In 2015, I felt it was time for a new chapter. After leading the business development teams of three INGOs, I wanted to work with more organizations—to help them diversify and grow their funding. Years of global fundraising had taught me a simple truth: when we share what works (and what doesn’t), more organizations succeed. And when more organizations thrive, the world benefits. That belief still drives us today.

Since then, we’ve supported hundreds of nonprofits to strengthen their fundraising. Together, they have raised billions of euros—from small organizations taking their first steps to global NGOs securing major multi-year investments. We’re proud to have played a small part in those journeys.

We’ve also helped build the fundraising skills of teams around the world. Our in-company trainings reached organizations in more than 20 countries. Our online programs welcomed participants from over 50 countries. Altogether, more than 2,500 fundraisers have joined our trainings. Imagine a room filled with all those fundraisers—we’ve met, trained, and supported every one of them.

But how did it all start? The first step was simple: register a company. It was just me, working as a fundraising consultant under the name Han Valk Fundraising Consultancy. I was fortunate—my three former organizations became my first clients, and from day one my agenda was full. Soon, more organizations approached us. And as every fundraiser and entrepreneur knows, saying “no” is difficult. So I asked a trusted friend and outstanding fundraiser to join.

As the team grew, we introduced a concept to reflect that change: Hire a Team. We pitched it confidently—hire us, and you get the collective expertise of the whole team. The first question we received?
“Great. Can we have two?”

Two what?
“Two fundraisers—that’s what you’re offering, right?”

We said yes – it is difficult for a fundraiser to say “no” –  and recruited two new colleagues the same month. And that moment sparked the expansion of our operational support services and the broader team behind them.

As demand for international fundraising support increased, expanding our own footprint became the natural next step. Before doing so, we changed our name to HVFC—a better reflection of who we had become: not just Han Valk, not just consultancy, but a diverse global team offering strategy, back-office support, and capacity building.

Our first international step was the launch of HVFC USA, Inc. in New York, followed by having associate consultants in Washington D.C. and other locations across the country. Since then, we’ve supported more than 100 organizations with their cross-border fundraising.

From there, the team continued to grow. Today we work across multiple countries—including Denmark, the UK, Bangladesh, and more—supporting clients in over 25 countries.

This global reach isn’t just something to be proud of. It’s what enables us to build the international connections our clients rely on every day.