to survivors of human trafficking.

So when it came time to find a new partner, CAST wasn’t simply looking for developers. They were looking for a team that would respect the confidentiality, complexity, and humanity of their work.

After a thorough RFP process, CAST selected Sympo. What stood out wasn’t just technical expertise, but alignment with CAST’s culture and a clear commitment to earning trust through action.

Rather than diving in headfirst, Sympo began with a small, low-risk pilot project: CAST’s Training App. The goal was simple; to learn CAST’s processes, prove reliability, and build confidence.

That success led to a gradual expansion. Sympo soon took on the Roll-Ups App, which de-identifies client data for internal reporting, followed by work on the Services App, which manages casework across CAST’s legal, housing, and emergency response teams.

Throughout the transition, Sympo collaborated directly with the outgoing volunteer developer; documenting systems, reviewing workflows, and ensuring continuity so nothing was lost in translation.

“Sympo has made this process feel safe and good...my confidence in them has really grown, I know when our volunteer steps away completely, we’ll be in a great place.”

As CAST’s programs evolved, so did their system needs. When the organization launched a Rapid Rehousing Program to help survivors transition into permanent housing, Sympo designed and built the new Quickbase module from the ground up, integrating it seamlessly with CAST’s existing data and workflows.

The result: a more connected, efficient, and sustainable technology foundation that supports CAST’s ability to deliver services, track impact, and comply with grant requirements and without adding administrative burden.

Working Together:
Our Impact

40% Reduction
in case manager admin
time through automation

Greater confidence
in reporting to funders
and partners

Smooth handover
from volunteer developer
to a dedicated support team

Phase 1

1. System Assessment

Understand where you are today.
We evaluate your current tools, data, and workflows to identify gaps, redundancies, and opportunities.

2. Process Mapping

Visualize how work really gets done.
We map your existing processes end-to-end to reveal inefficiencies and define what good should look like.

3. Integration Planning

Connect the dots for seamless operations.
We design a roadmap for how your systems and data will work together—so everything speaks the same language.

process

Phase 2

1. Core Development

Build the foundation for long-term success.
We develop the core functionality based on your mapped processes and prioritized requirements.

2. Migration

Move your data with confidence.
We plan and execute a structured migration to ensure data integrity, minimal disruption, and full traceability.

3. Testing

Validate before you launch.
We rigorously test the system across real-world scenarios to catch issues early and ensure everything works as expected.

migrate

Phase 3

1. Deployment

Go live with confidence.
We roll out the solution in a controlled, structured way—ensuring a smooth transition from old to new.

2. Training & Documentation

Equip your team to hit the ground running.
We provide clear, role-specific training and documentation so users know exactly how to get the most from the system.

3. Support Setup

Ensure long-term success and stability.
We establish the right support channels, SLAs, and escalation paths to keep everything running smoothly post-launch.

deploy