Technology Implementation Services for Mission-Driven Orgs
Technology works best when it serves your people, not the other way around. Heller Consulting takes an implementation-first approach that prioritizes technical execution so you can see quick wins faster and reduce operational burden. Our white-glove service and nonprofit technical expertise ensure your chosen software is deployed seamlessly, on time, and on budget.
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Comprehensive implementation services
Whatever software you need, we can help you implement it. We have experience with leading solutions. Select a platform below to view our specific services:
Our Technology Implementation Services
for Nonprofits
Multi-CRM support
We know that time can be your team’s most important resource. We often recommend a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach—getting you onto an optimized platform as quickly as possible to handle what you must do now, and then iterating and expanding your capabilities over time. This allows your organization to stay agile, adapt to shifting priorities, and see a faster ROI.We know that time can be your team’s most important resource. We often recommend a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach—getting you onto an optimized platform as quickly as possible to handle what you must do now, and then iterating and expanding your capabilities over time. This allows your organization to stay agile, adapt to shifting priorities, and see a faster ROI.
We supplement your team
Whether you need a migration collaborator or a more hands-on partnership, Heller’s implementation experts give you the experience, capacity, and expertise you’re looking for, whenever you need it. We partner with your organization, learning about your people, process, and technology, and guiding you through with expertise and care.
Embedded CIO
Implementation projects require strong leadership. We embed into your team as your Chief Information Officer (CIO), overseeing your progress, providing suggested next actions, and offering team-wide guidance.
Change leadership
During implementation projects, we make your team the top priority. Team Heller leverages change management techniques to ensure every team member feels looped in, supported, and confident when using your new tools.
During implementation projects, we make your team the top priority. Team Heller leverages change management techniques to ensure every team member feels looped in, supported, and confident when using your new tools.
Nonprofit implementation success stories
Society for Science
Operating with 16 internal teams on disconnected, on-prem systems, Guide Dogs for the Blind suffered from a severe lack of departmental visibility into its core operational data. Team Heller stepped in to design a comprehensive CRM roadmap and implement a centralized digital ecosystem to bring the organization’s scattered workflows together. This unified framework completely eliminated data silos, enabling mobile trainers to access vital dog health records instantly during field visits and giving the fundraising team the insights needed to launch deeply personalized, successful donor appeals.
Canadian Cancer SocietyASHRAE
The Canadian Cancer Society worked with Heller Consulting to implement Salesforce in a complex, bilingual environment. Heller worked closely with the organization to build a custom solution that established a common data model, combining 20 million contacts and unifying business processes across fundraising and volunteer engagement. Additionally, Team Heller provided change leadership and strategic recommendations to prepare, train, and empower the newly consolidated staff for the transition.
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) approached Team Heller with a big challenge: unifying siloed healthcare databases across its 10 locations into one large organizational database. Plus, CCS had bilingual records and legal data requirements unique to Canada. To address these challenges, Heller worked closely with CCS to build a technology solution that met their new needs after their restructuring. Thanks to Team Heller, CCS finally had a single platform and data source to rely on.
Environmental Defense Fund
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a leading environmental organization with a whopping 1,000 employees who champion environmental causes in 29 countries. The organization faced its largest technological challenge yet—completely migrating from Blackbaud to Salesforce in only 14 months. By working with Team Heller, EDF completed a smooth transition with six weeks to spare.
What sets Heller Consulting apart
Vetted experience and certifications
Throughout our three decades of experience working with nonprofits, we’ve been recognized for our expertise and high-quality work. Our team is dedicated to continual improvement; with 253 certifications, and counting! Heller has 4.5 stars on Salesforce AppExchange and are also a Blackbaud Accredited Implementation Partner.
Certified Implementation Partner
Your tech implementation is in good hands, and we have the certifications to back it up. We’re certified implementation partners for Salesforce, HubSpot, Blackbaud, Kindsight, and more.
