Foundation Kicks Off New Fundraising Effort
Posted 03/19/07
The 2007 Foundation fundraising effort has begun! With several important research projects underway, and more ideas than ever before, the fundraising team will be seeking donations to ensure the Foundation may continue to provide relevant and timely research.
With last year’s fundraising effort the most successful year to date, the bar has been raised. However, many more business leaders are expected to contribute this year to the Foundation. Donations are made by both individuals and organizations. In fact, the Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors was the first to donate in 2007.
“The Officers and Trustees of the Foundation were very encouraged by the strong support received from the industry in 2006,” said Mike Leichtling, a partner and member of the Executive Committee of Troutman Sanders LLP, and Chairman of the Equipment and Lease Foundation Board of Trustees. “In the past several months, the Foundation has released several important studies including Business Differentiation, Captive vs Non-Captive: How Their Default Remedies Differ, the State of the Industry Report and the Industry Future Council report.”
He also noted the importance for continued funding to be raised: “At the same time, we initiated major research projects for delivery in 2007 covering topics such as paperless transactions, the future growth of finance in the alternative energy market and the resurgence of interest in business outsourcing,” Leichtling added.
The Foundation is 100 percent donor-supported and donations are tax deductible. Donors also receive all Foundation projects in advance of public dissemination and at no additional charge, including the Industry Future Council Report, State of the Industry report, special research papers, white papers and Journal articles.
Additionally, donors are listed along with their competitors and partners in the Journal of Equipment Lease Financing, Equipment Leasing Today, ELT e-News and on the Foundation Web site.
“Now is the right time to kick off our 2007 national fundraising campaign, which once again will be under the direction of Henry Frommer,” said Leichtling.
Frommer of Wells Fargo Equipment Finance added, “It is important to support the Foundation as it really is an ‘investment,’ versus a donation. Research papers on such topics as securitization, the healthcare industry, and what differentiates successful companies from their peers, represent a ‘value add’ that is almost impossible to find elsewhere. In this competitive world, with tremendous liquidity and topsy turvy yield curves, it is important to have an ‘edge.’ The Foundation's work provides that edge.”
Henry has assembled a committed group of industry leaders to serve as the Foundation's 2007 development committee, said Leichtling, though there is still room for several energetic volunteers.
“2007 should prove to be a banner year for adding to the industry’s library of knowledge with the release of The Foundation’s new, timely and substantive reports and studies,” said Leichtling. “I believe that stakeholders in this industry recognize, through their donations and support, that the Foundation's unique forward-thinking mission remains our best assurance that we will keep an ‘eye on the future’. "
Business leaders may donate online by visiting http://www.leasefoundation.org/donors/.
Sites of Reference:
http://www.leasefoundation.org/donors/
CONTACT:
Lisa A. Levine, CAE
Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation
Phone Number: 703-527-8655
Fax Number: 703-465-7488
E-mail: llevine@elfaonline.org
