How We Work with Clients
At Heller Consulting, we believe successful projects are built on strong partnerships. Our approach is collaborative, transparent, and grounded in decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations navigate change.
From kickoff to post-launch, we work closely with your team to ensure every step is thoughtful, inclusive, and aligned with your goals.
We apply best practices
Strategy Before Software
Technology is never the starting point. We begin with your mission, your people, and your strategy. Our consultants are trained to ask: “What are you trying to achieve?” before recommending any tools. This ensures that the technology we implement is aligned with your goals—not the other way around
Deep Nonprofit Experience
Most Heller consultants have a strong background working for nonprofit orgs. That means we bring real-world understanding of the challenges nonprofits face—from fundraising to program delivery to board reporting. This situational awareness allows us to offer not just technical solutions, but operational insights that improve how your organization works.
Transparent, client-centered approach
We pride ourselves on clarity and honesty. Our proposals are detailed and jargon-free. We don’t upsell features you don’t need or recommend platforms that aren’t a good fit. Our independence means we’re focused on what’s best for your organization—not our bottom line.
Proven methodologies, tailored execution
We use structured, repeatable methodologies to keep projects on time and on budget. But we also know that no two nonprofits are alike. That’s why we adapt our approach to your team’s size, culture, and capacity. Whether it’s a CRM implementation or a data strategy engagement, we balance best practices with creative problem-solving.
Collaborative culture
When you work with one Heller consultant, you get the power of the whole team. We foster a culture of collaboration through mentoring, cross-training, and shared learning. This means you benefit from the collective expertise of a firm that’s handled thousands of nonprofit projects over the past three decades.
Change management is built in
We don’t just install systems—we help your people use them. Change management is embedded in every project, from stakeholder alignment to training and support. We know that even the best technology fails without user adoption, so we make sure your team is ready and confident.
Data-driven, mission-focused
Our work is grounded in data, but always in service of your mission. Whether we’re helping you select a CRM, streamline fundraising operations, or build a reporting dashboard, our goal is to make your organization more effective, more efficient, and more impactful.
We invest in project management
At the heart of every successful technology initiative is a well-run project. That’s why we treat project management not as a luxury, but as a core discipline—especially in the nonprofit and mission-driven sectors where resources are tight and stakes are high.
We operate a highly efficient Project Management Office (PMO) staffed with professionals who bring a robust blend of expertise in project management, program management, project reporting, risk management and cross functional coordination.
Our project managers are PMP certified and we actively invest in ongoing professional training to make sure they are versed in emerging methodologies and tools. We tailor our project methodology to align with the unique needs of each project delivering consistent value.
In addition to the love for project management, each of our project managers brings hands on technical experience from a variety of CRM solutions, being able to understand the high level technical requirements and tie it in with the overall project goals.
Our project managers are experienced working on CRM solutions and other applications. Many are former fundraisers, CRM admins or marketing managers who have worked at nonprofits in a huge range of issue areas.
What we mean by project management
Project management is more than just timelines and task lists. It’s the application of proven processes, methodologies, and experience to ensure that every project meets its goals—on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption.
Whether we’re implementing a new CRM, building a data strategy, or rolling out a digital transformation roadmap, our approach is grounded in clarity, coordination, and accountability.
Why it’s critical in tech projects
Technology projects are complex. They involve multiple stakeholders, shifting priorities, and technical unknowns. Without strong project management, even the best ideas can stall—or worse, fail.
Here’s why our approach works:
🕒 We protect your time. We work with client leadership at a strategic level, helping you stay
⚠️ We reduce risk. By identifying potential roadblocks early, we keep your project on track and your team aligned.
💰 We manage resources wisely. From budget oversight to team bandwidth, we ensure your investment delivers maximum value.
🪫We prevent burnout. Our structured approach helps your staff stay engaged without being overwhelmed.
How we do it
We bring a proven methodology tailored to your organization’s needs. Our project managers are certified professionals with deep experience in nonprofit technology. We use a blend of Agile and Waterfall practices, depending on the project, and we guide you through every phase—from planning and stakeholder alignment to execution and post-launch support.
HELLER CONSULTING PROJECT MANAGERS HAVE WORKED FOR
Change management that sticks
At Heller, we provide the critical support your organization needs to adopt enterprise technology through strategic leadership and change management best practices. We begin with a deep understanding of your institution’s unique dynamics—how your team operates, communicates, and adapts—so we can tailor our support to your culture.
Our change leadership services equip your team with a lasting framework to sustain success long after implementation.
We focus on client needs
🧭 We start by co-creating the project kickoff deck with you—listening closely and helping shape the message for broader stakeholders. 📝 Feedback is built into every phase of our process. Each deliverable includes time for your review and input. 🔄 Mid-project surveys help us check alignment and adjust course early, so we stay on track with your goals. Our regular project meetings go beyond status updates—they’re a space to build trust, share insights, and collaborate. ⚠️ We flag potential risks early and work with you to plan thoughtful mitigations before they become issues. 🧑💻We always consider your end users, not just the project team. Our post-launch and stabilization support ensures your solution delivers real value—not just a successful go-live.
Ready to get started?
If you’re a nonprofit organization or education institution and you need help with your technology project, get in touch!