Customizable implementation services and approach
We work with all of the leading nonprofit CRM platforms, so you can rest assured you’re investing in the best one for your needs. We configure or customize the technology to work for you, and can build AI agents to supercharge your fundraising program. Our Data Services team and benchmarking products can clean, deduplicate, and segment your data in line with best practices for your sector.
Technology implementation services FAQs
What is a technology implementation project?
A technology implementation project is the process of integrating new tools into your operations. At Heller Consulting, we take an implementation-first approach to these projects, prioritizing technical execution to get your system built efficiently so you can use it right away. Your tech implementation process might include these phases:
- System configuration involves customizing and configuring the chosen platform to meet your organization’s unique requirements.
- Data migration is when we clean your existing data, map fields correctly, and securely move records from your legacy systems to the new platform without losing critical information.
- User testing and training is when we validate that the new system works as intended and provide tailored, role-based training so your staff can learn to use the new tools confidently.
- System launch, which is when we officially roll out the new technology for everyday use by your team.
Our support doesn’t end when your system goes live. We provide post-launch enablement to troubleshoot issues, guide long-term adoption, and make sure your tech is working for your mission.
A technology implementation project is the process of integrating new tools into your operations. Your tech implementation process might include these steps:
- A tech stack audit in which we assess your current operations, understand your goals, and align the new CRM setup with your specific mission and workflows.
- System configuration, which involves customizing and setting up the chosen platform to meet your organization’s unique requirements.
- Data migration, which is when we clean your existing data, map fields correctly, and securely move records from your legacy systems into the new platform without losing critical information.
- User testing and training in which we validate that the new system works as intended and provide tailored, role-based training so your staff can learn to use the new tools confidently.
- System launch, which is when we officially roll out the new technology for everyday use by your team.
Our support doesn’t end when your system goes live. We provide post-launch support to troubleshoot issues, guide long-term adoption, and make sure your tech is working for your mission.
How long does a CRM implementation typically take?
Timelines vary based on complexity. A multicampus higher education or large nonprofit CRM implementation can take 18 months. At Heller, we develop a roadmap based on your goals that can deliver results as quickly as possible. We focus on scaled deployments that get your core systems running quickly without compromising quality, all while planning phased rollouts for more advanced features.Timelines vary based on complexity, but an MVP approach delivers faster ROI. We focus on scaled deployments that get your core systems running quickly without compromising quality while planning phased rollouts for more advanced features.
Why do so many technology implementations fail?
Implementations fail when organizations don’t have clear goals that match specifications and when they don’t have a feasible roadmap. You can avoid these pitfalls by:
- Aligning stakeholders around clear, achievable goals. Technical and development operations leads must understand what the technology can and can’t do, where it fits in their system, and all the various ways their team uses it to meet their mission. Heller’s fundraising technology experts have “been there, done that,” so they know what questions to ask and how to make the tradeoffs necessary in any CRM implementation.
- Gaining quick value through a phased rollout. Even if your full system isn’t ready yet, launching a smaller, essential version first gets your core tools up and running efficiently. That way, your team gets a quick win while leaving room to scale up advanced features later.
- Curing “data debt” before migrating. Taking the time to properly clean, organize, and establish data-deletion policies for your messy legacy data before launch ensures you aren’t bringing bad data into your shiny new system.
- Focusing on change management. Inspire confident software adoption by involving your staff from the very beginning, highlighting how the new tools will ease their workload, and providing hands-on, role-based training.
What industries does Heller provide implementation services to?
For its entire lifetime, Heller has provided services specifically for mission-driven organizations. Beyond our deep roots in the nonprofit sector, we proudly serve education institutions broadly, as well as health philanthropy organizations such as cause and cure organizations and hospital foundations. We’re dedicated to providing solutions that meet the unique needs of mission-driven organizations, regardless of their niche.
Ready to Get Started?
Your mission deserves the best technology implementation. Tell our implementation experts more about your project.