Leading U.S. Fundraising Executive Seabolt Joins STELLAR Team

STELLAR Fundraising, the leading economic and community development fundraising firm, announced today that Mike Seabolt has been named Executive Vice President. In this capacity, he will be primarily responsible for client relations and strategic planning to aid with STELLAR’s continued growth.

“Mike brings an extraordinary combination of corporate savvy and hands-on nonprofit consulting experience to STELLAR, with a deep understanding and broad experience across all types of development fundraising,” said STELLAR Founder and CEO Terry J. Cusack. “Mike also brings a proven track record in helping local leaders take their communities to higher levels of prosperity and vitality. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the STELLAR team. Our success is dependent on the quality of our team members and the addition of a person of Mike’s caliber and character will allow STELLAR to continue its excellent service to our clients and the firm’s growth.”

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STELLAR Founder Appears on Southern Economic Development Panel

STELLAR Founder and CEO Terry J. Cusack was a featured panelist at the Southern Economic Development Council’s (SEDC) Summer Seminar. The session, entitled “Trends in Financing Your Economic Development Organization” was part of the conference’s overall theme of “Competitive Strategies for You and Your Community”and was held July 9-11 at the beautiful Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center adjacent to Walt Disney World ™ in Orlando, Florida.

Cusack said that “we are honored that STELLAR was selected by SEDC to share our industry leading expertise on how communities are raising big dollars to support important economic development initiatives.” As the leading economic development fundraising firm, we’ve helped dozens of SEDC members and we were pleased to share some of our proprietary research on recent trends in the field,” Cusack said.

Other topics that were presented at the conference include:

• Latest Trends in Hiring Economic Development Professionals
  
• Key Points to know about Economic Development Finance
  
• Using the Internet to Reach New Prospects
  
• 10 Characteristics of the Strongest Local Economies
  
• Recession or Not- New Realities in Preparing your Community

The Southern Economic Development Council is the oldest and largest regional economic development association in North America with more than 1,200 economic development professional members operating in 17 states in the American South. For more information, visit SEDC at www.sedc.org.

STELLAR Led “Sarasota Tomorrow” Campaign Finishes 25% Over Goal

The Sarasota Tomorrow Campaign Leadership Cabinet announced an outstanding fundraising total of $2,590,000 at the Sarasota Tomorrow

Steve Queior, CCE, President Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

victory celebration “Over the Top!” Wednesday, June 25 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. STELLAR Founder and CEO Terry J. Cusack was on hand to join in the celebration along with STELLAR Campaign Director Kurt Rachwitz.

With approximately 300 attendees, the celebration recognized the fundraising achievements of Sarasota Tomorrow, a five-year collaboration of business, neighborhood, civic, environmental and government organizations committed to enhancing Greater Sarasota’s job climate, protecting the environment and maintaining Sarasota’s quality of life.

“Sarasota Tomorrow has begun to build powerful, effective partnerships to coordinate initiatives that revitalize the economic and civic health of our community,” said Pamela G. Truitt, president of Truitt Consulting, Inc. and chair of the board of directors at The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, which organized the fundraising campaign and led formation of Sarasota Tomorrow. “Our goal is to create a future that works for everyone who calls Greater Sarasota ‘home.’”

Truitt, along with other business and community leaders and Sarasota Tomorrow investors, celebrated surpassing the $2-million goal with a balloon drop as the total was revealed. The celebration, presented by the Herald-Tribune Media Group, recognized between 100 and 200 investors, as well as fundraising volunteers, who contributed financial resources and personal involvement.

Chamber CEO Steve Queior praised STELLAR’s efforts in guiding the chamber to a successful campaign conclusion. “STELLAR provided us the tools, experience and wisdom necessary for us to achieve our goal. We are grateful to them for helping us to achieve greater than expected results. The money will go along way towards making the Sarasota chamber a major force in our community's economic prosperity and outstanding lifestyle,” Queior, said.

