FUNDamentals - September, 2005

Supporting Non-profit organizations in communities across the Nation:

Albany, GA
Augusta, GA
Bellingham, WA
Bonifay, FL
Cumming, GA
Dobson, NC
Ft. Wayne, IN
Gainesville, GA
Greensboro, NC
Iowa City, IA
Jacksonville, FL Kalispell, MT
Livonia, MI
Ocala, FL
Orange Park, FL
Orlando, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Port St. Lucie, FL
Rome, GA
Sandusky, OH
Scottsdale, AZ Seattle, WA
Tionesta, PA
Twin Falls, ID
Watertown, SD

Help!

Many of our colleagues and friends in the Gulf Coast region, along with hundreds of thousands of their neighbors, remain in serious trouble in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They need our help and they need it now! We've found the links below to be helpful in shaping our response to this crisis:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a list of major relief organizations HERE
The Habitat for Humanity website may be accessed HERE

ICAD campaign launched

Leadership of the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) began the initial phase of an aggressive STELLAR guided fundraising campaign last month.

ICAD President Joe Raso is one of the most progressive economic development professionals in the Midwest and a seventy-interview STELLAR feasibility study found strong support for Joe and ICAD among Iowa City leaders.

We at STELLAR are pleased and proud to be working with Joe and the ICAD team.

Better. Together.

The Piedmont Triad Partnership in North Carolina is now successfully concluding its Better. Together. Campaign, fully funding a $9.2 million five-year initiative to aggressively market the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem region, increase awareness globally, and coordinate and facilitate governmental, corporate, academic and community economic development efforts to advance regional growth.

Better. Together. Campaign Co-Chair, J. Cantey Alexander of BB&T, was very pleased with the campaign results, pointing out that the "dramatic increase in our investor base reflects vast new support for the concept of regionalism throughout the 12-county area." The STELLAR-managed campaign produced a remarkable four-fold increase in the number of corporate investors providing financial support to the Piedmont Triad Partnership.

Apathy: it can be a killer!

Apathy could be one of the greatest problems facing communities today. STELLAR Founder and CEO Terry Cusack takes a hard look at this growing threat and offers some suggestions for a cure. Read it HERE

Don't get left out of next year's budget!

Fall is the ideal time to do a fundraising feasibility study, since local corporations are finalizing next year's giving budgets at about this time. A fall study allows STELLAR clients to get on the radar for next year's budgets, preventing the objection "our budget is set for this year, perhaps we can give next year". Savvy clients are launching studies now.

A useful tool

A leading force in economic development, Blane, Canada Ltd., has developed an economic development tool that's now in use in 38 states and provinces throughout North America. Called Synchronist, the software system provides help in organizing, analyzing and reporting company information, giving community decision-makers invaluable insight into the dynamics of the local economy. Learn more about Blane, Canada Ltd. and Synchronist HERE

On the road again

Packed up and ready to travel, the STELLAR team will be in attendance at several up-coming gatherings of chamber and economic development professionals. We invite you to join us as we continue to support these important networking and learning opportunities:

Sep 25 - 28	International Economic Development Council Chicago, IL
Oct 8 - 11	Southern Economic Development Council Baltimore, MD

Let us know if there are any other upcoming events that you think might benefit from our support, or if you'd like us to speak to your organization. We're committed to giving back to the professionals and organizations that support us, and look forward to seeing you there.

And remember: MAKE NO SMALL PLANS!

Terry J. Cusack
Founder & CEO
STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc.