Philanthropy’s ecosystem.
Timeline
2023 - 2024
Team
Junior Designers, UX Manager, Product, Technology, Business, Director
Role
Facilitator, Research, Product Design, Design Systems, Testing
Transforming Walmart's $1.7B Philanthropy Ecosystem
Walmart commits $1.7B to community impact through grants, products, and volunteering. Yet their fragmented systems made it hard for associates to participate in this mission. I led the charge to change this.
Leading a team of 45 across design, research, and operations, we transformed Walmart's philanthropy platform. With a $12M budget, our work was part of Walmart's broader $2B digital transformation, focusing on modernizing systems and boosting associate engagement in giving.
Organizational leadership & impact
Growing Through Leadership
Transformed a project team of 8 into a strategic organization of 25 design practitioners. Our mentorship program helped 5 designers grow into senior roles in 18 months. Weekly design-engineering syncs and monthly strategy workshops broke down silos, turning engineers into active design partners.
Securing Partnerships & Resources
Built key partnerships with senior directors to drive support. Working with Product leadership, we made a clear business case that secured an extra $2.5M for our vision. This funded expanded research and talent growth, while regular showcases kept stakeholders engaged.
Design Excellence
Launched initiatives that elevated our practice:
✦ Cross-functional reviews aligning design with technical needs
✦ Senior designers leading feature teams
✦ Structured critiques improving quality
✦ Quarterly Design Days solving complex problems together
Uncovering Walmart's $4M Opportunity
Walmart's fragmented philanthropy programs were holding back their giving potential. Leading an enterprise-wide analysis, we discovered the true cost of siloed operations: $4M in redundancies, 35% overlap in program efforts, and $2.5M spent annually maintaining legacy systems.
These insights revealed clear opportunities to streamline operations and modernize the platform for global impact.
Our journey mapping became more than a visualization - it evolved into a powerful strategic tool that guided executive decisions. By showing clear data on technology needs and resource allocation, we gained strong buy-in across business units.
The results spoke volumes:
✦ 40% reduction in operational costs
✦ $2.5M secured for tech modernization
✦ New governance model for future initiatives
✦ Consolidated three overlapping programs
This framework now serves as our blueprint for scaling philanthropy programs globally.
Making an impact
We reimagined the Associate Portal with a clear goal: make giving back simple and seamless. Our data-first approach broke down program silos, enabling real-time sharing and collaboration across Walmart's giving initiatives.
Business outcomes
Our reimagined platform delivered significant results:
✦ Boosted associate giving by 45%, driving $380M in additional contributions
✦ Cut costs by $8.2M through smarter program management
✦ Created governance model now used by 4 enterprise platforms
Guiding principles
Our remote workshop would define key principles that would guide the future of Walmart’s philanthropy platform. With new tools, interfaces, and functionalities on the horizon, it was crucial to establish a clear direction. These foundations ensure every team that follows can build with confidence and purpose.
These guidelines now shape how we build and improve the associate experience, creating a platform that grows stronger with each iteration.
Clarity and empower
Ensure every user has the knowledge and tools to succeed by providing comprehensive onboarding resources, including tutorials and guides, that set them up for long-term success.
Personalized Experiences
Create a more responsive, user-centered experience by offering customized notifications. Align updates and approvals with individual user roles, ensuring clarity and relevance at every interaction.
Seamless Communication
Foster transparency and efficiency by implementing intuitive, user-friendly communication tools. From ticket-level chat to branded email updates, ensure users are informed and supported throughout their journey.