Sky Radio/American Airlines Feature Interview with STELLAR’s Founder & CEO Cusack

STELLAR Fundraising Executives and Founder and CEO Terry J. Cusack have been selected to be featured on American Airlines' monthly Sky Radio Network, an in-flight audio program that focuses on industry leaders around the nation.

According to Cusack, “STELLAR Fundraising was invited to be a part of a new feature on successful entrepreneurs after I did a similar interview for Delta Air Lines and Sky Radio featuring Florida businesses with Tupperware’s CEO and Governor Jeb Bush. We see this as an excellent opportunity to communicate the company's vision and direction, while broadening our appeal.” This segment will be heard by millions of captive executive business passengers who fly regularly on over 500 daily American Airlines flights.

The 2+ minute featured interview with Cusack will be placed on 29,000 American Airlines flights and provides a gross exposure to 4.2 million business leaders, high-end investors, decision-makers and influencers. Among some of the past participants are Charles Schwab, Hilton Hotels, Dell Computer's CEO Michael Dell and “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams. FUNDamentals readers don’t have to wait until they board their next American Airlines flight to listen to this interesting interview, you can hear the live audio interview NOW by clicking here.

Cusack to Be Featured Speaker at Joint KCCE/ICEA fall conference

For the first time ever, the Kentucky and Indiana Chamber Executives Associations have joined forces to present the KCCE/ICEA Regional Fall Conference September 24-26, 2008 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel. This conference will bring together professionals from both states to explore topics related to the core components of chamber operations. Regionalism and collaboration increasingly is advantageous for many chamber professionals. It also offers fresh ideas, reduced costs, and stronger presentations.

The KCCE/ICEA conference will feature national and regional expert presenters including Terry J. Cusack, founder and CEO of STELLAR Fundraising Executives, who will conduct a session on “10 Steps To A Successful Capital Campaign” PLUS a research review of 10 recent STELLAR Campaigns showing trends in giving (investing) including which industries are making up the top 5 leading campaign pledges! Along with discussions focused upon membership, more effective leadership, and motivating volunteers, the conference will feature wonderful times of networking, special excursions, and time to connect with colleagues.

The Marriott Downtown conference room rate is $129. Call Reservations at 800-533-0127 by August 24, 2008. Conference registration is $199 also before August 24 and $250 thereafter. Further information may be obtained from Aaron Cox at 502-848-8738 or email acox@kychamber.com.

Free Investor Relations and Retention Tools From STELLAR

Keeping your investors informed and confident that their money is being used wisely and effectively is vitally important to the ongoing success of any fund campaign and will help to minimize pledge defaults.  In our experience, we have learned the following actions and strategies can significantly increase your renewal rates.

1. Establish a definite multi-year budget for investor relations.
   
   
2. Make investor relations a specific assignment for a key staff member, or outsource it and prepare a plan through efforts by a special team of staff, consultant(s) and/or appropriate volunteers.
   
   
3. Provide a “special investors” newsletter mailed to investors quarterly, at a minimum.  However, it need not be on a specific date, but sent out immediately when news of importance develops. Or quarterly, with new flashes as they occur to subsidize this outreach vehicle.
   
   
4. Consistently seek opportunities to treat program investors in “special VIP” ways.  Invite them to ground breaking's (or roll-out of new branding materials, etc.) and grand openings and give them opportunities to meet those involved with the both the business coming to town, and the Campaign Leadership Team.
   
   
5. Publish a thank-you roster of investors in the local Business Journal or newspaper and ask others to join the campaign (the search for new investors may continue over the program life cycle).  Also, consider a full-page ad (in-kind) in local and regional print media.  Recognize all investors equally and give importance to large and small investors equally. 
   
   
6. On the anniversary of the program’s launch, issue a special commendation or memento of their participation in the program. (Plaque, Golf Balls, Mug, Etc.)
   
   
7. Host at least one annual investor meeting each year.  Again, use your investor list as a VIP roster.  Invite investors to special functions and, if possible, let them know they are being invited because of their special status.
   
   
8. Keep the names and faces of campaign and program leaders prominent (in newsletter’s and in Directory) in all literature long after the campaign. Never let the program become identified more with staff than volunteers.
   
