Temelio’s Client Success Manager, Grace Willig, recently sat down with Rachel Gebeloff, Philanthropy Manager at Women of Reform Judaism, to discuss how she and her team transformed a once scattered and manual grantmaking process into a streamlined, professionalized system with the help of Temelio. From navigating onboarding to achieving greater efficiency and deeper impact, Rachel reflects on the challenges they faced, the partnership they experienced, and the outcomes they’ve seen since making the switch.
Can you briefly tell me about your foundation and its mission?
Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) is grounded in the pillars of sisterhood, spirituality, and social justice. We exist to connect Reform Jewish women around the world—primarily through their synagogue communities—and empower them to act on their values. Our primary grantmaking vehicle is the YES Fund, which stands for Youth, Education, and Special Projects. Each year, we distribute around $300,000 to partners and grantees across the Reform movement, supporting initiatives in areas such as DEI, innovation, and creating a more inclusive Jewish world.
What were some of the challenges or pain points you were facing in your grantmaking process prior to adopting Temelio?
Before Temelio, we lacked a formal grants management system and were operating in a fragmented, unsustainable way, relying on Google Drive, email, and Dropbox to manage applications and reviews. Nothing was centralized, which made the process feel disorganized. We constantly worried about missing deadlines or losing track of key information, and the absence of a shared system meant institutional knowledge lived in people’s heads. That made it difficult to collaborate, maintain consistency, or provide structured feedback to grantees. Internally and externally, the process simply didn’t reflect the level of impact and professionalism we were striving for.
What made Temelio stand out to you compared to other GMS options?
The human connection made all the difference. Temelio was referred to us by an organization in the Jewish Funders Network, which made the experience feel more personal from the start. From the first conversation, the team was warm, genuine, and never pushy—focused on understanding our needs rather than selling a product. Our Onboarding and Client Success Manager joined early to build that relationship and support us appropriately. It felt collaborative, not transactional. All the other systems we explored came from generic Google searches and felt impersonal by comparison.
Equally important was the platform’s ability to be tailored to our specific needs. We didn’t want a one-size-fits-all solution. We didn’t want to feel like we had to force our process into someone else’s system, but a platform that adapted to and with us.
How did Temelio make the transition to the new system as smooth as possible?
Onboarding was definitely a lift, and we expected this as our data was scattered across multiple platforms. Despite this, the Temelio team made the process feel completely manageable by providing a clear instructions, templates and step-by-step guidance that helped us focus on and prioritize the most essential information. Throughout the process, the Temelio team was responsive, flexible, and met us exactly where we were, even though our team was small and our data wasn’t perfectly organized.
My biggest piece of advice to others during this part of the process is to pace yourself. Transferring systems, or getting started in one for the first time, requires time and effort. Set aside time in manageable chunks—it’s a big lift, but absolutely worth it once you’re on the other side.
What are some tangible outcomes or benefits you’ve experienced since using Temelio?
Temelio has transformed how we work, both in terms of efficiency and impact. I can now leave comments for applicants directly in the system, which has made communication faster and clearer. Tasks and deadlines are scheduled within the platform, lifting the mental load and eliminating the fear of things slipping through the cracks. For the first time, we’re able to share structured feedback from reviewers with grantees, which has helped us close the loop more intentionally and strengthen our relationships.
The system has removed so much of the administrative burden. Instead of juggling emails, shared drives, and sticky notes, everything now lives in one place. We've built a pipeline that tracks everything automatically—cutting down on redundancy, increasing accountability, and keeping the process moving smoothly. This has freed us up to focus more on strategy, relationship-building, and making our grantmaking more meaningful.
The support we’ve received from the Temelio team along the way has been exceptional. They understand the pace and capacity of small teams, meet us where we are, and genuinely care about making the platform work for us.
What advice would you give another grantmaker who is hesitant to switch systems or invest in one for the first time?
Investing in this kind of infrastructure is absolutely worth it. We pour so much energy into fundraising to make our grantmaking possible; we owe it to ourselves to have systems that truly support and sustain that work.
There’s a learning curve, but trust the process. You’re not just streamlining operations—you’re elevating and professionalizing how you work. That shift frees up time for the things that matter most—strategy, relationships, and impact.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience?
Starting any new tech system can feel overwhelming, no matter the size of your data. But within just a year, everything has become easier.
Temelio works quietly in the background, keeping everything organized. Emails aren’t clogged, reports aren’t missed, and I can find what I need in seconds. It’s a reliable, user-friendly system that truly supports all team members, no matter their level of comfort with technology.
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