What You’ll Learn
- What Heller Consulting Does
- Why Nonprofits Look for Alternatives
- The Main Types of Heller Consulting Alternatives
- Comparison at a Glance
- Key Factors When Evaluating an Alternative
- How Scottship Solutions Compares
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Your Next Steps
What Heller Consulting Does
Heller Consulting is a nonprofit technology consulting firm founded in 1996. Their core work covers CRM strategy and implementation across Salesforce for Nonprofits (NPSP), Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and NXT, Microsoft, and HubSpot. They hold official implementation partner status with Salesforce, Blackbaud, Microsoft, and HubSpot. Engagements typically involve CRM selection, data migration, configuration, training, managed services, and CIO advisory.
In May 2024, Heller Consulting was acquired by RKD Group and now operates as a subsidiary. Heller has approximately 42 employees; RKD Group has approximately 550 total. That context matters when evaluating fit: Heller brings the depth and structure of a larger parent organization, which shapes the scale of engagements they take on, their pricing model, and the type of nonprofit client they serve best.
For nonprofits with complex, multi-platform CRM challenges and the budget for an enterprise-grade implementation, Heller is a strong option. Nonprofits that need a leaner ongoing partner covering a broader set of IT functions at a smaller-organization price point often look for an alternative.
Why Nonprofits Look for Alternatives
The most common reasons nonprofits search for Heller Consulting alternatives center on organization size, engagement model, and budget rather than on capability gaps.
- Organization size mismatch: Smaller nonprofits (10 to 40 staff) sometimes find that the scope and cost of a Heller engagement, now reflecting the overhead of a 550-person parent company, exceeds their scale. Heller’s strongest client fit tends toward mid-to-large organizations with complex, multi-phase technology needs.
- Integrated partner preference: Some nonprofits want a single vendor who handles IT operations day-to-day, not a consulting firm engaged for specific projects. That model (managed IT plus fractional CIO plus cybersecurity in one ongoing relationship) is structurally different from a project-based implementation firm.
- Platform outside Heller’s core partner set: Nonprofits running on Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Apricot, or other CRMs outside Heller’s official partnerships may get stronger platform-specific guidance from a more agnostic partner.
- Budget constraints: Post-acquisition, Heller’s pricing reflects the cost structure of a larger organization. Nonprofits operating on tight margins often need a partner whose engagement model is sized for a 20 or 30-person organization’s financial reality.
None of these reflect a flaw in Heller’s offering. They reflect a fit question that any honest evaluation should surface early.
The Main Types of Heller Consulting Alternatives
CRM Implementation Specialists (Different Firms)
Other firms specialize in Salesforce NPSP or Blackbaud implementations for nonprofits. Idealist Consulting, Cloud for Good, and Exponent Partners are among the most commonly evaluated. If the need is a Salesforce implementation handled by a different team at a potentially different scale or price point, these are direct alternatives to consider alongside Heller.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
Managed service providers handle day-to-day IT operations: helpdesk, device management, network maintenance, and software updates. A nonprofit whose primary need is IT infrastructure management rather than a CRM implementation is better served by an MSP. The limitation: most MSPs are not nonprofit specialists. They manage infrastructure but do not provide strategic technology leadership, nonprofit compliance expertise, or CRM fluency.
Fractional CIO Firms
Fractional CIO firms provide senior technology leadership on a part-time basis: building roadmaps, evaluating software, advising leadership, and representing technology at the board level. For a nonprofit that has outgrown ad hoc technology decisions but cannot afford a full-time CIO, this model fills that gap. The limitation: many fractional CIO firms do not provide operational day-to-day IT support alongside the strategic guidance.
Nonprofit IT Specialists
A smaller category of firms serves the nonprofit sector as a primary focus and combines managed IT operations with fractional CIO strategy, cybersecurity, cloud services, and data analytics in one ongoing engagement. These firms are typically sized for smaller organizations: the 10 to 75 employee nonprofit that needs a single accountable partner rather than a portfolio of specialist vendors.