   
9. When invoicing investors for pledge payments, always include a “hand” note from the campaign chair(s) expressing your thanks, gratitude and mention a few recent positive developments, including copies of clippings from the newspaper.
   
   
10. Consider holding monthly chairman(s) breakfast’s and invite 20 investors at a time to “meet the Chairman, learn “what we’re up to, and so you can give us your feedback.” Any that don’t show after three invites, the CEO or the Chair needs to go see this person and make them feel special, and very much needed.

Solid Investor Relations & Retention takes money, planning and scheduling. STELLAR has developed additional tools to assist you in this effort. Our statistical analysis shows that if you’ll do the above, you should expect to retain 95% or more of all pledges.

Click here for your FREE copy of the Investor Relations & Retention Worksheet

REMEMBER THIS: Major Investors have gone “above and beyond” for your program, so give them ALL “the care and feeding” (and special attention) they most certainly deserve, and likely want.

The Insurance Scholarship Foundation of America (ISFA) retained STELLAR Fundraising Executives to conduct a Campaign Planning & Feasibility Study this past spring.  After a comprehensive study and analysis, STELLAR determined that it would not be in the client’s best interests to immediately launch a full campaign, but to conduct a brand awareness campaign prior to actively soliciting support.

Brian Smith, Chief Operating Officer for STELLAR, is conducting the branding campaign.  “We are identifying those prospects that have the greatest potential for support, and cultivating a relationship between them and the client,” Smith noted.  “Informing them of the work ISFA is doing on behalf of the insurance industry, and thus their own companies, is part of that branding effort.”

ISFA provides scholarships to college students interested in pursing a career in the insurance industry, and professional development scholarships to those in the industry pursuing continuing education and/or accreditations.

“We expect to launch a full campaign when we are satisfied that we have forged an understanding of ISFA’s value among insurance industry leaders,” said Smith.

“The ISFA program will help develop the insurance industry leaders of tomorrow, and strengthen the insurance sector.  It is essentially a workforce development program for a key part of our national economy.  We are proud to partner with ISFA in this effort,” Smith concluded.

STELLAR Growth Necessitates Move to Larger HQ

STELLAR’s continued growth and leadership in the fundraising field has required a move to larger quarters in order to better serve its growing roster of clients. The move was orchestrated by STELLAR Director of Operations Cat Caughey seamlessly and without interruption to service. STELLAR’s new mailing address is 438 Osceola Avenue, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. (Please note all phone and fax numbers remain the same).

According to Cat, “part of my background and experience is in the design and decorating of efficient and attractive work spaces for commercial use, so I was thrilled when CEO Terry J. Cusack asked me to lead our team in finding and designing the most efficient and functional space possible, with space for our continued growth.

“We’d outgrown our current space and the new space we designed will allow the STELLAR team to serve our clients more effectively and even more responsively than we already are. Besides the increased customer focus that is ingrained in the STELLAR culture by founder and CEO Terry J. Cusack, the move will allow us space for future growth and efficiencies. I was also able to apply my interior design skills too, thus ensuring STELLAR is a wonderful work place for our team members with all the latest technology possible available to them to get their jobs done. That is of course when they’re not on the road helping clients succeed,” Cat concluded. Care to check out our new digs, but can’t come to Jacksonville soon? No problem, Cat made the following slide show of STELLAR Headquarters, simply click HERE!

To receive your free STELLAR Info Kit, email us at info@stellarfundraising.com or call me personally at 888-897-4667 to discuss what good things you could do for your community with two, three or four times more budget.

In the meantime, please be sure to check out our brand new interactive web site at www.STELLARfundraising.com and see which of your peers have chosen STELLAR as their fundraising counsel.

Please Remember, Make No Small Plans!
If you go to the well, draw deep, and cover all your program
and facility needs via one bold multi-year campaign!

Terry J. Cusack

Founder, CEO and Fundraising SME
STELLAR Fundraising Executives, Inc.