Lyndal Cairns, Author at Heller Consulting

CRM

Mastering Salesforce for Nonprofits: Tools and Tactics

Nonprofits strive to devote as much of their budget and staff time to their missions as possible. As a result, investing in a new software system can feel, at best, overwhelming, and, at worst, wasteful. However, the right software system can make your data work for you, not against you. And one of the most

Lyndal Cairns June 10, 2025

A supermarket display shows neatly arranged trays of fresh oranges, apples, mangoes, and other fruits, with price tags above each row—offering options for Raisers Edge users in 2025 who seek vibrant, organized selections.

Blackbaud

Options for Raiser’s Edge Users in 2025

If you’re a nonprofit development leader using Raiser’s Edge, you’re likely facing big decisions. Whether you’re preparing for the end of Database View in RE7 or finding NXT isn’t keeping up, you’re not alone in asking: what’s next? The good news? You have more options than ever. The challenge? Choosing wisely. Why this matters now

Lyndal Cairns May 22, 2025

A close-up of server racks with glowing lights, overlaid with a bordered portrait of Venta Cantwell, Raisers Edge consultant, who recently joined Heller Consulting—she has short curly brown hair, a dark blouse, a necklace, and a slight smile.

Blackbaud

Heller expands Blackbaud practice with deep Raiser’s Edge expertise

For Heller Consulting’s newest hire, digital transformation is about getting back to the mission. “I would love to see every organization I work with experience their technology with a complete lack of frustration—maybe even joy!” Blackbaud Consultant Venta Cantwell said. “No one goes into nonprofit work for the fame and riches—we are all deeply driven

Lyndal Cairns May 19, 2025

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Salesforce

New fundraising platform strengthens Kindsight’s offer to nonprofits

Built on Salesforce, the new Kindsight Fundraising Platform unites the managed package ascend with real-time donor data from iWave, along with automated workflow and Gen AI outreach tools.

Lyndal Cairns May 19, 2025

A man and woman packing cardboard boxes in a room with wooden floors; there are various moving boxes, a mop, and a decorative giraffe in the background. The woman holds a mug while the man lifts a box.

Blackbaud

Your options for the end of Raiser’s Edge Database View

Blackbaud has announced plans to end support for the Database View that powers Raiser’s Edge 7. Here are the best options for nonprofits and education orgs.

Lyndal Cairns May 6, 2025

Fundraising

Classy rebrands as GoFundMe Pro, leverages peer-to-peer tools

Classy has become GoFundMe Pro, leveraging the peer-ot-peer tools of both nonprofit fundraising platforms.

Lyndal Cairns May 6, 2025

A person holds a smartphone displaying a digital map with a marked route. The screen shows detailed streets on a green background. The phone is held with both hands against a gray pavement with scattered leaves in the background.

Technology Strategy

The how and why of Technology Guiding Principles

In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit technology, having a clear set of guiding principles is essential to ensure you balance long-term benefits, optimize costs, and manage risks appropriately. Heller Consulting’s Technology Guiding Principles framework is designed to help tech leaders balance needs and make good tech decisions that benefit the whole organization. Our methodology Guiding

Lyndal Cairns April 2, 2025

Two people are exercising outdoors on a sunny day. They are performing lunges on a paved surface next to a chain-link fence, with trees in the background. The man wears a gray shirt, and the woman wears a black outfit.

Technology Strategy

How to make confident nonprofit tech decisions

The nonprofit sector faces unprecedented challenges. The financial stability of many organizations has been rocked by economic uncertainty, changing donor priorities, and the increasingly volatile US federal funding landscape. Coupled with increased cybersecurity risks, the rise of AI applications, and a new wave of regulatory compliance, the remit of development operations leaders has never been

Lyndal Cairns March 31, 2025

A person in a dark outfit is focused, leaning over a snooker table, about to hit the white cue ball with a cue stick. The table has several red balls scattered across the green felt surface.

CRM

Nonprofit data best practices in 2025

Here at Heller, we talk a lot about databases—fundraising and engagement platforms and CRMs. We also talk about people, processes, workflows, and workarounds. Today, I want to talk about the bedrock of your fundraising program: data itself. Data governance has always been important for nonprofits because it ensures accuracy, security, and compliance with relevant (and

Lyndal Cairns March 26, 2025

A graduate in a black cap and gown with a yellow stole stands facing a set of stairs outdoors. The background is blurred, showing greenery and part of a building. The focus is on the back of the graduate.

Technology Strategy

Best practices in advancement tech

Advancement teams are the backbone of financial stability and growth for educational institutions, but they face significant challenges both internally and externally. Engaging donors across an increasing number of channels in a complex fundraising landscape is no small feat. Many institutions struggle with outdated and fragmented technology systems that hinder operational efficiency and personalized appeals.

Lyndal Cairns March 15, 2025