Stellar Financial, Inc. (www.stellarfinancial.com) a leading provider of integrated online software applications for philanthropy, today announced that the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a community foundation that supports philanthropic initiatives in the Louisiana capital region, has deployed Stellar’s NorthStar 500® charitable operations management platform as their next generation enterprise technology solution.
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation manages over $560 million in assets and serves two essential functions for the capital region: connecting individual philanthropists with capable nonprofits to help them fulfill their philanthropic goals and investing in and managing pivotal projects that improve the communities of the capital region.
The Foundation’s deployment of NorthStar 500 has successfully replaced FIMS as the Foundation’s core technology platform providing a centralized, web-based operations platform that facilitates all grant and financial transaction processing, finance, accounting and investment management.
“With the successful implementation of the NorthStar system, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation now has the platform necessary to accommodate our current information processing needs, as well as what we perceive our requirements to be going forward, ” stated Kevin Lyle, a former Board Chair of the Foundation currently engaged as a consultant in charge of the implementation project. “We believe the fully integrated architecture and advanced fund and investment functionality of the NorthStar system are critical to providing our donor and non-profit constituencies with timely, high quality and meaningful services. From the back office to the donor’s living room, NorthStar connects all aspects of our operations in one real-time web-based platform.”
As for the conversion to NorthStar Lyle commented, “Despite the drastically different database structures of the two systems, Stellar technical personnel successfully overcame every hurdle along the way, making this the smoothest conversion I have managed in my 20+ years of working with IT systems.”
Stellar's NorthStar 500 platform streamlines the foundation’s internal operations, eliminating redundant paper-based processes, consolidating previously non-integrated data repositories and providing a scalable technical infrastructure for long-term growth.
“The NorthStar system allows us to capture, process and disseminate information in a more efficient and scalable manner – both internally in the form of real time consolidated reporting capabilities and externally to donors and other key partners,” commented John Davies, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. " Given our rapid growth over the last several years this is vital, allowing us to better allocate our staff and resources while also providing our donors and other partners with the most timely and relevant information possible.”
"Baton Rouge Area Foundation provides an excellent example of how community foundations can eliminate process inefficiencies, improve donor and partner services, and enhance overall organizational scalability through the use of a comprehensive, fully integrated information infrastructure," said Deborah Seal, Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Financial. “This is an important strategic achievement for Baton Rouge and we are glad to be a part of it.”
About Baton Rouge Area Foundation
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a community foundation with $560 million in assets, provides two essential functions for the capital region. The Foundation connects philanthropists with capable nonprofits to make sure the needs of our communities are met, while helping donors create a lasting legacy and fulfill their philanthropic goals. The Foundation also invests in and manages pivotal projects that can change the community.
About Stellar Financial, Inc.
Stellar Financial, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated enterprise level philanthropic management software for charitable organizations. Stellar’s core software application, NorthStar 500, administers over $10.5 billion in assets for some of the largest and most well-respected Community Foundations, Religious Philanthropies and Commercially Sponsored Donor Advised Fund, Planned Giving and Endowment Programs in the nation. Stellar Financial clients lead the market in advanced capabilities for online engagement, administrative and financial processing and overall operational efficiency. For more information visit Stellar Financial on the web at www.stellarfinancial.com.