Empowering
Community Preservation &
Revitalization
Heritage Consulting Inc. is dedicated to empowering communities and organizations to preserve and celebrate their unique cultural heritage and create thriving sustainable communities.
As an award-winning consulting firm, we specialize in tailored solutions for historic preservation, downtown revitalization, heritage tourism, and organizational development. With over two decades of experience, we’ve partnered with communities, historic sites, and preservation organizations nationwide to preserve cultural heritage while fostering economic growth.
Heritage Consulting, Inc. is a woman-owned business led by Donna Ann Harris, a seasoned expert in historic preservation and downtown revitalization. Donna brings over 35 years of experience, combining deep knowledge of preservation planning with a passion for community development. Our mission is to empower communities by preserving their unique histories while promoting inclusive and dynamic growth for the future.
Our Services
At Heritage Consulting Inc., we offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Whether you want to preserve a historic site, revitalize a downtown area, or develop a strategic plan for your organization, we have the expertise to help you succeed.
Historic Preservation
Preserving our nation’s history is at the heart of what we do. Our historic preservation services include everything from preservation planning and feasibility studies to heritage tourism assessments and design guidelines. We collaborate closely with nonprofit organizations to ensure that their historic sites are protected, celebrated, and integrated into the fabric of modern life.
- Heritage Tourism Assessments: We assess the visitor experience at historic sites, providing recommendations for improvements that enhance visitation and tourist engagement.
- Nonprofit Board Development: We work closely with your board to create useful training, board recruitment, and succession planning activities to make your organization thrive.
Revolving Loan Fund Feasibility Studies
We develop feasibility studies for revolving loan funds that help preservation organizations find new users for vacant building and create loan programs for historic homeowners to make preservation-related repairs.
Additionally, we provide expert coaching, training, and consulting services to help historic sites and preservation organizations build their organizational capacity, improve governance, and teach boards how to raise funds for operating support. We can assist your organization if you need Board Training or to assess current operations.
Downtown Revitalization
Vibrant downtowns are the backbone of thriving communities. We offer various services to help towns and cities revitalize their commercial districts, attract new businesses, and foster economic growth. Our approach is tailored to meet the specific needs of each community, ensuring sustainable development that respects the local heritage.
- Strategic Planning: We guide downtown organizations through a comprehensive strategic planning process, helping them set clear goals and develop actionable plans.
- Training Workshops: Our engaging workshops provide practical solutions for downtown management, fundraising, and board training.
- Online Surveys: We conduct detailed consumer and stakeholder surveys to gather insights that inform revitalization strategies and measure the effectiveness of current initiatives.
We continue to offer individual coaching, training, and consulting services to help organizations grow, strengthen their internal procedures identify the funds they need to thrive. We can assist your downtown organization if you need board training, an Executive Director Search, or help creating or expanding your Membership and Investor Program.
Why Choose Us
Choosing Heritage Consulting Inc. means partnering with a firm that brings unmatched expertise, a deep commitment to historic preservation, and a collaborative approach to every project. Our clients include historic preservation organizations, downtown revitalization programs, and heritage tourism initiatives nationwide. We are proud of our track record of success, with numerous awards and recognitions that speak to the quality of our work. Please check what past clients have said about our work with them in our testimonials section on this website.
Experience and Expertise
With over 35 years in the field, Donna Ann Harris leads our team with a wealth of experience in historic preservation and downtown revitalization. Her expertise guided the creation of new dynamic strategic plans for three organizations that eventually won these organizations the Great American Main Street Award. Ms. Harris has guiding complex projects to successful completion and created award winning public history projects.
Collaborative Approach
We believe in collaborating closely with our clients, carefully listening to their needs, and creating tailored solutions to meet their unique goals. Our collaborative approach ensures that every project is a true partnership with results that reflect the shared vision of the Board as well as key stakeholders.
Proven Results
Our work speaks for itself. From developing award-winning heritage tourism plans to creating effective design guidelines for revitalizing downtowns, we have a proven track record of delivering lasting results. Check our Testimonials to see the variety of projects we have completed in the last few years.
Our Impact
Over the years, Heritage Consulting Inc. has been honored to work on a wide range of projects that have significantly impacted communities across the United States. Some of our recent achievements include:
Camden County, NJ, Heritage Tourism Interactive Touch Screen Display Wall
Winner of the Preservation Education Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia in 2024 and the David Knights New Preservation Initiative Award in 2023 from Preservation New Jersey.
Haddon Heights, NJ, Design Guidelines
Recipient of the Grand Jury Award for Preservation Education from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia in 2022 and the Historic Preservation Commission Award from Preservation New Jersey in 2021.
Strategic Plans for Main Street Organizations
We’ve developed strategic plans for more than a dozen downtown organizations across the county helping them achieve their goals. Three of our clients have gone on to win the Great American Main Street Award after completing a Strategic Plan with us.
