Dick Weiland uses his fund-raising tentacles to reach out to the statehouse and White House.

Though his suit is usually rumpled, his necktie askew and his pockets stuffed with crumpled papers, Dick Weiland, 73, is the biggest powerbroker at any arts fund-raiser in town.

The Ohio lobbyist raises millions of dollars for Cincinnati's arts organizations, as well as for Jewish and social service organizations, hospitals and nursing homes. His political clout reaches from the Governor's Mansion all the way to the White House.

Money matters, when it comes to designing Cincinnati's riverfront (Port of Cincinnati Development Authority), putting up a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center), getting noticed in the New York Times arts pages (American Classical Music Hall of Fame) or exhibiting St. Peter and the Vatican: Legacy of the Popes next year at Cincinnati Museum Center - all Mr. Weiland's clients.

The nonprofit boards he helps are too numerous to count.

Mr. Weiland raised an unprecedented $1.8 million for Hebrew Union College, enabling HUC to become the first Jewish seminary to have a Center for Holocaust Education.