5 Lessons in Fundraising Innovation from Heller Fundraising Group’s Next 5 Years

As we celebrate two decades of providing fundraising and strategic consulting services to more than 120 nonprofits, we’re reflecting on our clients’ biggest wins and revisiting the powerful lessons we discovered along the way.

In years 6 to 10, the Heller Fundraising Group expanded as Peter Heller brought in trusted colleagues and consultants with diverse fundraising experience in a variety of nonprofit sectors. With new perspectives came fresh ideas that have had a lasting impact on our clients.

2009: Harness the power of a clear, strong message

New leadership is an exciting opportunity to reshape an organization’s message and direction. While the Hudson Guild’s new executive director had a vision for the community agency’s future, he was new to fundraising and was concerned about how to effectively approach board members with a solicitation. We helped the Hudson Guild’s development team write a clear case for support and trained the executive director on the nuances of cultivation—an essential combination that has had years of lasting impact. 

2010: Experiment with memorable donor engagement strategies

Vision Education and Media is a robotics and science afterschool program in New York City—an environment that’s ripe for creativity and innovation. We leveraged their distinctive story to create a high-end cultivation dinner, complete with a roving mini-robot. The experience allowed guests to experience firsthand the work of VEM’s students and fostered a powerful, emotional connection to the organization. Most importantly, this unique donor engagement strategy captured the attention of the founder’s network and helped the program secure crucial —and lasting—funding. 

2011: Turn urgency into opportunity

When a New York City stakeholder withdrew from building a new theater project in Manhattan, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (ART/NY) was offered the raw space to build two theaters—only constructing a theater wasn’t in their long-term plan. ART/NY called us to conduct a feasibility study for a campaign. Through swift action and a compelling message, we helped ART/NY launch an urgent campaign that inspired a wave of new donors and strengthened existing relationships—ultimately securing the organization's future.

2012: A big vision can grow from the smallest beginnings 

Gotham Early Music Scene started small—in a modest studio apartment, to be precise. But with our guidance, they cultivated major donors and secured the foundational support they needed to become an important producer of early music concerts. Today, they are a thriving and well-known organization, celebrated for their significant contributions to the music community.

2013: Strong leadership and team alignment drives campaign success

When the Irish Arts Center launched their ambitious $60 million “Almost Home” campaign, we worked side-by-side with their team to build strong campaign leadership, engage key leaders, and ensure clear communication throughout the process. By empowering the team and aligning efforts, the campaign achieved remarkable results—as evidenced by their flagship home in Manhattan.

There’s more to come.

We have 20 stories to tell about how we helped clients challenge their fundraising assumptions to achieve unprecedented success over the last 20 years. Follow along on the Heller Fundraising Group’s LinkedIn. And if you could use some guidance on how to approach your fundraising with creativity and excitement, we’re here to help. Schedule a free strategy session to find out more.