Heller Consulting and data services firm DMI have joined forces to set a new standard for how organizations harness technology and data. This isn’t just two companies combining—it’s a leap forward for nonprofit, education, and healthcare clients that want to bring their infrastructure, data, and processes into a single stream.
Why now? Because the sector deserves better.
Disconnected systems, manual reporting, and fragmented data slow down even the most ambitious teams. The question is no longer “What platform should we buy?” but “How do we make it all work together and have the data we need to feel confident in our business decisions?”
The nonprofit technology landscape is fundamentally changing. It matters less what your tech stack looks like than how you approach technology planning, interoperability, and data governance. With Heller’s expertise in strategy, systems, and people, bolstered by this new Data Services practice, we are now uniquely positioned to help our clients successfully address their data and leverage emerging technologies like AI and innovations still in development.
With DMI’s technical and data experience combined with Heller’s strategy and solution expertise, we’re creating a practical, unified approach that brings together systems, data, and processes. The goal is to help organizations trust their infrastructure, pinpoint the most impactful tech investments, use reliable insights, and scale effectively.
Here’s what it means for our clients:
- Technology fit for purpose: Strategic technology planning capabilities are unshackled from specific platforms and made to work for the organization—not the other way around.
- Total data support: From architecture and integration to analytics and campaign operations, you have one team for your entire data process.
- Prepared for AI: Clean, well-structured data makes it easier to adopt AI and automation where it makes sense for you.
- Efficiency and growth: Integrated systems reduce duplication, save staff time, and support sustainable growth.
- One place to call: Consistent support and guidance from experts who understand your needs, your stack, and the way you work.
Operational confidence matters
Organizations need clear systems and trustworthy data to make the right decisions. Getting to operational confidence means having the right strategy, technology, and processes so staff can work efficiently, leaders can act decisively, and growth happens without unnecessary risk.
Our approach is to identify where operational confidence breaks down in an organization, align its technology and strategy, and empower the team to implement the right solutions and then iterate over time.
End-to-end technology support
This is an evolution, not a departure. Our new Data Services offerings build on what works and push the sector forward. We’re uniting decades of strategic clarity and technical precision under one mission: to deliver operational confidence for the organizations we serve and their constituents. Heller and DMI are part of the RKD Group family, which provides growth services for nonprofits.
With data engineers and analysts now part of Heller, our clients get deeper data expertise in architecture, integration, analytics, and campaign operations; expanded data strategy and governance services; cross-platform integration; AI-ready optimization; and data management, warehousing, segmentation, and reporting.
We’re redefining what technology looks like for mission-driven orgs. And we couldn’t be more excited.
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President
Jeffrey Appell has led Heller Consulting for more than two decades, guiding its evolution into a trusted partner for nonprofits seeking transformative technology solutions. Starting his career in the nonprofit sector, he pairs deep mission understanding with a passion for innovation. Today, Jeffrey oversees complex CRM initiatives, directs service delivery, and drives organizational strategy to help clients build stronger relationships and achieve impact.
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Business Lead, Data Services
Trent Johnson leads Heller’s Data Services practice, helping mission-driven organizations modernize their data systems and achieve operational confidence. With over a decade of experience in scalable data architectures and integration, Trent led nonprofit data services firm DMI before it joined Heller. He specializes in data strategy, large-scale management, and integration platforms, delivering practical solutions that empower organizations to make confident, data-driven decisions.
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