Building connections that matter: Interfaith Assembly and London Metropolitan University.

For more than 40 years, the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing has been a voice for the unhoused in New York City. Working with diverse faith groups, government partners, and communities, their mission is to confront homelessness through advocacy, outreach, and compassion.

But as with many small nonprofits, managing resources and data can be challenging. For Peter Clancy, an engineer by training and a leading member at Interfaith Assembly, the organization’s databases had become a barrier rather than a tool. Two systems—one for email contacts and one for donors—weren’t talking to each other. Outreach was cumbersome, fundraising was difficult to track, and the team lacked the technical expertise to solve the problem on their own.

That’s where Riipen came in.

Finding the right partner.

Interfaith Assembly turned to Riipen to connect with skilled students who could bring both technical knowledge and fresh perspectives. Through Riipen, Peter’s team partnered with London Metropolitan University (LMU) students. Among them was Ama Ackom-Mensah, a recent LMU graduate from software engineering, who immediately stood out as project manager

Peter recalls: “We met a bunch of great students at London Met, and Ama was fantastic. Riipen made the collaboration possible, and it gave us access to talent we never would have found otherwise.”

Designing solutions that fit.

For Ama, the project was both technical and deeply human. “The team wasn’t the most tech savvy,” she explained, “so I had to make sure that what I built was something they could use going forward.”

She consolidated the Assembly’s two databases into one clean, functional system, eliminating unnecessary fields and creating a streamlined form for outreach. She also automated updates to ensure the system integrated smoothly with Constant Contact, the email platform that the Interfaith Assembly team used.

“Technically, we could have done something more advanced,” Ama said, “but it’s important to actually understand what they need and execute it so they get not just what they want, but what they can use.”

Impact for the organization.

The results were immediate. With a cleaner, merged database, Interfaith Assembly saw higher email open rates and fewer bounces. Outreach was faster, more consistent, and far less manual.

Peter shared: “On the data side, it’s been working. We’re still exploring new ways to focus our fundraising, but we’re happy that our messaging is getting out there more effectively. Outreach is simply more efficient now.”

Impact for the student.

For Ama, the project provided more than technical experience—it shaped her career direction.

She gained project management skills she hadn’t yet applied in the real world, learned how to communicate with non-technical stakeholders, and built confidence in proposing and defending her ideas. “Peter really gave me free rein to express what I thought would be the best idea,” she noted.

The experience also helped her see the value of purpose-driven work that aligns with personal passion. “The homeless issue in New York was something I had seen firsthand,” Ama said. “Because I cared about the cause, I knew I wanted to do my best. It was rewarding to see the impact in real time.”

Today, Ama is pursuing project management, a career path she discovered through this very project. “Having a real-world example that had actual impact. That’s something I never would have had in school,” she reflected.

Advice for others.

Peter encourages more nonprofits and small organizations to explore Riipen to access talent and innovation: “Riipen makes these collaborations possible. It’s a very powerful tool, and I only hope that more students and organizations see that and access the amazing talent that’s available.”

Ama advises students to choose projects they care about: “When you care, you’ll give your best. And you’ll see how your work holds real effect.”

The collaboration between Interfaith Assembly and London Metropolitan University through Riipen shows what’s possible when organizations, students, and platforms come together: practical solutions for real challenges, valuable career experiences for learners, and stronger communities for all.

Want to see how Riipen can support your organization with real talent and innovative solutions? Book a demo with our team today!