Daniel Braddock, Author at Heller Consulting https://teamheller.com Nonprofit CRM planning and technology strategy Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:11:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://es7hq8rr83h.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-Heller-icon.png?strip=all&resize=32%2C32 Daniel Braddock, Author at Heller Consulting https://teamheller.com 32 32 What to do with your tech if your hospital foundation is merging https://teamheller.com/resources/blog/healthcare-merger-technology Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:24:28 +0000 https://teamheller.com/?p=20517 Healthcare mergers and acquisitions are accelerating. While clinical teams focus on integrating patient care and operations, philanthropic teams often find themselves scrambling to align their technology. If your hospital foundation is facing a merger, here’s how to approach your tech stack strategically. Start with strategy, not systems Before diving into CRM demos or data migrations, […]

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Healthcare mergers and acquisitions are accelerating. While clinical teams focus on integrating patient care and operations, philanthropic teams often find themselves scrambling to align their technology. If your hospital foundation is facing a merger, here’s how to approach your tech stack strategically.

Start with strategy, not systems

Before diving into CRM demos or data migrations, clarify the role technology plays in your advancement office. Ask yourself:

  • What are our philanthropic priorities—system-wide and site-specific?
  • How will technology help us steward donors and fundraisers better?

This step ensures that every tech decision supports your mission rather than becoming a costly distraction. Aligning your team on vision can help define the “why” behind any system change.

Audit your current technology state

Begin with a comprehensive inventory:

  • CRMs and donor databases: How many systems are in use? What data do they hold?
  • Marketing stack: Email platforms, automation tools, and analytics.
  • Data warehouses and integrations: Where does donor and patient data live, and how is it accessed?

Also, map out:

  • Ownership of prospect and patient records—who controls access and permissions?
  • Compliance requirements like HIPAA and donor privacy.
  • Existing shared services in finance, IT, and marketing that could support integration.

How we united eight health systems in one CRM

HealthPartners operates eight hospital foundations—and previously, each had its own CRM. This siloed approach caused inefficiencies and duplicate fundraising efforts.

Heller Consulting worked with each foundation to assess systems, prioritize requirements, and create a shared technology vision. The result was a clear roadmap of CRM options that met the organization’s needs for collaboration and donor stewardship while preserving each foundation’s local identity.

Read the HealthPartners case study.

“Prioritization is key because there might be some features that users want today but it’s not shared across the eight foundations. It might be a high priority for one but not the other. As we are trying to build a system that works for all of us, we have to prioritize. Heller took the time to meet with each foundation individually.”

A woman with long black hair, wearing a white button-up shirt, smiles at the camera in front of a plain light gray background, embodying confidence and professionalism—qualities essential for best practices for healthcare IT leaders during hospital mergers.
Pahoua Yang Hoffman Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations, HealthPartners

Plan for integration

Mergers often mean consolidating systems, but this isn’t just a technical exercise—it’s a cultural one. Moving from multiple CRMs to one can unlock efficiencies and shared donor insights, but it requires:

Design for the future

Your current staffing and processes may change during the merger. Choose technology systems that:

  • Scale with shared resources.
  • Support automation and integration for efficiency.
  • Allow flexibility for local foundations if you maintain a federated model.

Think beyond today’s needs—build a tech ecosystem that can adapt as your organization evolves.

Secure leadership buy-in

Philanthropy doesn’t follow the same economies of scale as clinical operations. Make the case that tech decisions are mission-critical for fundraising success. Show how integration supports donor stewardship, operational efficiency, compliance and security.

Checklist for advancement teams

  • ✅ Define philanthropic priorities.
  • ✅ Audit current tech and data.
  • ✅ Decide CRM strategy (consolidated vs. federated).
  • ✅ Establish governance and compliance protocols.
  • ✅ Communicate change plan.
  • ✅ Align with leadership.

 

Bottom line: Technology change during a merger isn’t just about systems—it’s about people, processes, and priorities. Use this moment to build trust, streamline operations, and create a tech ecosystem that supports your mission for years to come.

 

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