Comparison at a Glance
| Provider | CRM Depth | Managed IT | Fractional CIO | Cybersecurity | Best Org Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heller Consulting (RKD Group) | High (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Microsoft, HubSpot) | Yes | Yes (CIO advisory) | Varies | Mid-to-large nonprofits |
| Other CRM Specialists (Cloud for Good, Exponent, Idealist) | High | Varies | Varies | Varies | Mid-to-large nonprofits |
| Generic MSP | Low | Yes | No | Standard | Any |
| Fractional CIO Firm | Varies | No | Yes | Varies | Any |
| Scottship Solutions | Moderate (platform-agnostic advisory) | Yes | Yes | High | 10–75 employee nonprofits |
Key Factors When Evaluating an Alternative
1. Define the actual need
Before evaluating alternatives, answer one question: is the primary need a large CRM implementation, or is it an integrated ongoing technology partner? If the need is a sophisticated multi-phase Salesforce or Blackbaud implementation, Heller and similar specialists are the right category. If the need is a partner who manages IT operations day-to-day, provides fractional CIO leadership, and covers cybersecurity and compliance alongside CRM advisory, look at a different model.
2. Match organization size to vendor size
A 550-person parent company (RKD Group) supports different engagement structures than a firm sized for 10 to 75-employee nonprofits. Ask any alternative: what is your typical client size, and can you share three references from nonprofits with 10 to 40 staff? The answer reveals whether their delivery model actually fits your scale.
3. Nonprofit sector experience
Nonprofit technology has specific compliance obligations (HIPAA for health-adjacent programs, PCI DSS for donation processing, state privacy laws for donor records) and a distinct software ecosystem (Salesforce NPSP, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits, Google Workspace for Nonprofits). Any alternative should demonstrate direct nonprofit experience, not general consulting experience applied to nonprofits.
4. Engagement model fit
Project-based firms complete a defined scope and exit. Ongoing retainer firms stay embedded in your operations. Determine which model matches your needs before evaluating firms. A nonprofit that needs a long-term IT partner will not get that from a project-based engagement, regardless of how well the project goes.
5. Compliance and security competency
Nonprofits handling health data, processing donations, or serving vulnerable populations have specific cybersecurity and compliance obligations. Evaluate whether a potential alternative understands HIPAA, PCI DSS, and the state privacy laws that apply to your populations. Ask for examples of compliance work they have done for nonprofits, not just a list of services offered.
How Scottship Solutions Compares
Scottship Solutions is a nonprofit and small-business IT consulting firm serving organizations in the 10 to 75 employee range. The comparison with Heller Consulting comes down to three things: scale, engagement model, and integration.
Scale. Heller, operating within RKD Group, is structured for larger nonprofits with complex, multi-phase technology programs and the corresponding budget. Scottship is built specifically for the smaller end of the nonprofit market, where a single partner handles the full technology picture without enterprise-scale overhead. Organizations with 15 to 50 staff typically find Scottship a closer structural match for their needs and their budgets.
Engagement model. Heller’s model is primarily project and advisory based: they complete a defined scope of work and transition out or move to a support arrangement. Scottship’s model is integrated and ongoing: managed IT operations, fractional CIO leadership, cybersecurity, and data analytics delivered by one team under one engagement. Nonprofits that want a single accountable partner rather than a sequence of specialist projects benefit from that model.
Integration. Scottship does not require a CRM engagement as a starting point. Nonprofits running on Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or other platforms outside Heller’s official partnership set receive the same level of advisory support as those on Salesforce or Microsoft. Our data analytics services also extend beyond CRM to include reporting infrastructure and program data management independent of the donor management platform.
Where Heller is the better fit: a nonprofit with 75 or more staff that needs a sophisticated, multi-platform CRM implementation led by certified specialists with deep Salesforce, Blackbaud, or Microsoft configuration expertise.
Where Scottship is the better fit: a nonprofit with 10 to 75 staff that needs a technology partner handling managed IT, fractional CIO strategy, cybersecurity, and data work in one ongoing relationship at a price point sized for their organization.
