It reads like a "who's who" in the realm of positive impact -- a lengthy list of nonprofit organizations working to enhance Greater Omaha and benefit the people who live here:
- Bergan Mercy Hospital and Foundation
- Catholic Charities
- Nebraska Christian College
- Omaha Community Playhouse
- Omaha Home for Boys
- Project Harmony
- Teammates
The list goes on; dozens and dozens of nonprofits influencing areas like healthcare and social services, education, religion and community improvement. They are all clients of Paul J. Strawhecker, Inc., the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce August Small Business of the Month.
Backed by two decades of experience in fundraising consulting/development, Paul J. Strawhecker opened his own consulting company in 1995. Its mission was clear -- provide fundraising support to nonprofit organizations by assisting with capital campaigns, communications, organizational development and training. More than a decade later, his brainchild has 16 employees and offices in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Phoenix, Ariz. Strawhecker said he and all of his employees possess a common trait, what he called a "nonprofit heart."
"You either have it or you don't. You understand nonprofits and want to help people. Our mission is really helping nonprofits either raise money or do their job better so they can better help people."
Uta Halee Girls Village is Strawhecker's longest standing client, a relationship forged eight years ago. President and CEO Denis McCarville had high praise for the company.
"I have found them to be responsive, flexible and creative in their approach yet attentive to detail. They are exceptionally professional, and I highly recommend them," he said.
In 2005, when the city of Council Bluffs needed $4.8 million to rebuild Bayliss Park, it hired the Strawhecker firm to direct a major fundraising and public relations campaign. The director of the city's parks and recreation department said the company's guidance was "pivotal" in making the campaign a success.
Back to the River, Inc. is banking on similar success with another high-profile, multi-million dollar construction project -- the new $22 million pedestrian bridge connecting Council Bluffs and Omaha. The organization is leading a community-wide fundraising effort with the help of the Strawhecker team.
"We're helping to develop and generate interest to provide resources to complement the $19 million in federal funds," said Strawhecker.
In addition to its roster of local clients, Paul J. Strawhecker, Inc. serves regional clients in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, the Dakotas and national clients like The National Arbor Day Foundation and The Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial Foundation. The firm is beginning to expand internationally.
"We do have a consortium that we work with that does some international work. That's fairly new, but we're starting to develop some international clients."
While the company is branching out, its roots are firmly planted in Omaha, a city, said Strawhecker, with a "strong philanthropic culture." The firm has also benefited from its relationship with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
"We've been a member for five years. It brings credibility and the ability to network and develop a variety of relationships," he said. "One of the things that we've been involved in from the beginning is the Chamber Academy. We provide classes for nonprofits through the Chamber Academy."
Strawhecker also assumes the role of "teacher" at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is an adjunct professor in the graduate school of public administration. He also directs the university's Certificate in Fundraising Management (CFM) program. He recently added another accolade to his resume -- chairperson of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy, an organization that boasts 27,000 members worldwide.
Strawhecker said the secret to his success is understanding. "You have to understand the decision-making process, who's making the decisions and the length of time it often takes to make that decision -- kind of the 'unknowns' there are in terms of raising money and who's going to make the gifts. Then, you have board members who come from other fields or industries who may not relate to nonprofits, so there's a certain level of complexity to it all. To excel is to understand the decision-making process and the philanthropic community to be able to bridge those gaps. Then, good advice can be provided to the client."
Strawhecker said the fundraising profession is constantly evolving and growing. He said it has been extremely gratifying seeing projects developed or buildings constructed with the funds that his company helped to raise.
"It's been great seeing change," he added, "seeing organizations be successful because of the help we were able to give them."