From Need to Demand to Innovation – The Evolution of Partner Essentials
Background: A Mission-Driven Tool for Ministry Growth
In the world of Ministry Partner Development (MPD), the right tools can transform the way missionaries engage supporters. For over a decade, MPDX, created by Cru, provided that platform—serving as a trusted foundation for support-raising across the global missions community.
In 2021, Cru made a strategic decision to limit MPDX access to its internal teams due to considerations around data privacy and long-term stewardship. This shift created a significant gap for hundreds of external organizations that had long relied on the platform.
Recognizing this need, Solertiae stepped in with a mission-aligned vision: to keep MPDX alive for the broader community.
The Solution: Extending the MPDX Legacy
Through a licensing agreement with Cru, Solertiae launched Partner Essentials, a platform designed to serve non-Cru ministries using MPDX’s proven infrastructure. With hundreds of organizations and thousands of users historically tied to MPDX, Partner Essentials offered continuity, dedicated support, and strategic enhancements for ministry-focused teams.
Solertiae began onboarding organizations with a strong commitment to integrity, technical stewardship, and ministry alignment.
The Challenge: An Evolving Landscape
Cru ultimately adjusted its approach to MPDX access. This change differed from the original expectations under which Solertiae had built and invested in Partner Essentials.
The shifting landscape introduced uncertainty and complexity for ministry organizations as they evaluated options from a long-term perspective.
As a result, Solertiae adapted its support model and long-term strategy to better meet the moment. While the changes required a significant pivot, Solertiae remained committed to serving ministries with integrity and clarity. Rather than allocating resources to manage the confusion, the team chose to look ahead—redirecting focus toward innovation and building a platform that is robust, future-ready, and grounded in the needs of the organizations it exists to support.
The Pivot: Reimagining What MPD Could Be
This turning point became an opportunity for innovation.
Solertiae initiated work on Partner Essentials 3.0—a next-generation MPD solution designed from the ground up to meet modern demands. The goal: to reduce complexity, embrace AI-powered automation, and deliver a tool that truly works for ministries—not the other way around.
Rather than build alone—which would have made the platform cost-prohibitive—Solertiae partnered with Epistle, a trusted platform builder with deep experience in mission-driven tech.
The Outcome: Smarter Tools for a Stronger Mission
Launching in the Summer of 2025, Partner Essentials 3.0 includes:
- No-cost migration for current users
- White-glove onboarding and training from the same team ministries already know and trust
- Modern, mission-aligned technology that’s built to adapt and evolve
- Real-time automation and AI tools to lighten the load and improve support-raising outcomes
By combining deep domain knowledge with modern infrastructure, Solertiae created not just a replacement—but a reinvention.
The Result: Innovation with Integrity
The evolution of Partner Essentials wasn’t just a response to market shifts—it was a proactive step toward a better future. Solertiae turned a moment of challenge into a platform of possibility, continuing to prioritize what matters most: the people doing the work of ministry.
Ministry Partner Development deserves better. This is better.