Learn more about our fractional CIO services and managed IT services for nonprofits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heller Consulting is a nonprofit technology consulting firm specializing in CRM strategy, implementation, managed services, and CIO advisory. They are official implementation partners for Salesforce, Blackbaud, Microsoft, and HubSpot. In May 2024, Heller was acquired by RKD Group and now operates as a subsidiary within a 550-person organization. Their engagements cover CRM selection, data migration, configuration, training, and ongoing managed services. They serve primarily mid-to-large nonprofits with complex technology programs.
Heller Consulting holds official implementation partner status with Salesforce, Blackbaud, Microsoft, and HubSpot. Their work covers Salesforce NPSP, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and NXT, Microsoft Dynamics and the broader Microsoft ecosystem, and HubSpot for nonprofits. Nonprofits running on platforms outside this partner set (Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Apricot) may find that a more platform-agnostic partner gives them stronger guidance without a built-in preference toward any one vendor.
For nonprofits in the 10 to 75 employee range, the best alternative depends on what is actually needed. If the need is a CRM implementation on Salesforce or Blackbaud at a smaller scale or price point, Idealist Consulting, Cloud for Good, and Exponent Partners are worth evaluating. If the need is an ongoing integrated partner covering managed IT, fractional CIO leadership, cybersecurity, and data analytics in one engagement sized for a smaller organization, a nonprofit IT specialist is the better category. Scottship Solutions serves this segment specifically. Schedule a free consultation.
Yes. RKD Group acquired Heller Consulting in May 2024. Heller continues to operate under its own name as a subsidiary of RKD Group. Heller has approximately 42 employees; RKD Group has approximately 550 employees total. The acquisition affects how nonprofits should evaluate Heller: the firm now operates within a larger organizational structure, which shapes its engagement model, pricing, and the scale of clients it serves most effectively.
The primary difference is scale and engagement model. Heller, operating within RKD Group, is structured for mid-to-large nonprofits with complex CRM programs and enterprise-level technology needs. Scottship Solutions is sized for the 10 to 75 employee nonprofit that needs an integrated ongoing partner covering managed IT, fractional CIO leadership, cybersecurity, and data analytics in one relationship. Heller is the stronger choice for a sophisticated multi-platform CRM implementation. Scottship is the stronger choice for a smaller nonprofit that needs a single accountable technology partner at a price point matched to its size. Schedule a free consultation.
Your Next Steps
- Clarify whether you need an implementation or a partner. A CRM implementation is a project with a start and end date. An ongoing technology partner handles operations, strategy, security, and data continuously. The answer determines which category of firm fits before you evaluate individual options.
- Match your organization size to the vendor’s typical client. Ask any firm you evaluate for references from nonprofits with 10 to 40 staff in a similar program area. If their typical client has 150 staff and a seven-figure technology budget, the engagement structure will reflect that regardless of what their website says.
- Evaluate engagement model over service lists. A project-based firm delivers a defined scope and exits. An integrated ongoing partner stays embedded. Confirm which model you are actually buying before signing anything.
- Ask about nonprofit-specific compliance. Request that any alternative explain which compliance frameworks apply to your organization: HIPAA, PCI DSS, or relevant state privacy laws. The ability to answer this accurately in the first conversation distinguishes nonprofit specialists from generalists.
- Schedule a free consultation with Scottship Solutions — we will walk through your current technology setup, be direct about whether we are the right fit, and recommend Heller or another firm if your needs are better matched there.
Sources
- Heller Consulting — heller-consulting.com (firm overview, service areas, and partner certifications)
- RKD Group — rkdgroup.com (parent organization overview)
- Salesforce.org — Salesforce for Nonprofits: NPSP overview
- Blackbaud — Nonprofit Solutions: Raiser’s Edge and NXT
- Nonprofit Tech for Good — 2024 Nonprofit Technology Report
Written by
Parker Davis
Founder & Fractional CIO at Scottship Solutions
Parker works hands-on with nonprofit and small business leaders on IT strategy, cybersecurity, AI implementation, and cloud architecture. He founded Scottship Solutions to help mission-driven organizations build reliable, secure technology infrastructure.
Certifications
IBM AI Product Manager • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt • TOGAF Standard • Claude Certified Architect
Industries Served
Human Services, Healthcare & Community Health, Arts & Culture, Education & Youth Development, Faith-Based, Foundations & Grantmakers, Child Advocacy